The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-06-05
A SINNER UNREPENT.
by SOPHIE GATES KERR.


without word. At last she said
pleasantly conscious of paying old
scores:
"If might persoom to criticise.
really do think it's a pity Won got your
wedding dress made with n p'inted
overskirt All the latest fashion books
say they're not worn at all this sea.
son: and box-pleats, too. Is kind Of
droppin' out. was readin' only YES
terday that twas just the cheapest
goods was made up so any more. The,
black satin's real pretty. though. Did
you see Lena Sulliyan's black satin
| Hers was a beauty-finest niece of
satin | ever cut into, an all made IN
| with these here pleated rufTles. WHY
Emma May, seems IL you'd be more
afraid to leave all these fine things in
here with the winder open, this room
on the ground floor like IL is. It's been
n real treat to see such elegant clothes.
an | hope your married lifell be hap
| py. The Foote's have all got terrible
unreasonable tempers, they say: but
| hope you'll be able to manage Char.
lie. Goodbye, all"
Miss Phemey walked home slowly.
Even the thought Of the darts she had
| planted in Mrs. Ridley's capacious
breast brought her no real comfort,
when the vision of the snowy wedding
dress rose before her.
Things amt edge even yet" she
mummured. A low growl of thunder
startled her and she fastened into the
house to shut out the cutting flare of
the lightning, When the kettle boiled
she set her lonely table and made tea.
Ihe quick thump OF heavy rain-drops
on the roof made her start nervously
Night mad come with the storm, and
aiter ner supper was over, Miss Phem-
ey sat IN the dark and meditated.
ABOUT ~ CLOCK the RAIN ceased, and
she nung the shutters open. The stars
were shining now. The air outside
was cool ana damp and fragrant. She
'ooked over toward the Ridley house,
anu as she ulu SO thelr last light went
ou'' MISS fnemey stralhed her eyes
10 no avail All was darkness there.
I'm a'going to do it, she said aloud,
taoie' she round pair OF scissors. She
TOOK match from the box beside the
"ihdo" ana unlocked the door. The
moon was creeping up, Hat disk of
pale yellow. Miss Phemey looked down
W herseli ana saw that she still wore
her Dest uress. ltli be all drabbled,'
She thought' theh reckiessiy, i don't
Vate, u9hoW'
She brushed against the dripping
nowers beside the garden path, and
heid her breath as the gate gave a
winning cr-e-ak. Out on the road,
walking noiselessly, she went. Once
she heard team coming and crouched
IN corner of the worn fence, behind
Il little sweet-gum sprout, till it was
past. She recognized the doctors
rig ana her heart came up in her
throat and beat there, with great
frightened leaps; but he passed by
safely and she crept on.
At last after seemingly unending
Journey, she reached the Ridleys' gate.
The naples threw deep shadows. and,
so sheltered, she reached the house.
houno 10 the ieit wing-siowly--slow-
y-ahd the window was still open.
oAe stopped ana looked In. The moon
light lay In patches on the floor, the
dresses spread upon the bed, and there,
|9hin reach, 1t fell upon the wonder
IUi pearl beading of the wedding dress
and made scintillating lights. Miss
Phemey saw allthis and slowly-sIowly
her hand went out toward the glis-
tening beads. A quick jerk, and the
waist Of Emma May Ridleys wedding
dress lay across her knees. She sought
the seam in the middle of the back.
She could feel the dispised chain
stitching and she slipped her fingers
deftly along toward the collar. What
was this? A lose end of thread-a little
pul!-r-i-i-i-ip it was done! In
spasm of fear Miss Phemey hustled the
waist through the window, back into
place, and ran into the concealng
snadow' Out TO the gate down the