The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-02-19

dI|EHSAkSW 1@% silk dress
TS@ ia which she had
'NMy-MM yel'i Just taken from
i DVSAW MI its many soft
Is wrappings.
.1t,s =, most beautiful thing I ever
" " > sn aau Hattie Gimp, signing,
"g Mis-; vs' Luella caught the tone, and
,, M turned to her niece. -,
p'v "E,ttie Edna Gimp" she said
.,onlv r next month I'll DO fifty-flve
s ss.rs I'D. Not" she said with dig
y .;tr chat you ced blab that all
m nrc'nna town. dat see any call for
a . voman to tell her age to everybody
y ''e ss she's that poorly she looks older
:, '''s sbo is. But ffty-fve is what 1
S She dropped into a rockingham
and punctuated her remarks with
rapjd, unceasing swings.
I'm all those years I amt ever been
:, . raal narty, and I amt ever had q
nartv dress. What do you think OF
t, Hattie Edna Gimp?''
Hsttie's soft little face flushed up to
her ps!e golden hair as she said, u
haven't either, Aunt Luella:" ~ =,
"Youp and Miss Perkins shifted
uWhv Won amt Init
nineteen years old. How'd you e1-
meet to go at that age?"
"Most girls" said Hattie timidly,
but surely, 81 guess, do go before
then"
swell, exclaimed Miss Perkins,
"vhy amt you been?"
Hattie looked at Der reproachtully'
"You Know she said slowly.
"Wheu I was going to school mother
had all she could do to keep me there
let aoh ,1elressing me up for parties
And slsss she died, why" the CIR
chokeaand went up to the elder WON
anand puther arms aroundher-"why
il it had not been for you guess
should have been in the poorhouse
instead of having q lovely home her.
and chance to study music" AM
she patted her aunt's shoulder aztec
tionately.
Miss Luella's face softened, but SD
spoke brusquely.
"Pooh! You more'n pay for you
keep; you're so handy and comfort
able round the house. I declare,
didnt know how lonesome twas be
fore you came. But, as for partie
and party dresses, there's plent
chances for you yet. And I CUES
you won't be fifty-fve before you g
one. You've got better start'n lhat
''Till was thirty-fve," she went G
tuminatingly, "eyery cent l got wei
to help support drunkard fathe
There wasn't any extra left for part
dresses, tell you. Then, when |
died, l had hard time scrubblf
along, looking after the boys. Al
by that time, even if I'd had al
money to buy party dresses with,
didn't have any party to go to. 3
three years ago, when Uncle Ed Il
me this house in Boston, and NOV
here and began to take boarders,
thought I'd go around lots.
But" and she sighed a puzzl
sigh, though I've been to chur
regular, and joined the missionary
ciety, somehow they don't seem to
very sociable folks. 7 amt had s.
gle invitation TO a single dressy THU
Most I've been to is the picnics out
riverside in the summer, and a chul
fair this winter. Queer-'taint
way I should think folks would do.
guess I'm glad you've gone to
Boardman's. They seem easier to
acquainted with.
However" and her face brig
,ened, nov that our minister's N
ttled, and is going to give RECEIPT
IN MS new house, I've got chance
goto a real party. I suppose it's $
LOT a woman Of my age, but I declt
I've Just ached for a beautiful pc
a.fess, ever since I was little I
IKE you, and had to refuse one Of
lew invitations I ever had"
der sallow face flushed, as
looked somewhat apologetically at
lavender silk on the couch.
I'm glad you've got it," said ]
We alphabetically, 'and you'll
lovely in it, I'm sure"
But she glanced a little doubt
~ the dress as she spoke. Miss Ii
was ss not old, Of course, but the
slk seemed aggressively youthful.
aer aunt held the waist against
.see' Aattie's clear eyes suddenly
.nat the rosy lavender made the IS
lace asse look {" (, q sickly green, and the
a. nuny trimmings only empha:
we wrinkles and the gray hair.
-. but Miss Luella only saw that
SOIL shining stuff was her very d
u party dress, and it never occ,
g. ner that it could be unbecor
no' though Hattie was much trou
sls sad nothing to mar her a