Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-10-27

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The girl to whom the note was adj
dressed read it with flushing checks
and n cry Of delight
She started to her feet dropping MISS
Floy rarmenter's wcdding-dress III
Il billowy heap on the floor, ana ran 10
the door of the fitting room OF the
drcSsmnking establishments
But her mother was busy trying n
dress on Mrs Commodore Skrerne ana
could not be hurried, and the girl
turned back, impatient to announce the
news
She whirlcd about in Il little dance
before the chcval-glaSs in the privacy
Of the Inner room. Catching up Miss
Pnrmcntcr's wcdding-drrss, she held
the shimmcring folds before her.
Glow shall look in an evening
gown she wondered, ccStntlcally.
"Oh, l suppose l am too silly, but |
have been SO hungry for good times
of my own kind. They are my own
kind, those girls of Mildred Brewstcr's
set though didn't suppose they'd ever
acknowledge it. They never took the
least notice of me when | wcnt-so
frirhtfully ehnhhy'-tn tho high school
with them. And Mildred Brewster
seemed especially proud-althougl she
was kind to get us the naval people
for patrons. a musicale. too: I Mot-
der how she knew ! should like that.
1t may he that her brother Stanley
has heard me singing in the garden
when he has been canoeing on the
river.
go mother, dearest" and she turned
to her mother. who had finally got
through with Mrs. Commodore Skrprne
and now stood in the doorway. AN
invitation for me from Mildred BrcwS-
ter to Il musicale. When l opened the
envelope thought, of course she had
only written about the chiffon for her
pink waist
IL don't know why she shouldn't in
vitc YOU" said the little worn woman,
her scamy cheeks growing red with
pleasure.
They are very aristocratic-vcry
proud of their old family They live
in n colonial house Il hundred years old,
with family portraits and old silver
and things; and you and mother, dear,
are nobOdies. l trim Mildred's pretty
gowns and she sends us her fathers
checks. Those are the only relations
that are to he expected between her
and me-"
"Shc hasn't seemed to think So"
said her mother, quietly but with Il
thrill in her voice. Mentally she vowed
that, whether money We're plenty or
scarce, Betty should 90 to the musicale
in lovely gown. For she knew all
about the hunger for good times and
girls, although never a word had been
said. Mother eyes are sharp.
Meanwhile the postman had left a
mSSivc i'm Miss Mildred Brrwstcr's
mt one of the old colonial
houses. with family portraits and old
silver things" 1t was addressed to
Miss Frances PcnhallOw. and that
young lady. who was Mildred's dearest
friend, said she knew without opening
it that it was an invitation to AIldrcd's
musicale. She opened It, nevertheless,
and drew her brow into Il frown as she
read:
Dear Miss Martin: Will you be so
kind as to take the very greatest pains
in matching the pink chiffon to my
waist: am sure. can trust your
exquisite taste. hut | should feel it to
he such n calamity if that delicate
shade of pink silk were to be spoiled
by Il deeper shade of trimming.
Hastily,
"Mildrcd Brewster"
"Just like Mildred! She has mixed
those children up" exclaimed Miss
Pcnhallow. This note was meant for
Betty Martin. the drcssmakprs daugh-
ter. And she has probably got my in
vitatiOn. I'll drive round there and
carry this note so that Mildrcd's waist
may he sure to bc all right She has
more faith in those people than she
has in Madame Fontcncllc. | think III
get mamma to try them. | rrmcmb ~
that the girl looked poor and forlorn
when she went to school, but she Is
really effective now. she wears such
good gowns. And there is something
quaint about her, with her high fore
head and her little peaked chin and
her corn flower eyes. If she could
manage to make me look as she
does
Frances critically surveyed the image
Of the descendant of the Penhall0ws in
the long mirror and deliberately
made up Il face" ut it. 1t is true that
the figure was StOcky and the nose
thick. and those discOuraging points
struck the owner of the figure more
than did the honest clcnrncss
of the gray eyes, or tho sympathetic
sweetness of the mouth.
1t WAS Betty herself who opened the
door of the rcccpton-room. and her
quaint face lighted up at the sight
Of the visitor. \ friend of Mildred
BTcwstcr's bore with her Il charmed
Frances, smiling Il little in response
to the shy radiance of the girls face.
said: Il remember you mt the high
school, and | think YOU have such
lovely taste She felt that Bctty's
attitude demanded something more
kindly than an immediate plunge into
business. Il have seen all the pretty
things that You have made for Miss
Brewster"
Miss Brewster has been so very
kind to me-. said Betty, with thrill
in her voice. "Shc has sent me an in
to Il musicale ut her house."
She displayed the card with childish
II think some one must
have told her that love music" she
added. with II doubtful. questioning
glance at her visitors face.
For shadow had fallen upon the
ionest-cyed face. rs Frances under
stood, in Il flash. that it would he diff