Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-07-22
A sEERsUcKER GOWN.
BY John Dickinson sherman.


Copyright. 1901. Daily story Pub. Coz
Good gracious, Frances" exclaimed
Mrs. Lowering, looking up from hef
letters, your uncle Rufus will be here
tomorrow. He says he's coming on
business trip, and going right back
put he'll come to dinner, just to say
'Howdy.' I'll be glad to see the OLD
gentleman, if it's only for your poor
dear fathers sake. It's three years this
June, isn't it, since we've seen him"
Just about three years, Mother,
answered Frances. "And I'm glad mes
coming. like Uncle Rufus, even II he's
country and old-fashioned.
Hes a character, If there is one,
reioined the mother. And that re-
minds me; don't let me forget to pump
it out of him how on earth he managed
to marry of those three homely girls
of his to the best catches in the country
round. I'll warrant Aunt Eliza had
nothing to do with that. Any man who
can get rid of three such gawks as they
were is a smart man, tell you.
Thank you, Sister Lowering" said
old Uncle Rufus. And thank you, Niece
Frances. Yes, all three of the girls are
very happily married, and your Aunt
Liza and | feel as if we'd done good
job. | guess it's woman's mission In
! life to get married and have a home
and children. but the old farm does
seem powerful lonely now that they're
all gone" Here the old gentleman pro-
duced a prodigious bahdana and blew
his nose vigorously.
Tell us all about it," said Mrs. Love-
ring with ready sympathy. An elderly
and very dignified invalid should be
beyond the suspicion of vulgar wink,
but it cannot be denied that Mrs Love
ring glanced casually in the direction
of her daughter.
We'll" said the old man, his rugged
and weather-beaten face lighting up
with an amused smile and his shrewd
eyes twinkling with satisfaction, there
is no use denyin' the fact that them
three weddin's did create some excite
ment in our usually quiet community
as the newspapers say. You see, the
girls was good girls and as capable as
you'd find in weeks journey. but even
a fond parent couldn't exactly call 'em
handsome not if he was church men,
Der. Of course, that didn't keep all the
young fellows away. for you know I've
got little somethin' laid aside for
rainy day and everybody knows | set
great store on them three girls. But
the young sparks that was hangin'
round wasn't the right kind for my
girls; they wasn't good enough, even
If my girls amt handsome. So l just
set down and put on my thinkin' cap.
SEE l to myself: Now, young men is
just like them pesky cattle of mine. Is
there's a haystack on purpose for 'em
right out in the field they won't touch
it. But if fence haystack off SOS
they shan't get at it, they amt satisfied
till they break down that fence and git
in So jest went to work and fenced
them three girls in. And by. ginger"
ended the old man with hearty laugh,
them three weddin's is what come of
it."
I,o-
peeping into a maiden's chamber at
midnight, but If any one had dared to
look into certain room in the house
of Mrs. Lowering that night he would
have seen very pretty girl in a dis
tracing costume sitting before a CRATE
fire and doing some hard thinking.
There is no use in trying to deny
that Miss Frances Lowering was sore
trial to her many friends that summer.
All Of them were mystified and some of
them offended and estranged.
why" said Sally Coleman. 81 can't
make out what the girl is up to. Any
body would think her old set wasn't
good enough for her any more. She
won't go bicycling any more nights; if
she rides at all it's early in the morn
ing before the vulgar herd puts in an
appearance. l hear she says the first
class people are not wheeling much this
year. And her bicycle skirt! Why, it
pretty nearly covers her toes. She'll be
setting up chaperone next, if she
hasn't already"
Right you are, Sally" responded
VIII Raymond. She's getting mighty
high and lofty She'll quit going to our
club dances, too The last time l asked
her she Just the same as said they were
too free and easy and too miscellaneous
for her. And any fellow, that drops
into her house on a warm summer
vio with knick orhOclorc IN opd,