, 1888-01-14

but that isn't what they call him."
"And what is low dresses?'' queried
grandma.
"Oh, low necked, and with no sleeves;
just a strap across the shoulder, you
know"
"Good gracious" exclaimed the old
lady, looking over her spectacles with a
glare of horror. 81 should think that
was low! Dreadful low, too. They'd
ought to be 'shamed of themselves"
"Why, gram, it's the fashion"
81 don't care nothing about that, child;
it amt decent, nor it amt pretty. Who
ant to see them girls bones? and girls
in these days haven't got much more'n
skin and bones. Mabbe that young doc
tor may like studyin' of 'em, and SEEM
now the j'ints work; but 1 should ruther
be a dead skeleton than a live one, if 1
was agoin' to be studied by a young doc
tor"
'Grandpa, 1 do think you're dreadful!
Why, Alice Brook has got neck M arms
ike n baby; and Rosina Leavitt's are
lovely, too, if she is a little dark"
well, anyway, Icall it cruelty to an
mails to hey them girls go out in that con-
dition of n cold winters night into a big
draughty church. Be you goin' low
too?''
''Oh, no. It's not the fashion for
brides. I'm goin' to nave white satin,
high to the throat and down to the
wrists, with beautiful lace all about it"
Il guess your pa wouldn't let you go
any other way" dryly remarked grand
ma.
Il guess he'd have to, if twas the
fashion, y pouted Nanny.
"Well, fools amt all dead yet" re-
torted grandma, with some severity.
"When l was married twas daylight,
and to home. Eben and me was going
down to Boston for a spell; he was in old
Silas Bunker store then. 1 had on a
dark blue cloth habit with frogs onto it,
and a big Leghorn bonnet with a white
feather, real long and curly, an some
red roses under the front ont. Twas
warm an sensible for a long ride in Sep
TENDER, and our folks thought 1 looked
considerable we'll"
The old lady's Keen dark eyes and deli
cate aquiline profile, though the waved
hair was now snow white and the small
mouth had lost its color and f~ullness,
made Nancy acquiesce in our folks"
verdict.
81 guess you looked just lovely, grand
ma, butt
"Say! here's the doctor!'' screamed
Thankful Bangs, who was setting the
table for dinner, and Nanny's speech
never was finished, for she and grandma
rushed out to meet the welcome guest.
Two hours after, when the dinner had
been discussed and the guests were pick
ing out their walnuts and butternuts, the
never failing last course at Traverse for
a Thanksgiving dinner, Mrs. Campbell
said, suddenly: "Oh, Nanny, 1 quite for
got. Here's a little note that came for
you after you left"
Nanny took the envelope, and after
the fashion of women eyed it on the put
side, turned it over and examined the
seal, and then returned it and inspected
again the direction and the postmark.
Seems to me it would be a quicker
way to find out who wrote it if you
opened it, remarked DR.. Campbell.
Nanny laughed and broke the seal.
'Oh, dearl" she said, after running
through the brief missive. 'Isn't this
provokingl 1t is Aida Van Alstyne.
Just hear:
"MY DEAR NANNY have only found
out today that your maids intend to
wear low dresses. 1 never nave given in
to that style yet, but if 1 could sacrifice
what you would call my prejudices and
l call my principles on any occasion, or
for any one, it would be now for you.
However, l have a threatening cold,
which l must nurse, and perhaps you
will remember that I had pneumonia last
winter, SO l cannot, for my health's
sake, wear anything but a high necked
and long sleeved dress. Now 1 shall not
feel at all aggrieved if you drop me from
the company Of bridesmaids on this ac-
count; but l want you to let me know
just as soon as possible, SO that 1 may or
may not engage Mime. Delano. Yours,
lovingly. Aida VAN ALSTYNE.'
'tIsn't it too badr' exclaimed Nanny,
as she laid down the note.
TOO good-to be true" growled the
doctor.
"What shall 1 do2" asked Nanny,
looking about her in a sort of wild de-
spair. 'She's my intimate friend, and
was going to be first bridemaid; she's
such a nice contrast to me, and Pm so
fond of her! And she's sent me the
l~oveliest present I've had-such a set of
pale pink coral and pearlsl Oh, deari''
81 should think she's got some sense"
put in grandma. 81 don't see why you
WANT W HldhS yOuI "euuln u hllLIl
business to all them poor young Gre
turs."
THAT'S just it, mother - said the doc
tor, putting down the red apple he was
quartering. Last winter there was Just
such another wedding in December. All
those girls had to ride a mile to the YES
try of st. Paul's; form there, and tramp
round to the front door of the church.;
drop their wraps off at the door, where
the ,cold wind struck their bare chests
and shoulders; stand twenty minutes at
the altar; ride back that mile; and stand
up all the evening at a reception 30
crowded that the windows had to be
dropped from the top to prevent as
phyxia; and then at midnight drive back
to their homes, the thermometer being
six below zero. There were six bride
maids 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 a church weddingl''
Nanny wasn't one of 'em?" asked