The Afro-American advance., 1900-06-02
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Miss Lstitia'S TrOuSSeau :
By Olive Winston Gage.
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7 ETITIA HoUGHToN was going to
l. be married; consequently many OF
her dear feminine friends said it was
shame. scandal. for Letitia to think OF
such folly ar her time of life. These
same authorities declared she was 55
years old adding there was no fool like
an old one.
Letitia was on the sunny side of As,
but did not look as if she were 40, being
handsome, with a pretty home, tidy
income, kind heart and sound head.
The benefciaries of her bounty had
become accustomed 10 consider her
spinster, too confirmed devotee to
single blessedness to change her state
What right had that old thing TO be
taken in by an impecunious adSenturer,
when she had friends of her lifetime
who naturally eXpected-she had no
kinspeople-to be remembered in her
will. not that they were mercenary,
but that they had a sort of claim upon
her.
Remarks of this kind were freely in
dulged in when the invitations were re-
ceiyed. Twenty-Five or thirty women
talking at once is rather confusing
and as the speakers became excited
the comments became more personal
and assumed an ill-natured turn. 1t
was at church sewing circle, and
tongues were flying faster than
needles.
An exceedingly pretty and richly
dressed woman, guest of the society,
now took up the cudgels in defense of
the absent.
Ladies, ladies, is this a modern
tehool for scandal, or a church society
held in the basement of n sacred edi-
fee? You all have cause to be grateful
TO Letitia; why should you speak of her
so bitterly now, because she exercises
the right we have all claimed?"
Mrs. Allyn Alden was a leader of So
ciety, whose dictum made or unmade
newcomer entering the charmed cir
Gle. Mrs. Jennie, as Mrs. Alden was
generally called, was a power, and with
promptitude they proceeded to eat
their words with marvellous celerity.
Mrs. Jennie smiled and bade them
good morning. On the way to Miss Le-
titia's she made gesture as if she had
touched an ill-smelling weed.
What a power of harm such women
can do at times! l do not pose as
reformer. but / really would. like to
recall the ducking stool for their ben
eft. Poor Letitia! hope she has not
chosen unwisely."
Her musings ceased as the coachman
drew rein before the pretty oldfash-
toned garden of the Houghtons. Mrs.
Jennie was met in the yard by the
bride-elect, whose fresh and fair com
pleXion had defied the Tavages of time.
With her bright hazel eyes and wavy
light brown hair, she might have
passed for 35 at most.
Come into the house. Jennie; it's
lovely out here amongst the flowers,
but | have some things | wish to show
you; the dress has come; / am too old
to be married in white satin, so / select
ed pink brocade trimmed with lace.
| have neI CT h1d so many pretty clothes
made at one time in my life, for l never
needed to. / don't think I'm envious,
but when I saw all my friends hand
some outfits IL occurred to me that 1t
would be an inducement to marry. DO
you not like it?''
But where did YOU meet the man
you expect to marry. Letitia? / would
not give my life into the keeping OF an
utter stranger"
You needn't be uneasy about me p;
he's very pleasant man. and I'm posi-
tive we will get on very well together;
as for love. we are not young people,
and have said nothing about that, but
We Will do well enough as friends. Did
you notice that black and gold visiting
silk Jennie 90
Mrs, Jennie perceived that the bride
fo-be preferred to talk about her
clothes instead of the man she had
promised 10 marry, and made no other
effort to drag him into the converse
ton. Miss Letitia brought every article
Tor Mrs. Jennie inspection.
Do stay 10 lunch; I've so much to
tel you yeti / want il understood that
meant what said when wrote ON the
cards | didn't want presents: please
'e AikSbus httGef@ta8i0 tbaAs Viii
Foa2 / know that they will want to
give me presentsi sou can't know how
gao ] am that am liked Jennie.
Mrs. Alden would not shake Miss Le-
'.'las faith in the professions of friend
sa'p she believed sincere, but when
es1F spiteful comments were recalled
sngered her afresh with them.
FOR that purpose Mrs. Jennie drove
nseS BY the church. where she found
'ae society dispensing. She did not
&sa', but told thera of Miss Letitia's
Naaa She Of the sharp tongue gave
Afll little eaekle and said:
hat means we must give them
tasu' fail; she's afraid we Won't