Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-02-03
II wish, then, I could afford to get

know you can't, and, anyway, 1 guess
| I'm not too proud to wear that nice
brown cashmere"
Miss Perkins face glowed, and she
started impulsiyely to say something,
but instead only chuckled softly.
The reception at her minister's was
to be on Monday evening". When the
time came for her to dress, she refused
all Hattie's offers of assistance, and
locked herself in her room alone.
| Three-quarters of an hour later. a
| handsome woman in black, courtesied
graciously before Hattie, and said, So
| berly:
How do you like your blackbird
aunt?"
What in the world" exclaimed her
niece. Then. before Miss Perkins could
answer, 'Oh! but how pretty you look,
Aunt LueIIa!"
Miss Perkins smiled little grimly.
well, concluded an old woman like
me had better stick to her own colOrs.
When it came to putting on that light
dud. couldn't make up my mind to it.
Made Inc feel as if I'd have to be intro
duced to myself"
MY" said Hattie, with an unsus-
picious hug, you don't know how glad
1 am! You look ever so much better
in this than in the lavender"
Miss Perkins gave a grunt. To be
sure she did not want Hattie to realize
| the sacrifice she was making. Yet she
felt a little indignant at the girls man
ner.
Just as it, she said to herself, at
was for my good instead of hers!"
Something in the elder woman's ex-
preston made Hattie look at her keen
~.
aunt Luella.'' she said. slowly,
what are you going to do with the Law
ender silk?''
"Oh! that?" replied her aunt
well, as amt going to wear it. you
nights well have it. 'Twon't take
much altering to fit you first-rate."
"Aunt Luella! Aunt Luella!" ex-
claimed Hattie, with tears in her
voice and eyes. you've just done this
for me; you know you have. And
won't let you. When you've wanted a
party dress for so long. guess can
do without one for little while. You
shan't do it. you shan't." And she
Rugged her aunt convulsively.
Miss Luella's face beamed affection
ately, but she spoke with asperity.
Hattie Edna Gimp, we amt got
to where you can say shall or
'shan't' to your aunt. I'm going to
wear this gown tonight, and you're 60
ing to wear the lavender silk to-mor-
row. And the less words we have about
it, the better. When 1 was your age,
I took what was given me and was
thankful"
With much dignity. which did not
in the least impose upon her grateful,
fearful niece, Miss Perkins left for
the reception.
Arrived at the minister's house. she
took off her wraps slowly, and looked
with much interest at the rather elab-
orately-dressed women about her. 1t
was not so easy when she saw the many
light, rich gowns, to feel quite so
happy over her own black silk as she
had pretended.
That lavender she said to herself,
would have been just the thing. I do
feel countrified in this. Now. there's
Miss FitZwilliams"-as she spied one
of the few women she knew-"that is
an elegant green, but it amt a bit
handsomer than my lavender. I'd like
to have had her see it,
Then with a sigh she called herself
to order. ''LueIla Perkins, for a wom-
an of your age. you're a wailing in
FAINT. And at the minister's, too. I'm
ashamed of you"
Miss Fitzwilliams and Miss Perkins
Z
introduced to the minister's wife. She
was lovely, simply-dressed young girl,
with a cordial handshake and a man
ner that made Miss LuelIa think of the
fresh summer breezes that used to blow
about her old country home.
''She amt a mite stuck-up," she said
to herself. Il guess she came from the
country; she is so pleasant"
Miss Perkins was watching her from
behind some tall palms as she decided
this. and just then the bride turned
TO her husband.
Henry. who was that handsome
woman dressed in black who came in
awhile ago?"
isn't that rather an inadequate de-
scriptiOn?' laughed her husband.
ooh! you must know whom / mean
She was with that absurGly -dressed
Miss Fitzwilliams. Why will a woman
of her age put on clothes only fit for
young girl?"
"'Sh." whispered her husband. with
some amusement. Yes, I know now.
1t was Miss Perkins. I'm glad you liked
her. Somehow she always reminds me
of my mother. l don't believe she has
many friends in the city. and I'm sure
she'd like to know you. She has very
rare nature, or 1 am much mistaken"
I'm going to see her tomorrow"
said his wife. with enthusiasm. she
has n beautiful face. and it is such a
relief to see woman who hasn't let
the city spoil her. Sometimes. Henry,
1 wish we had little church in a quiet
country village"
Miss Luella suddenly realized that
she was listening to conversation not
intended for her ears. With a deep
blush. she moved away, her heart in
tumult.
And it actually was for my own
good" she said to herself. 81 guess
won t talk about self-sacrifice any more.
l reckon we get our pay for anything
halfway decent we make ourselves do"
When she got home. late as it was,
she took off her black dress and care
fully arrayed herself in the lavender.
Then she looked at herself in the mir.
ror, long and critically.
at is queer" she said to Hattie, "but
ha TINA 7 avar how this