Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-07-18


of paupers. We have made ourselves
out perfect Vanderbilts to keep her
quiet; but today she would not be
pacitied, and after nearly crying her.
self sick wrote to the selectmen. Be-
fore she sent the letter, however, she
thought of this dress. The idea of it
came as sort of reprieYe If she
provided my graduating dress she
might venture to stay little longer.
If not she is going at once. You see
why would like to wear the dress,
and besides o few dollars saved is
really an object with us; still, those
dreadful roses-do you think I ever,
ever cau?"
The roses were dreadful. I almost
doubted Mrs. Kempton's skill in their
behalf, aud I pitied the girl, shrinking
with all her heart from notifying
ordeal, but I knew there was only one
answer to her question.
''yes, my DEAR" said I, 'tI think
you can and will. 1t takes deal Of
pluck to have tooth out, you know,
but the sharp, relieving pain is far
easier to bear than weeks of dull, wear
ing anguish. 1t is going to take real
grit to wear that fowered dress, but
the discomfort of an hour is not to be
compared to the remorse of life
time
''Just what mother told me-" said
Dolly, bundling up her unwelcomo
possession.
I did not see the dress again, but I
heard deal about it before the impor-
tant day arrived. Iwanted to explain
matters, but Dolly positively forbade
anything of the kind, and so her flow
cred gown was regarded by some as
necessary concession to poverty, by
others as sign of open insubordina.
tion against the white-dress rule.
Graduation day dawned bright and
clear. The church was crowded. The
expected governor arrived in excellent
season, bringing with him visiting
senator, and everything seemed har-
monious with the exception Ui one
rosy-looking dress among half-dozen
white ones.
y Thesexercises passed OF With what
might be termed s'great eelat." The
young ladies were graceful and win
ming, their parts we'll prepared,
their enunciation clear and distinct.
Inc young gentlemen were less awk-
ward than usual under such circum-
stances. The pink dress was so mod
ernized that it could not be called con-
spicuous; still I saw the consciousness
of its vivid roses stamped on the
flushed cheeks of its wearer when she
stepped forward to read her essay.
1t was very unambitious effort,
simply q prose version of the story of
Evangeline Yet I saw with surprise
that Senator Borden, scholar as
we'll as politician, gave the short read
ing the most profound and marked at
tention.
After the exercises the eminent visi-
tors held an informal reception, shak-
ing hands with everyone, and good
uaturedly giving their autographs to
all petitioners: Dolly, however, took
no part in this bit of imprcmptu fes-
tivity, bat, anxious to divest herself
Of her obnoxious fnery, hurried at
once from the church.
When the crowd had nearly dis
persed Senator Borden surprised me
by asking, with an expression of real
tor the young lady in pink.
I told him her name and volunteered
the information that she hud gone di-
rectly home.
81 am sorry" said he. 81 wanted
to meet her. Her face, her voice, her
gestures, all seemed wonderfully fami-
liar. I cannot place the resemblance,
but it moved me strangely. Her
name tells me nothing, and yet her
face, her dress, som. trick OF voice or
manner, took me back half q century.
Ah!" with sudden start. 81 have it
now; it was my sister she recalled.
She wore just such rosy gown the
last time I ever saw Eer. Poor Marty!
Pardon me, Miss Deacon, but do you
know anything of her family history?
The resem blance may be purely acci-
dental, but it interests me-"
Something of his interest had COM
municated itself to me with his volun-
tary exclamation of ''Poor Martyl"
the girl who wore just such rosy
gown the last time he ever saw her.
''Mr. Borden" said I, eagerly,
''might it not have been the notice
able dress, instead of the girls per-
sonality, that impressed you? Fc,ty
year. ago it belonged to Martha Paget;
was, IN fact, her wedding gown.
"Martha Paget" cried he, shat
was my sisters name. She was older
than I, and very beautiful, but she
my father. He never for
gave her, and while he lived never
heard her name mentioned. Since his
death r have searched for her long and
unavailingly."
"I think your search is ended"
said ], ''and that you will find her
living with Mrs. Kempton in this vii
Iage."
SIS it far from here? Would you
show me the way?" questioned he,
eagerly; and the next moment we were
hurrying down the broad elm shaded
street.
AS we neared the Kempton cottage
saw Mrs. Paget sitting on the tiny,
vine-wreathed piazza. Her soft, whito
hair shone in the sunlight; her pain.
distorted hands lay idly on her lap;
her cotton gown and stiffiy-starched
apron were clean and speckless; but
her face, sorrow-seamed and time-de-
faced, bore no trace of bloom or
beauty.
"And yet" said my companion,
seeming to divine my thoughts, sit is
Marty herself; the very image of our
M I saw her last He went
swiftly mp the little grayeIed path, his
eoca growing rjsibIv r,aIer 5as bo