Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-06-21
The Despised Pink Frock.
STORY OF GRADUATION DAY.
By CATHERINE JEwETT.

y
the science of mathematics. Even as
little child I "did my sums" without
any conscious effort. Indeed, it was
my well-known 'sknack at fggerin'
that induced Deacon Dudley, the su-
pervisor, to bestow upon me the much
coveted Centre school. It was the
largest in town, the hardest and the
best paid. I was only 18 at the time,
but family misfortunes, followed by
the sickness and death of my father,
made the necessity for employment
urgent and imperative.
Heavily handicapped by youth and
inexperience, my first term was sue
cession of disappointments and dis
illusions.
Gradually, as became acquainted
with my pupils and accustomed to my
duties, I acquired the faculty of ad-
justing myself to my surroundings.
after which my work became much
easier and more satisfactory. Term
after term passed, until I felt my po-
sition to be assured. For six years I
held it, ciphering annually through
the higher algebra, to the wonder of
my pupils and the satisfaction of their
parents. Being district school, there
could be no real graduation, but grad
ually the day had taken upon itself
the dignity and Importance OF an an
nual celebration.
At first had been one of it's most
enthusiastic supporters, believing that
its coveted successes would not only
stimulate ambition and reward indus
try, but would also tend toward the
establishment Of a much-needed free
high school. Yet I now realized, with
pain, that it bade fair to be culmina-
tion of jealousy, unkind emulation and
unnecessary extravaganza.
The leader in every extravagant de-
vice was, naturally enough, Muriel
Mason. only daughter of the richest
man in town. Born to command, she
held her own against all opposition,
until the subject of dress was
broached.
In her case the important gown was
to be dainty creation of white lace
and surah, therefore she decreed that
her classmates should likewise drape
themselves in white.
''That is not fair" protested Laura
Haley, who delighted IN gay fabrics
and vivid coloring. ''I am sure /
don't want to accentuate my natural
ugliness.
'It won't make any difference on
the stage" said Muriel, with careless
urkindness.
After this experimental tilt. as no
further opposition was hazarded, the
white-dress rule was supposed to be
imperative. That evening Dolly
ke enpton came to me, her pretty face
clouded, her young arms loaded.
Poor Dolly; OWNED her trouble
before she voiced it. She was deli
cate little creature, studious aud re-
fined, yet not exactly popular among
her mates. She was poor, undisguised-
ly and undeniably so. She lived with
her widowed mother and an aged
woman known as Aunt Marty, queer,
irresponsible old body, who with the
slightest possible claim had burdened
them for years. With pauperism
staring her in the face she had fed for
Shelter to Mrs. Kempton, who was her.
self in straitened circumstances. The
connection between them was of the
slightest, and entailed neither legal
nor moral obligation; yet she cared for
the poor soul kindly, so stretched her
meagre income that it covered the bare
necessities of life for the three-her-
self, her daughter and their perennial
guest
Knowing the circumstances, I could
well understand what a perplexing
question graduating expenses must be
in that pinched household; but l was
hardly prepared for the solution which
Dolly's Zig bundle contained. She
opened it, spreading before my aston
ished eyes a garment quantity beauti-
full in tint and texture, but grotes1ue
in figure and design. An ancient
dress of white silk tissue, gayly bro
caded with huge garlands OF pink
roses and green leaves. The fabric it.
self was exquisitely fine and delicate,
the groundwork time-yellowed into
the softest ivory tint; but, alas, the
passing years had wrought no such re-
fining change upon the overblown
IoScS anu oFeISIoWu leaNeS running
riotously over the scant skirt and low
bodice of this impossible gown.
''Dear Miss Deacon" said Dolly,
with little nervous laugh that had
in it hint of tears, "do you think
any circumstance or combination of
circumstances could make it ones
duty to wear that for graduating
dress?"
looked at her in astonishment
'Mother wants me to wear it," she
went on, ''and indeed 1 want to, after
a fashion; yet all the same my soul alb
hors those ancient roses. You see, it
was Aunt Martyrs wedding gown, and
in her eyes as fine and valuable as
ever. Through all the shifts and
changes of her most unhappy life she
has clung to this sole relic OF happier
days. fancy that after her husband s
death his people made much of her
for time. Her father was wealthy,
and there was always the chance of
al h,,f l..