The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-23
The Pink-sprigged Calicoes.

After an intimacy between the families
dating from tho prehistoric times or their
mothers sChOOl-days. after "A bringing
up" on much tho same general plan,
after being CTcouraced IN spenitng most
Of tho eight years of their lives In each
others society. Mary Jane WilhOit ana
Mary Ann Clcre we're suddenly gwen 10
understand that any intercourse between
81 Without and a Clore was thenceforth
and forever forbidden.
Punishment swiftly followed any 1isre-
gard of this iniUrCtiCn-as. for instance,
on that occasion when Mary Jane was
seen TO nod over the palings Of her front
fence toward a break in the hedge sur
rounding the CCre residence. through
whica Mary AIMS small face peered ou..
After that. wheI ever the little. girls met
Mary James black eyes fOllowtsi the
upward tendency of her pert little nose
and eaZed ~hCaNtnward. while Mary AIMS
soft blue ones meekly sought the ground.
Nevertheless. Mary James spirit chafcd
within her. and Mary AIMS tears spotted
tho green six dress of the new doll that
her father bought 10 console her. For
Mary AIMS loyal heart declared that
no number OF china-fcaded babies could
ever mn the absent Mary James place.
This quarrel between their fathers, 1t Is
pitiful 20 say. heeal over church mat
ters. n now Mary Jane must Wend her
way alone 10 Mount Carmels sunday
school. and must sit through the service
and face the rows OF peNs LETT empty
by tho absent Chores ana their sympa-
thi2crs.
AS for Mary Ann. she was. perforce,
: one OF the discontinued faction. which
was made up principally OF the vast fami-
3y of the Chores. rect, branch, and RANT
fcatiCns. They were promising 10 build
themselves a church where Clore authori-
" need brock no Without interference,
and I'm the meantime were holding ocoa-
sional services IN the courthouse.
One hot morning IN June. Mary Ann
had sighed fun a dozen times as she sat
on the doorstep. and lad almost as often
turned her head with It's double TOW or
little curls IN the direction Of the WI
hOits' front doors tep. where Mary Jane
dear Mary Jare-was Just visible be
tween tho rCse-hlghcS. Mary Jane had a
pert little plat tied UP at each temple
and also a tight braid behind each ear.
The courthouse bell struck twelve.
Mry Ann rose. put on her sunhonnet and
went TO the gate 10 meet her father.
Also. as the bell tOllcd the hour, Mary
Jane Tut on or bonnet, came down the
front walk and climbed mp on the base
boari Of he; gate; but Mary James eyes
looked f~utItullY up tie street N the Olrcc-
ton from which her father was wont to
come. While Mary Ann Gazcd DOWN that
thcroughfare.
MARY AIMS father. arriving first. glanc-
ed al the one little figure in Drown calico
dress. green %gingham apron, and sun
hornct hanging over his own rustic gate
Then he glanced az the other small fig
urc. also in lr0wn calico. green singhan
apron and sunbCIrct. which hung over
the white picket gate opposite. lie then
frownci. ana lifting Mary Ann down, led
her into the house.
Mary AIMS mother. who had been pre-
serving fruit and felt the neat. cid not
take kindly TO her husbands objections
10 the similarity OF the wardroDes OF
Many Ann ana Mary Jane.
Living so near and planning and sew
ing together, IL was only natural 10 ran
into dressing them alike She said. "and
anyhow. whether II was tOOlishness or
not. YOU can't expect me 10 turn IN now
and make over every stitch OF Mary AIMS
clothes, just because you and he saw nj
TO fan out
"But they needn't wear exactly the
same az the same time, need they req
sOncd Mary AIMS father. cooling down
now that he had washed his face and
come into tho breezy dlnios-rOOm.
I'd Nke TO know how We are 10 change
or demanded Mrs. ClOre. as they sat
down 20 dinLer. They have these brown
~oalicocs for ono week AMI the spotted
ones Tor the next. and their rosebud de-
lanes for sunday. and how 20 change
them around 1 utn't see, unless 1 make
Mary Ann wear "a srcss two weeks. which
isn't decent. / feckcn sh0 On't take any
hdrt dressing like Mary a a whine
longer. and I know Maria Without Is
sensible enough 20 make Mary Jane wear
hers just the same. tco, until they are
worn OUT
When Mr.. Clorc spoke again Il was on
p different subject. II hear Mount Car
mel is 10 have its picnic on the fourth
OF July, the SEINE as usual, he said.
May Ann pushed her gooseberry-pie
away but half.caten. and went and stood
~ her fathers elbow. AND U.S. said
Mary Ann. her hanis ticht clasped. her
checks pink. Mount Carmcls annual pic
ME was the event OF the whole year,
and Mary Ann was no ioascr a Mount
Carmeiitei
wei stay NJ heme ana THINK on the
rood ,s',o deas ourselves falling egL