The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-07-31

from Aida v an AlStyne. just hear:
my Dear Nanny: | have only found out to-
day that your maids intend to wear low dresses.
never have given in to that style yet, but If
could sacrifice what you would call my prejudices
and call my principles on any OCCASION or for
have threatening cold Which must nuTse and
perhaps you will remember that had pneumonia
last winter, so / cannot for my health's sake,
sleeved dress. Now shall not feel at ali ag-
grieyed II you drop me from the company Of
bridesmaids on this account; but want you to
| let me know just as soon as possible so that
| may or may not engage Madame Delano.
| Yours lovingly,
"Isn't it too badl" exclaimed Nanny, as
she laid down the note
"Too good-to be true,' growled the doc
tor.
what shall do?" asked Nanny, looking
about her in sort Of mild despair. "She's
my intimate friend, and was going to be my
first bridemaid; she's such a nice contrast to
me, and Pm so fond of her! And she's sent
me the loveliest present I've had-such set
Of pale pink coral and pearls! Oh dearl''
Il should think she'd got some sense" put
in grandma. II don't see why you want to
make your weddin' KILN business to all
them poor young cre'tur's."
"That's just it. mother" said the doctor,
putting down the red apple he was quarter
ing. Last winter there was just such an
other wedding In December. All those girls
had to ride mile to the yestry of St. Paups;
form there, and tramp round TO the front door
Of the church; drop their wraps off at the
door, where the cold wird struck their bare
chests and shoulders; stand twenty minutes
at the altar; ride back that mile; and stand
up all the evening at reception so crowded
that the windows had to be dropped from the
top to prevent asphyxia; and then at mid
night drive back to their homes, the Their
mometer being six below zero. There were
six bridesmaids there: two had pneumonia
within the week; one had acute bronchitis !;
another. tonsilitis; the other two, being
tough or case hardened, escaped with severe
colds. So much for low dresses at church
weddingp'
NANNY wasn't one of 'em ?" asked grand
ma, anxiously.
'No; she went to the wedding. but by
vigorous researches into the possibilities of
fashion discovered that young women do
sometimes wear what they call V-shaped
neeks to their dresses-a fashion that only
exposes the most sensitive part of their
lungs both in front and at the back. How
ever, Madame Delano, the autocrat of our
city dressmakers, is a patient of mine, and
held counsel with her; so mistress Nan went
to that party in a very pretty as well as a re-
spectacle gown. for l had Madame I'LL in,'
as she called 1t, that absurd piece-of-pie
shaped neck with thick satin covered with
costly lace; and there were actual sleeves to
the gown, short, to be sure, but long kid
gloves met them, SO my daughters person
was not on exhibition like Barnum's fat
lady that night, and she was consoled for
being decent and warm against her will by
the expensive lace and some new bracelets"
"Oh, papaw exclaimed Nan.
THAT is just SO. my dear; and when you
came home did not you find a cup Of hot
broth waiting for you? and fire in your
room? Who do you think ordered that?"
Nan looked at her father with dimmed
eyes, and blew kiss at him across the table;
she just began to realize the care that had
surrounded her all her days.
But she must answer that note.
"What shall say to Aida, mammal
Mrs. Campbell was quiet, sweet, moth
erly woman; but, more sympathetic than
the doctor, she better understood how pow
erful fashion is with girls-how few have
strength of character to withstand its strin
gent If absurd demands.
Il don't think you can drop her, Nanny"
she said 81 think that would be unkind
and needless. She is to be first bridesmaid,
and therefore stands next to you; and As
you are to wear high dress, hers will not
be as conspicuous as If she were among the
others. agree entirely with your father.
and am glad it was not your suggestion
that the rest should wear low dresses"
So the matter was settled, and in due time
the wedding came off. 1t was pretty we'd
ding, as Nanny had assured grandma it
would be; but the old people at Traverse
did not come home to it: the snow lay deep
over all the country, the thermometer sank
to depths unusual even in New England,
and keen winds swept across the shining
drifts that seemed TO pierce the heaviest
| clothing
"We love We just as much, DEAR" wrote
| grandma, ''as though we come to see you
married; but we're old folks, and the
| weather is considerable cold for anybody to
be out in; and he is threatened some with
sciatiky, so we dursn't resk it. So we send
| you a little matter to buy a weddin' present
| with, bein' you're all the gran'child we've
| got, and do We get somethin' real useful or
comfortable with it for to remember your
very lovin' grandpa and grandma"
| A check for five hundred dollars fell from
the letter. "Ohw exclaimed Nanny. "Now
L can have a seal-skinl 1 didn't want to
| ask father for it,"
| While the bridal procession was forming
| / am afraid even at the altar, certainly at
| the after reception--the "best man" was OBJ
| served by disinterested spectator to turn
| his eyes very often upon AliGa Van Alstyne
No wonder; she was very lovely girl, and
| tonight was at her best; the delicate rose
| satin that clothed her stately 1.-THE figure up
| to her throat and down to her wrists shone
| like pale sunset through the filmy lace that
was draped over it and caught up with blush
| roses; where the lace crossed her bosom in
| soft folds from. either shoulder bunch of
| the same roses nestled, and the fril Of rich
lace that stood up about her throat was held
in place apparently by collar of silver fill
gree, fine as frost-work, clasped by rose OF
pink coral in whose heart sparkled diamond
dew-drop; the short veil that rested on her
eoronet of dark hair was held by rose and
Its bud; the whole dress was exquisite. And
best OF all, warm natural color lit her fine
lace, and she looked as she felt, comfortable
and at ease
But the others-poor soulsl how could
they help itp-were pinched with cold; their
cheeks colorless, their pretty noses absolutely
blue; and Rosina Leavitt could not smother
with her utmost efforts and her lace hand
kerchief the incessant little cough that made
DR.. Campbell knit his forehead and stir I'M
easily in his seat for he knew the girl had a
sad inheritance of blood: her mother came
of consumptive family.
DR.. Everett Adams did not forget his adj
miration for the first bridemaid'' when this
wedding was over. He became more and
more devoted, and the next September So
i o.o4x, g., ID rlaa cod hut mt a