The Coconino weekly sun., 1896-04-23
THE WEDDING DRESS.

How we'll remember it all. We were ,s'tting round the fire in the oak parlor of the old Dover house at Cromer- mother. Aunt Lettje and I. Dear Aunt Lettie. how beautiful she was still despite her snow-white hair; and though she was 3S, her complexion was as fresh and bright as any young girls. We were chatting over the peace just rroclaimed-the peace that ended the long war with France; the war that tasted 20 years.
 was at my mothers feet watching the faces gather among the glowing cmbers-they were ever the same face 10 me. the face of dear Jack Pendarves. Perhaps ought not to say he was my lover, though we had been sweethearts since we were children; but he had been away at the wars three years, and my mother would hear of no en- eagement, and would permit me to do DO more than write and receive an oc- casional letter. Still, I had broken a s!Xpence with Jack where we partetl; and, as softly touched my half, which always carried, prayed that my love had been true to me, as I knew I had been to him. Yet I feared; for had he not been everywhere, and surely he had seen many faces fairer than mine ?
 "I suppose" said my mother, "NIaj Pendarves will be coming home now. We'll. Sir John and Lady Pendarves will be thankful. Come in, Martha, what is it?"
 "Please, ma'am. letter from Sir John; man from the hall has just ridden over with it."
 "See that he has some refreshmert before he goes, Martha, and give hiIa this" taking some money from her reticule.
 What is it, Mary?" inquired my aunt of my mother, who was reading the note through a second time. "'No i'll news, I trust"
 "Oh, no; read it yourself, Letitia," passing the letter.
 "Of course, the child cannot go; she has nothing to wear; there is not even time to get her dress from Norwich, still less from Londcn, as you know intended"
 Cannot go where?" ventured. "Is it anything about me?"
 "Yes. my dear. Sir John writes that the masquerade given to celebrate the return of their son is to take p ace 6 month earlier than was at first ar ranged, in fact, is fixed for to-day week, as Jack-Maj. Pendarves, shoul say is expected on that day"
 Jack coming back on Wednesday! Oh, mother, cannot I go? I must go. I have been so looking forward 10 it. And I have not seen Jack, dear Jack, for three years. I wonder if he has altered, if he has forgotten me. Oh, only seven days more, and he will be here and I shall see him again. Oh. mother, cannot I go?"
 Aunt Letitia, who had been turning the letter over and over thoughtfully in her white hands while we talked, said:
 Mary, there is that dress, you know, which was to have been my wedding gown. If Lettie likes she may wear it. Hoops and powder would do for mas querade; they were worn 20 years ago."
 "My dear Letitia," cried my mother betraying her surprise alike in face and voice, you surely cannot mean that":
 "Yes, Mary; it may as we'll be of some use at last. Lettie is a good girl, are you not?" batting my head; "and don't want her to be disappointed"
 must tell something of my dear aunt's life, that you may understand why my mother and were touched to surprise. Twenty years before, my aunt, then IS. and the belle of Dawlish (some said of Devonshire), was en- gagged to be married to handsome Count