Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-07-18
The Despised Pink Frock.
STORY OF GRADUATION DAY.
By CATHERINE JEWET7

3 ittlo Cuiiu i 'ulo ~ SUMS WlGuOtlI
any conscious effort. Indeed, it was
my well-known "knack at fggerin' "
thatiinduced Deacon Dudley. the su-
peryisor, to bestow upon me the much
coveted Centre school. 1t was the
largest in town, the hardest and the
best paid. I was only Is at the time,
but family misfortuues, followed by
the sickness and death of my father,
made the necessity. for employment
urgent and imperative.
= Heavily handicapped by youth and
I ine1perience, my first term was sue
cession of disappointment and dis
illusions.
Gradually, MS became acquainted
with my pupils and accustomed to my
duties, acquired the faculty of adj
justing myself to my surroundings.
after which my work became much
easier and more satisfactory. Term
after term passed, until felt my po-
sition to be assured. For six years I
held it, cipherins 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 au-
nual celebration.
At first had been one Of its 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 much-needed free
high school. Yet I now realized, with
pain, that it babe fair to be culmina-
tion Of jealousy, unkind emulation aud
unnecessary extrayaSance.
The leader in every extraragant de-
vice was, naturally enough, Muriel
Mason. only daughter of the riches:
man III 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 bs a dainty creation of white lace
5, and surah, therefore she decreed that
her classmates should likewise drape
themselves in white.
That Is not fail, protested Laura
Haley, who delighted IN gay fabrics
and vivid coloring. s'I am sure L
don't want to accentuate my natural
ugliness.
sIt won't make any difference on
the STAGE said Muriel, with careless
unkindness.
After this experimental tilt, as no
further opposition was hazarded, the
white-dress rule was supposed to be
imperative. That evening Dolly
Kempton came TO me, her pretty face
clouded, her young arms loaded.
Poor Dolly; I OWNED her trouble
before she voiced it. She was deli
cate little creature, stmlious and re-
fined, yet not exactly popular among
her mates. She was poor, undisguised-
ly and undeniably so. She lived with
her widowed mother aud IN aged
woman known as Aunt Marty, queer,
irresponsible old body, who with the
slightest possible claim had burdened
them for years. Witt pauperism
staring her in the face she had fled 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 lie for the three-her-
self, her daughter and their perennial
guest
Knowing the circumstances, could
well understand what q perplexing
question graduating expenses must be
{ in that pinched household; but was
hardly prepared for the solution which
'Dolly's big bundle contained. Sho
opened it, spreading before my aston
ished eyes garment quantity beauti-
full in tint and texture, but grotesque
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 wroughtno such re-
fining change upon tie overblown
roses and overgrown leaves 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 a hint of tears, "do you think
any circumstance or combination of
circumstances could make it ones
duty to wcas that for q graduating
dress?"
Hooked at her in astonishment.
'Mother wants me to wear it, she
went on, 'tand indeed want to, after
fashion; yet all the same my soul ab-
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 cIung to this sole relic of happier
days. Ifancy that after her usband's
death his people made much of her
for time. Her father was wealthy,
and there was always the chance of
his relenting; but as one by one her
overtures were Ignored and her let
ters returned unopened this possibil.
ity grew less aud less, until, after the
family moved east, it ceased altogether.
She was never strong or smart or Gu
pable, and little by little everyone's
patience gave way, until even our
home,with its many priyations, seemed
very haven of rest TO her. This af-
ternoon Mrs. Mason called and talked
of nothing but the necessary expenses
= of the coming occasion She left poor
auntie nearly frantic aud absolutely
determined to throw herself upon the
town She has felt it her duty ever
since she became SO helpless with
rheumntism. Nothing but the fact
I that she had rather die than live with
4 Mary Ann Riors has kent her with ns