The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-07-13
Her Old Classday Gown.

w men MISS Matilda Brown received
the invitation to Jack Robinson's elias,
day spread she blushed like girl of Is
There was no reason in the world why
she should, for it was no surprise To
her. Jack was one OF her boys. She
had helped his grandmother bring him
up from the day he came to her. a p ooi
little orphan just out of skirts. who
thought more about his neR trousers
than the loss of his father and mother.
Jack was by no means the Sissy
that boys often are who are trained by
women alone. He was bright, manly
fellow, and Miss Matilda, as everybody
called her, had 'mothered" him to her
hearts content So the meaning of the
blush on her cheek when she received
the card was hard to define.
Perhaps it was the recollection of that
other class day, twenty-five .years ago,
when Tom Bradford had been the host
and she a girl Of Is, had been the belle
OF the occasion. For later IN the day,
when they strolled out beneath the
grand old trees, Just in that wtching
hour before the lanterns had been
lighted and the evening crowd had come
when the moonlight was giving place to
the sunlight that made the day so
bright and beautiful, then Tom had
asked the question which really there
was no need of asking, for since they
had played at the district school il had
been understood by both that they were
TO pass theirlives together.
There was to be period of waiting,
for Tom had his fortune 10 seek but
when hearts are young and spirits are
brave, time and distance count for lit
tie. So Tom went West and Matilda
remained at home with her mother, a
semi invalid, who needed her care. 1t
was understood by all their friends that
she was getting ready" to be married.
And 80 month by month she added some
garment to her trousseau, that was TO
be ready when Tom came home for her.
He was successful at once and In three
years from the day they parted, back he
came for Matilda. But her mother
could not spare her. She was feebler
than ever, and the neighbors said that
she would not last much longer. So the
wedding was postponed until the next
June, when Tom should come back for
and his class dinner.
Matilda even bought the material for
her gowns, among them a soft, pretty
gray, which was to be her wedding and
dress. But when the Spring.
time came mother had taken new lease
OF life and could not spare her daughter,
neither would she accept place in the
home that Tom had made for his bride.
Then came the struggle between love and
iuty,as the young girl considered il, and
duty triumphed, She could not leave
mother. There were some angry words
Tom, who, man-like, could not appreciate
such sacrifice, and then the girl broke
the engagement. Tom went back to his
Western home, and in a year was mar
ried 10 the daughter Of one of the prom
nent citizens of the place, whose posi-
lion and influence would be a great help
10 the young man.
II Matilda felt the blow nobody knew
II. The garments prepared for the we'd
ding were packed carefully away in the
oamphor wood chest, and she took up her
work without murmur. Her mother
lived for years. a fretful invalid and when
she died her daughter had become" Miss
TO everybody and a confirmed
Did maid. She had income enough 10
support her, with the strictest economy,
and after a time seemed TO take more i'm
Ierest in the children Of the neighboI-
hood than in anything else.
Thus she and Jack Robinson became
great friends, and he had told her that
class day. the truimphal close of his four
year work would be nothing without
her. But now the question was, "What
should she wear" For a handsome
gown such as she ought TO have to honor
the occasion was way beyond her means.
But she must go,and she must look we'll.
What would she do? Then she remem-
bered the articles in the old camphor
wood trunk and though she never could
pass it in the garrett without pang, re-
the buried happiness Of the
past, for such are women's hearts, she
said 70 herself. Matilda Brown, don't
be fool, You are an old woman now,
and you must look well for the boy"
So she went into the garret, opened
the chest, and there, right on top, was
the material for the gray gown that was
TO have been her wedding dress. She
seized ID aud slammed down the lid OF
the chest. Like Pandora's boX, it was
full OF trouble and she would not have
one bitter thought escape. When she
got downstairs and unrolled the goods
she exclaimed with delight: 9TH r
gray is just what they are wearing now.
The problem was solved and the class
day gown was made. When Miss
Matilda was dressed in it, and put on a
pretty black lace bonnet trimmed with
pink roses, nobody would have thought
a. 4 a