Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-02-29

would endure, DuU Ju6y WOuIu not pub |
ish to the world the fact of what they
we're called upon to endure.
And yet-and yet-at the end of
preparations were on hand for
all their friends to come and see this
wonder ul Edith, with full knowledge
ON the part of the family, that Edith
would undoubte dly surpass all her previ-
Gus effor on this occasion in the art of
decorations. Edith, however, had her
own plans. On the evening before the
solemn entertainment, she slipped up
stairs, took off all her bangs, brushed
her hair down perfectly smooth and
straight over her little ears, twisting it
very plainly behind, and then drew
from her trunk little gown of pale
grey cashmere, reaching barely to her
ankles, and without ruff1e or a fold,
except the fewest possible pleats at the
waist, and absolutely gulltless of orna-
of any kind. A tiny scarf Of
white illusion was crossed over her
breast, and her contemplated toilet was
complete. Neve theless, she surveyed
herself in the glass with evident dis
satisfaction.
"Dear me, mamma, it isn't half so
bad as / thought it would be- [ meant
to look like fright, and after all it's
pr vate theatricals | should think my
self immense. Oh, dear ! suppose they
should like me best this way after all p
1t was sorrowtul blow to her hopes
on this trump card to find herself ex-
ceedingly pretty. She was perfectly
conscious of a certain piquant charm in
her novel appearance that might undo
her after all. Still she would run the
risk. She was a per ect little actress.
If anything had been needed to effect
Roberts complete subjugalion, after his
first vision of her loneliness at the Har-
ward Assemblies, il was supplied when
he saw her the week after IN some pri-
vate theatricals. She could appear to be
a Quakeress just as effectively as she
could act her more natural self in a very
different world and it was with face
and accent and manner perfectly adapt
ed to her new toilet that she quietly en-
tered the parlor again after her escapade
upstairs, and said demurely to Roberts
mother:
Rachel, would thee like me to wear
this gown tomorrow evening for thy
friends ?'
There was subdued whistle of de-
light from the reconstructed Robert in
the corner. But Roberts mother gave
no sign.
"rhee must wear just what thee
pleases, Edith. If it pleases thee bet
ter to wear thy gown of red silk"
And the wise Edith understood hui
man nature well enough to be sure that
Rachel would not be altogether disap-
pointed ifhe pretty future daughter-in-
law should consider her toilet and reap
pear in the dainty gowns she had been
exhibiting for the past fortnight.
"And what does Samuel think %
Edith asked, passing on to stand before
Roberts father.
Samuel thinks" said the old gentle
man slyly, "that thee had better ask
Robert"
''Oh, nc, papa Samuel; that would not
be any test atall; thee knows perfectly
well that Robert likes me in anything"
said Roberts iancee demure4y.
"And so do | like thee IN anything"
said papa Samuel, with unexpected gal
lantr,. "But / thir k | ike thee best,
Edith, in red. Thee knows we Quakers
like to follow the way that is most SIM
pie and natural, and / think red is the
most natural for thee. [ think thee
must have been born in that red silk of
time. Thee Is very sweet to me, my child
in this Quaker gray; but we Quakers,
thee knows, do not approve of theatre
Gals, and | think tonight thee is trying
to play a part. Thee acts it very pref
lilly, Eduh, but [ advise lhee to go back
to nature and thy red gowns"
So the battle was won, and tie result
proved that Edith was quite able to
not only Roberts relations,
but Robert relations friends. When,
a year later, she came back to them
hrI.i 10 q k,,,4
thing left for her to conquer. Robert
had prepared her for a posi- BILE visit
from elderly friends who might think it
their du Y to demonstrate with her, or
vi h him, on this very worldly mar
riage, and 1T was, In truth, hardly
month before he IAN upstairs one after
noon as she was dressing with the an
noun, ement. that the probable counsel
ors were king off their overcoats In the
hall.
She hesitated moment; but her hes
italion rose merely tIom a moments
consideration of whether she had any
other gown IN er wardrobe that would
more distinct y her inten-
ton 10 adhere to her own traditions.
She desided that the long trailing skirt
of pale green cashmere with It's bor-
der of pare plush and its sash of wa
e'ed silk, was sufficiently worldly
W hen one took into cons deration the
jewel that sparkled In the faces at her
throat, the 'ainty lace-edged handker-
chief and the perfectly groomed little
curls over her white forehead. She
paused only to slip one more bangle
over her round wrist, and then, kissing
her husband, foated downstairs.
Robert never knew what she said or
did TO the old gentlemen in the parlor.
He hung over the bannisters and caught
the echoes OF her s,lvery little laughs,
and Jaw the maid carry tea in the par
lor, and al the end OF an hour descend
ed the stairs himself. as the old gentle
men emerged from the do rway. de
termined to stand Ivy Edith tn the lat.
if she happe ned 10 have had hard time.
He knew that some rernonstra" ce would
be quietly dealt out to himself, even
during the brief vestibule episode of
farewell; but to his a-tonlshment, as he
stepped onward to help the old gent e.
men with their overcoats. the Que who
was evidently spu kesnan Tor e party
or sped Ills hand and said heartily:
Friend Robert, thee has married wei p
loft. u,f1 thar, l.,x,