New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-22

even though he almost knew what tears ana panHS
ID was COSTING t.ettie-dear little Lcttic growing
wan AMI thin in her endony0r before three weeks
were over But she was obdurate in her deteI1niiia
ton apparently, wan or not IL pr fcrl'nln l'l
household duties TO be seen; II he came III inc
evening she sat by the lamp with her sewing
pleasant but apart she wore her paIneSt dress and
Severest collar, aud put back her hair straight
vain attempt since IT would break out every where IN
little rlOtous curls like tine tendrils OF grape
lunches ,
One night Ferdinand was rather earlier than his
wont. and Lydia was "A lone III the narrow drawing
room aust what | wanted" size exclaimed
" Now do you know what bee Lettio has IN her
bonnet ~ $500
dit isn't bee that makes much honey" said DR.
She has a notion" criel lydia with her hoarSe
laugh " that it would be hetter,-now you mr>tn I
think this bold,-hrtter Tor YOU to marry me-
who am cut ont for model spinstcr aud shall never
marry any one. and she Is sacrificing herself TO her
sense of what is best for you."
sand there isn't any cure for it, unless marry
her olt of hand whether she will or not
Why Why don't $y9u then T
Hush, Here she cOmcs.' And Lettie came in in
the frankest. peasanteSt way. so entirely a. II
there had never been any other than friendly
relation between her and DR.. Ferdinand aS fairly 10
puzzlo him and make him ask himself # there were
any dreaming about it,
what in the world IS that, Letter asked
Lydia, us Lettc un 'olded her work.
at is Miss Marthy's legacy" said Lettie.
81 Poor old great grandmother's wedding dress
Mrs Winchester is coming over to see II 1t VIII 10
for any Que to wear III the cnurCn tlhe:lilS
ais Mr.. Winchester comm" toof You had better
call her your poor old great-grand mother! she
was a gre It deal better OH thar her poor little
greats granddaughter. She was rich,-oh, ever 40
rich! I've heard Aunt Marthy say that twenty
thousand pounds went to the furnishing OF her
house alone, and her wedding festivals cost a
fortune. She used To say that her own grand
mother said there never were such pearls out OF
Queens Golfers as those the bride wore that day
and she always wondered what became OF them all.
Well. she had everything she wanted all Ler DAYS,
and thats one consolation, for it's pleasant TO thluk
there somebody in our connection that did,
ran on Lydia. Dear, dear. just the slgnt OF that
dress calls back sort of phantom of the splendor"
Hold il up Lettie," cried Philis, who had come
in while Lydia was talking. 1Why. declare IT
isn't so bal now. It's Just pure 8>thctlcs ana
cream ored richncSs-and the old lace,-why, Tor
goodness sake, didn't Aunt Marthy ever rip OIL that
old lacef can't imagine her not turning that to
She must have forgotten it," said Lydia. But
DR.. Ferdinand said nothing he was looking
silently at LettIe; and Lettle sali nothing sue
was looking silently at the old gown.
It's perfect tint now, isn't TT continued
Lydia "And how lovely those buttons are from
the throat to the toe thick peas in pod are
almOst,-Od hsh-scae buttons. | suppose, the color
now of old India pearls,-what-no 1T cant be-
this gown on. to obliCc me You would certainly
look like girl after william Morris's own heart
She'd be pretty enough for one of the beautiful
women coming down Bnrne Joness staircase.
Come I'll 20 with yOu. IL Mira Winchester comes
in, should like her to sec It on you;Ithat would
settle one tablrau" and the whole thing said and
done in a moment. before Lcttie could understand
herself she on the stairs with LYDIA ana
Phils in her room. and down again in the dress.
with its soft, thick. creamy folds falling about her
feet and on the carpet, was not so tail rs the
ancestress whom it had last adorned. her beautiful
throat, rising from the yellow old lace; her lovely
arms half bare beneath It's Iuiics her shining blue
eyes, Ter tendrilled golden hair. the w0ndrOus
changing color of her check the ustre OF her starry
ewes. her innocent smile. all making Ferdinand
trenble before the picture she made with It's tender
and appealing beauty. why don't Won theh
whispered lydia to Ferdinand. 81 Now Is the only
tirn. vnu'll ar hay m N.
Mr.. Winchester is Mayor notary and justice all in
one"
A look of questioning wonder passed over DR..
Ferdinand's face. and then grateful Hash nj the
superior wit of womanknd and crossing 10 VT
Winchester who with his wife had joined them
while Lette was upstairs he murmurcd hnrred
sentence. and returned. and took Lett:e's hand IN
his before tho murmnr OF applause at bis sentence
hal quite died from the lips of the Winchesers and
Clara. And while LYDIA was still crying. = Now
what do YOU think of this for tahleau. Mrs.
Winchester Mr.. Winchester had stepped mp
before them and Was saving: Do you take this
woman TO he your welded W fe r.
" ] do" said Dr. Ferdinand sOlemnly.
|po you take this man to be yoni , welded nus
band ~ asked Mr.. Winchester OF Lettie. who
amazed and doubtful If she heard Alright was
turning to look at Ferdinand with still wider ewes
and trying to snatch her hand away from his that
held il fast lydia was Of that instant arranging
something at tho back Of Lettles run, ana Dnithg
mp her hand she quietly pressed Lettie'S head
assent. and the next moment MIR. Winchester
exclaimed: "Then in the name Of the laws OF the
commonwealth, | pFOHou lCS Won Hldb anu WHO
Those that God hath joined together. let no man
put asunder" And DR.. Ferdinand had ca.ped her
in his arms before them all, whispering. Ms wife
Nv wifel And Lettle had burst into trns
CRYING out. What have yOu done, what have you
doncT
." have married you.' said Or. Ferdinand. IL
was the only thing to do. and have done It,
q And there's nothing to regret about It" cried
the irrepressIb'e Lydia. Except that You have all
vour fortune on vonr back The idea of your being
snch an imprudent young person as 10 be married
in dress that is worth a farm y" And she ran
round in front Of letiie where that young person
stood sobbing against Fcrlinanl's shonl!cr. and
caught M the rich. soft sanddlwond smelling folds
of the wedding gown. " Do yOI SO these hutt"nsF
she said. ct" The color OF old India p'Ir,f HEY
are old India pearls Two dozen 81 tncm! ANA
they're worth two hun lrcd and ii " dollar apecu.
-Jessamy will give yon all OF that for them any
dav. And there's your little house and garden and
furniture and horse and cdllse all ready t. your
hand. Here come the smiles nOw-l knr" trey
wouli! sunshine after showor4. AcGnow ledge
that I'm good matchmaker, Iettio! mcln 10 st
up a matrimonial agency for Clara aud Phil now.
as soon as they get great graOdlnUthcrS dress
to lie married IN Poor Aunt Marthy bnilded
better than she knew. II she only hd known
1t makes me feel like thief II they wore my
own great lrandmother'>,' half sobboI lctle
" fOr If she only had known. never should have
had Miss Marthys legacy"
HARRIET PRrsCOrT SPOFFORD.