The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-06-19
THE SILK DRESS.


fence "Poor SOUL 1 never see he
chat don't think of that verse In til
Bible which says that "from him tha
hath not shall be taken even that whic
he hath" aud she sighed deeply.
Hooked from the window just in tim
% see Annie Beldon before she turne,
the corner of the next street. She wa
\ faded, careworn looking woman, lit
lie past middle age, with dark BROW
hair thickly sprinkled with gray. He
dress was rusty black cashmere, he
black shawl was decidedly shabby, and
her Grape bonnet was shabbier still
She looked neither attractive nor inter
ssting, and turned from the window
and took up my crocheting again, re-
marking only 'that she looked as if she
had had her share of SORROW"
Sometimes L think she has had q
good deal more than her SHARE" said
Aunt Jane. II know dozens of women
who have sunk into the grave under
only half as much. And the best of it
IS, she don't never complain. She is the
eheerfulest soul that ever breathed"
Does she live near here?" I asked,
more out of politeness than from any
zeal interest in the subject.
"No but she was my next door neigh
Dor for twenty-five years when this was
. farmhouse. The town lay two miles
off then, and we never looked to see it
grow right up to our very doors. An
are wouldn't be wcarin' such shabby |
slothes if there hadn't been mortgage
On their place. She could have sold
every acre at q good profit if it had
been free.",
ATell me all about her, Aunt Jane"
l said, as the old lady paused. you'll
have plenty of time before supper"
@Dear me, child, there isn't much to
tell, m maybe the little there is
wouldn't prove very interesting to you.
1 know Annie looks shabby, n old, m
gray now, N not much like she did
bbrrty years ago. We was girls togeth-
sr, m she was the prettiest n liveliest (
little thing [ ever saw. Her eyes was {
ss black as Goals, n her hair hung in ]
long curls to her waist. She had a i
laugh n good word for everybody, m c
more beaus than she could tend to. s
There was only two of 'em, though, t
hat she favored at all. One was Tom t
Layton"
THE owner of the Layton Mills ?" n
fl
YES; but he didn't own the mills h
hen. He was only superintendent C
hen, n though he was saving indus s;
rlous young man, no one looked to see II
I'm get to be millionaire But he
nd good salary, n his father was well u
o 40, n he was reckoned a good h.
,ateh for Annie. For q while folks tt
bought shell marry him; but he warn't h,
professor, m Annie set deal by her W
harch. She allowed that if she mar to
ed man who never went inside of one IL
ned be false to her principles. for the w
Idle says the righteous shall not be fir
Oked to the unrighteous, you know. W,
ON took it real hard at first, but he til
dn't bear Annie no i'll will, N when
10 married Luther Beldon he sent her ur
present. Luther, he was q co
nj steady young man, but somehow or lo
her he didn't have no luck. He had
good farm, but. work as he might, he ha
yer made nothin' more'n a bare livin,' tie.
Annie had to pinch n screw to keep wa
'thes on their back. She was a mas VIC
: hand at managin,' m she worked
c horse, but year after year went YET
n they didn't get no bet n
off. Drought N early frost n
} much rain, KEEP 'em alters be- i
,dhand, n'jest when they was thinkin' sta
y was goin' to do better there'd hen
ne something that would put'em got
TX again. wa
Luther he got discouraged, but fro
ME she never lost heart. Leastwavs lyil
; never seemed to. When they'd N
ne over here N Luther ned get to wal
iR' how crossways things alters went swe
him, she'd alters have something into
erful to say. She'd tell about it fou
long lane that had no turnin', N the
as alters darkest Jest before the day, the
here was alters silver linin' to every rat,
I'd, till Luther he'd get pleasant :"
in n ready to laugh with her over dea
II troubles. chill
Amt got treasure in my wife?' kne
say. Long as frost n mildew m new
DIS don't take her away from me, 1 deat
IS L can get along. him
They was over here to dinner the
was 80. was wearin' for the cam
time new black silk which John Jan,
given me for a birthday present. wate
as thick N soft N mighty hand pant
e, n Luther he didn't seem able to 81
, his eyes off it. won
wonder when I'll be able to give gent
. black silk, Annie? he said, put ava,
ms arm around her as she stood first,
MS chair. "We've been married he'd
n years. n amt been able to get Lutl
nothin' better'n calico stom
| don't need silk, says Annie. room
got all the dresses 1 can use now As
luther looked at ner real steady the
lie: linen he says, sorter slow n look
t, For all that, mean to get you ".
Annie. want to see how you'd n 81
IN IT. heart
No better'n I'd look In my blue de- "a
saws Anpia IL.