The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-08
DoLLY'S DILEMMA.
BY CATHERINE JEwETT.


as little child 4 did my sums" with
out say. conscious effort. Indeed, it was
my well known '11nack at figgerin',"
that induced old Deacon Dudley. the
supervisor, to bestow upon me the
much coveted Center school. 1t was the
largest in town, the hardest, and the
best paid. l was only Is at the
time. but family misfortunes followed
by the sickness and death of my
father, made the necessity for employ
lnent urgent and imperative.
Heavily handicapped by youth and
fnexperience, my first term was a sue
cession Of disappointments and dlsIllu-
siors.
Gradually. as 1 became acquainted
with my pupils and accustomed to my
duties. ! acquired the faculty of adj
justing myself to my surroundings,
after which my work became much
easier and more satisfactory. Term
after term passed, until felt my posi-
tion to be assured. For six years held
st. ciphering annually through the
higher algebra, TO the wonder OF my
pupils and the satisfa etiOn of their
parents. Being q district school, there
could be no real graduation, but grad
daily the day had taken upon itself the
dignity and Importance of an annual
celebration.
At first 1 had been one of its most
enthusiastic supporters. believing that
its coveted successes would not only
stimulate ambition and reward INDUS
try but would also tend toward the
establishment of a much-needed free
high school. Yet l now realized, with
pain, that it babe fair TO be a culmlna-
ton OF jealousy, unkind emulation and
unnecessary eXtravagance.
The leader in every extravagant de-
vice was, naturally enough, Muriel Ma
4, To- .,rf 1aa ,sfa
ia town. Born to command, she held
her own against all opposition until
the subject OF a dress was preached.
In her case the important gown was
Is be a dainty creation of white ace
and surah. therefore she decreed that
her classmates should likewise drape
Themselves in white.
THAT is not fair" protested Lura
Haley, who delighted in gay fabrics
and vivid coloring. Il am sure l dom
want to accentuate my natural ugn-
ness
1T won't make any difference on the
stage" said Nluriel with careless I'M
kindness
further opposition WAS hazarded, Inc
white. dress rule was supposed to De
imperative. That evening Dolly Kemp
ton came to me- her pretty face cloud
ed, her young arms loaded
Poor Dolly: I OWNED her trouble be-
fore she voiced it. She was a dellcate
little creature, studious and renneu,
vet not exactly popular among her
mates She was poor. undisguisedly
End undeniably so. She lived Win
her widowed mother and an aged
woman. known as Aunt Mary, queer,
irresponsible old body, who, with the
slightest possible claim. had ouroeheo
them for years. With pauDerIsm star
40 h
shelter to Mrs. Kempton, who was her-
self in straightened circumstances. Inc
connection between them was OF the
slightest. and entailed neither legal nor
moral obligations; Yet she cared Tor the
moor soul kindly, so stretching her
n,eager income that il covered the pare
necessities Of life for the three, her
self. her daughter and their perennial
guest.
Knowing the circumstances. l could
well understand what d perpleNlng
question graduating expenses must De
IN that pinched household; but was
hardly repared for the solution ~hlch
Doliy's big bundle contained. she
one,led ii. spreading before my aston
ished eyes a garment quantity beauu-
ful in tint ard texture. but grotesque
in figure and design. An ancient dress
Of white silk tissue. gayly brocaded
,,-ith huge garlands of pink roses and
green leaves. The fabric itself Was eA-
auisitely fine and delicate, the ground
work time yellowed into the soltesl
IVORY tint: but alas, the passing years
had wrought no such refining change
unon the over blown roses and over
grown leaves. running riotously over
The scant skirt and low bodice of this
impossible gown.
"Oear Miss Deacon said Dolly. with
?. little nervous laugh that had in il a
hint Of tears, do you mink thas my
circumstance. or combination OF CIR
cuustances, could make t ones duty
to wear that for graduating dress.
TlSoked at her in establishment
..Nfother wants me TO wear 1t, she
went on. and indeed l want TO, after
a fashion: yet, all the same, my soul
sbhors those ancient roses. You see
3 vas Aunt Marys wedding gown,
and in her. eyes. as fine and valuable as
ieS.ar Through all the shifts and
,,hanpes of her most unhappy life, she
has clung to this sole relic Of happier
ra0s. fancy that after her husband 8
9sstf, his people made much of her for
i time. Her father was wealthy. and
there was always the chance OF nlf re
lentine. but as, one by one, her over
tunes were ignored and her letters re-
turned unopened. this possibility grew
less and less, until after the family
moved east il ceased altogether she
was never SlfolS OF SilldiN VI SapeASAS'
and little by little everycne'S patience
gave way. until even our home, with
its many priVations, seemed very
haven of rest TO her. This afternoon
Mrs. Mason called and talked OF norh-
ing nut the necessary expenses of the
coming occasion She left poor auntie
nearly frantic and absolutely deter
roincd to throw herself upon the town.
She has felt IL her duty. ever since she
became Sc helpless with rheumatism.
Nothing but the fact that she had
rather die than live with Mary Ann
Riggs has kept her with us for the last
wear. Poor CID SOIL; she would have
q hard time with that rough woman,
IN that great barn full of paupers. We
have made ourselves out perfect Van
des.bilts TO keep her quiet: but today
she would not be pacified and after
nearly CRYING herself sick. wrote to the
e.1ect men. Before she wrote the letter,
however. she thoughr Of this dress.
me idea Of Il came as a sort Of re-
nrieve If she provided my graduating
dress she might venture to stay a lit
sio longer. IL not, she is going at once.
xo,, Gee wly / would like to wear the
sr-eres and. besides. few dollars saved
- ~aalIv An object with us: still, those
,sTessfnl roses-do you think ever,
ever can?
The roses were dreadtul. - almost
aonbtea Mrs Kempton's skill IN their
behalf. and ] pitied the girl shrinking
with all her heart from moruiylnE