Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-07-30
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
3 Miss Letitia's TrouSSeau Z
s BY Olive Winston Gage &
IaA.aAM1tA1AS'aS f"S'|"S'"'

ha married: consequently many OF
non dear feminine friends sa'o !, N"S 4"
,h,u. - scandal, for Letitia to ihIhk o.
such folly at her time OF me- l'."
same authorities declared sh' N"' "'
wears old. adding there was no io"i ''f'
| an old one I.
Ietitia was on the sunny slut OF 49,
hut did not look as if she were 10, being
handsome. with IA pretty home. " VA!
income. "A kind heart and souho hc"",
The henefciaries of her bounty hhd
Income accustomed to consider her /"
sinister, too confirmed a d'Nol'e 10
.uulc blessedness to change der state.
What right had that old thing TO p''
taken in by an impccunious advent 'irer'
when she had friends OF her li''''hlc
who naturally eNpected-shr had no
kinspeopIe-to be remembered III "''
WILL not that they were merc'ha'E'
but that they had ii sort OF claim upon
her.
Remarks of this kind were freely IN
dulred in when the invitations were re-
ceiyed. twenty-five or thirty Wol"' II
talking at once is rather confusing,
and as the speakers became excited
the comments became more personal
and assumed an ill-natured turn. 1t
was at a church sewing circle. ana
tongues were flying faster than
needles
An exceedingly pretty and richly
dressed woman, IL guest OF the sorit'A'
now took up the cudgcls in defense OF
the absent.
"Ladies, ladies. is his a modern
school for scandal, or church society
held in the basement of Il sacred edi-
flee? You all have cause 10 be grateful
to Lctitia; why should you speak OF her
so bitterly now, because she exercises
the right we have all claimed? =
Mrs. Allyn Alden was leader of so
ciety, whose dictum made or unmadc
a newcomer entering the charmed cir
Gle. Mrs. Jennie. as Mrs. Alden was
generally called was power, and with
promptitudc they proceeded to eat
their words with marvellous celebrity.
Mrs. Jennie smiled and bade them
good morning. On the way to Miss lie
titia's she made gesture as if she had
touched an ill-smelling weed
What power of harm such women
can do at times. | do not pose as Il
reformer, but / really would like to
recall the ducking stool for their BEN
eft. Poor Letitia. hope she has NOT
chosen unwisely."
Her musings ceased as the coachman
drew rein before the pretty old-fash-
toned garden of the Ilou2htons. Mrs.
Jennie was met in the yard by the
bride-elect, whose fresh and fair COM
plexion had detied the ravaees of time.
With her bright hazel eyes and wavy
light brown hair, she might have
passed for 35 at most.
Come into the house. Jennie: it S
lovely out here amongst the flowers,
but | have some things wish TO show
you; the dress has come; am too Old
to be married in white satin so select
ed pink brocade trimmed with lace.
have never had so many pretty clothes
made at one time in my life. for never
NEEDED to. don't think I'm enyous,
but when l saw all my friends hand
some outfits it occurred to me that it.
would be an inducement to marry. Do
you not like it?"
But where did you meet the man
YOU expect to marry. Letitia? ! would
not give my life into the keeping OF an
utter stranger"
"1ou needn't be uneasy about me;
he's very pleasant man. and I'm posi-
tive We will get on very we'll together:
rs for love, we are not Young people.
and have said nothing about that. tut
we will do well enough as friends. Did
YOU notice that black and gold visiting
silk. Jennie?"
Mrs. Jennie perceived that he bride
to-be preferred to talk about her
clothes instead of the man she had
promised to marry. and made no other
effort to drag him into the convrrsu.
ton. Miss l.etitia brought every article
for Mrs. Jenne's inspection,
do stay to lunch; Eve so much TO
tell youyet! want it understood that
meant what said when wrutr on !.c
cards | didn't want presents: please
make my friends understand that. will
you? | know that they will want to
give me presents; you can't know how
glad | am that am liked, Jennie"
Mrs. Alden would not shake Miss rc-
ttia's faith in the professions of friend
ship she believed sincere. but when
their spiteful comments were recalled
it angered her afrcsh with them.
For that purpose Mrs. Jennie drove
back by the church, where she fu,ud
the society dispensing. She did not
alight. but told them of Miss l.rttia's
wish. She Of the sharp tongue gaze a
shrill little cackle and said:
That means we must give thcnn
without fail; she's afraid we won
give anything. and takes that meats
to make sure"
WAS that the reason Won had Il
flowers on the cards when YOUR ,lannl
ter graduated? Leti,a's bouquet was
weighted with a iewelcd butterfly. so
glad YOU enlightened me: | lave wnr-
dered why that clause WAS inserted.
but had no idea it meant exactly or
posite what it said. 1t is never too late
to wisdom. Good morning. |
must go home"
Mrs. Ponsonby gazed after the car
riage and said to her dear familiar
friend:
Mrs. Alden does have the knnrk of
taking one by surprise; she confuscs Il
person so; of course, | didn't mean.
that is. didn't intend to own
THAT You took that way of assuring
Sophy number of bouquets and pres
cnts" ] thought you didn't mean to