, 1897-10-08
you'll zee tr yourself; don't ask me-"

Poor lille Joan! What can she b.
planning for me to wear? The pool
little dot don't have a penny that she
can call her own, and she hasn't q bi,
OF skill with her needle"
Mrs. Meade shook her head doubtful
lily.
I'm afraid it is something altogether
unsuitable for you to wear. and it would
almost break her heart-and her faith
er's, too. for that matter-not to have
you wear the gift. whatever it is"
Calista's face flushed, and the tender
light in her eyes grew brighter, as she
said, with that little air OF determine,
ton that her mother understood and
always respected:
Whatever it is. I shall wear it. Why,
| would sooner wear a tin teakettle on
my head than grieve two such loving
hearts as Joan's and Uncle Ben's."
A reckless vaunt, thought Mrs. Meade,
but she wisely held her peace; and
when, early Monday morning. she
Caught sight Of Uncle Ben's sorrel mare
in the distance. her heart misgave her.
Nor can we wonder at her nervous soil.
cisude. considering that every item OF
the young debutante's dress had been
carefully selected and arranged (only
that morning a box OF beautiful hot
house roses for her corsage bouquet
had been received from the New York
cousins), and now not a glove button
or slipper tie could be changed without
marring the general effect.
Good mornin'. Mary-good mornin',
lCalisty! Snappin' cold weather this.
Well. now. what did 1 tell ye?" setting
the box gingerly upon the table, and
giving his niece a tap upon the arm
meant 10 be at once jocose and tender.
"Didn'; tell We that the present should
be on hand in time fr the show?"
Meanwhile the old man had carefully
removed the paper wrapper from the
box. and with a good deal OF tantalizing
deliberation wound the pink Irvine into
a tiny ball before lifting the cover and
holding up the contents with a little air
OF triumph. for the inspection of his sis
Ter and her daughter.
There, now-look at EN-! and see
II you ever put yer eyes on anything as
true to natur' as them be-"
And really there was good reason for
the boast, as Calista heartily acknowl,
edged. Upon a bed Of pretty green moss
lay a bunch Of tissue-paper chrysanthe>
NUNS, glowing yellow beauties, 50 per-
feet in tint and form that, for an in
slant, Mrs. Meade's critical eye was de-
ceived.
why Benjamin, where'd you get
chrysanthemums this time O. the year,
and MOI a greenhouse within 20 miles %
But as Calista tenderly lifted them
from the box. the soft rustic of their
papery petals betrayed them, and the
rhree laughed merrily in concert.
Didn't l tell We they most wen ahead
a nature" queried the old man, in high
glee; but Calista was silently reading
The note that had lain between them
a h%alf-sheet OF paper, uron which was
scrawled with a pencil, in poor Joan's
cramped. unused hand:
Won't you wear these tonight, dear
Calista. at your reading? T hey'll match
your dress I know. for I got Aunt Mary
o give me a piece OF that, and I looked
cut that the yellow was just the shade
to go with it. I do so wish that I could
see and hear you tonight; but 1 can,
uniess-Oh, dear 'Lista! would 1t be too
much bother for you to step in a min,
Ute on your way, and let me have just
one look at you in your beautiful silk
gown, with my flowers on your bosom?
But Il 1t would be too much oil a put,
ou', don't do 1t. for father is going 20
hear you, and he will tell me all about
it. do 80 hope that you'll have a great
success tonight, and I almost know
thaG you will. Lovingly. JOAN"
The tears were running down the
girls cheeks as she read the concluding
words. and there were tears in her voice
as we'll. as she said, touching tenderly
the long. curled petals that had cost
her little cousin so many hours OF weary
work:
Tell Joan. Uncle Ben, that i will
plan to spend an hour with her before it
Is time for the reading to begin. And
IL she wants me to, l will go over a part
OF my programme for the evening, for
her special ear. No. no. don't thank
me! ITS little enough for me to do in
the way OF thanks for her beautiful
gilt"
But Mrs. Meade's face wore a look OF
troubled perplexity; and her brother
was scarcely u Of hearing before she
broke forth. impat!ently:
you don't mean that you're going to
stand up there. before an audience OF
the very best folks in Fairfield, rugged
cut in tissue paper flowers? You'll make
yourself the laughing stock OF the town,
wearing such gaudy things in public
They are such perfect limitations
that. seen from q distance, l don't be-
lieve that my n will mistrust that they
are not the real flowers"
Perhaps not" assented her mother,
ruefully; but wen il they are taken
for the real flowers. who ever heard Of
wearing chrysanthemums in ones
gown? They're q pretty enough garden