The Opelousas courier., 1900-12-01

O~ AA bAA1S "@SA pAN'
/ rough woman in that great barn full
J of paupers. We have made ourselves
out perfect Vanderbilts to keep hel
quiet; but today she would not be
pacifed, 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 il
came as q sort of reprieve. If she
provided my graduating dress she
+ might venture to stay a little longer.
If not, she is going at once. You see
why I would like to wear the dress,
and besides a few dollars saved is
really an object with US; still, those
dreadful roses-do you think I ever,
ever camp.
The roses were dreadful. I almost
doubted Mrs. Kempton's skill in their
behalf, and I pitied the girl, shrinking
with all her heart from a notifying
ordeal, but / knew there was only one
answer to her question.
"Yes, my DEAR" said T, 81 think
you can and will. Tt takes a deal OF
pluck to have a 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 lowered dress, but
the discomfort of an hour is not to be
compared to the remorse of a life
time"
"Just what mother told me-" said
Dolly, bundling up her unwelcome
possession.
I did not see the dress again, but I
heard a deal about it before the impor-
tant day arrived. WANTED to explain
matters, but Dolly positively forbade
anything of the kind, and so her fow-
cred gown was regarded by some as a
necessary concession to poverty, by
others as a sign of open insubordina-
ton 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 q visiting
senator, and everything seemed har-
monious with the exception of one
r~osy-looking dress among a half-dozen
white ones.
The exercises passed off with what
might be termed 'tgreat eclat." The
young ladies were graceful and win
ming, their parts well prepared,
their enunciation clear and distinct.
The 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 it's wearer when she
stepped forward to read her essay.
1t was q very unambitious effort,
simply a prose version Of the story of
Eyangeline. Yet I say with surprise
that Senator Borden, a scholar as
well as politician, gave the short read
ing the most profound and marked at
tention.
After the exercises the eminent visi-
tors held an informa- reception, shak-
ing hands with everyone, and good
naturally giving their autographs to
all petitioners. Dolly, however, took
no part in this bit of impromptu fes-
tiyity, but, 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 IN expression of real
interest, for the young lady in pink.
I told him her name and volunteered
the information that she had gone di-
rectly home.
81 am sorry" said he. "I wanted
to meet her. Her face, her voice, her
gestures, all seemed wo lderfully fami-
liar. / cannot place the resemblance,
but it moved me strangely. Her,
name tells me nothing, and yet her
face, her dress, some trick of voice or
manner, took me back half a century.
Ali" with a sudden start. 81 have it
now; it was my sister she recalled.
She wore just such a rosy gown the
last time / ever saw her. Poor Marty!
Pardon me, Miss Deacon, but do you
know anything of her family history?
The resemblance maybe purely acct
dental, but it interests me-"
Something Of his interest had com-
municated itself TO me with his volun-
tary exclamation Of Poor Martyr
the girl who wore just such a rosy
gown the last time he ave- saw her.
"Mr. Borden" said !, eagerly,
might it not have been the notice
able dress, instead of the girls per-
sonality, that impressed you? Forty
years ago it belonged to Martha Paget;
was, in fact, her wedding gown"
martha Pagetl" cried he, 'sthat
was my sisters name. She was older
than !, and very beautiful, but she
disobeyed my father. He never for
gave her, and while he lived I never
heard her name mentioned. Since his
death I have searched for her long and
unavailingly."
81 think your search is ended"
said ], ''and that you will find her
living with Mrs. Kempton il. this vii
lage."
s.Is it far from here? Would o
show me the way?" questioned he,
eagerly; and the next moment we were
hurrying down the broal elm -shaded
street.
As we neared the Kempton cottage
I saw Mrs. Paget sitting on the tiny,
vine-wreathed piazza. Her soft, white
hair shone in the sunlight; her pain.
distorted hands lay idly on her lap;
her cotton gown and stifiy-starched
apron were clean and speckless; but
her face, sorrow-sean1ed and time-de-
faced, bore no trace Of bloom OF
beauty.
r. G6Arl ~~nL ~ ~.sI -