Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1901-07-15

an, hons. your married life III DE
nanny. The Foote's have all got ter
rible unreasonable tempers, they
say; but / hope you'll be able TO man
age Charlie. Good-by, all.
Miss Phemey walked home slowly.
Even the thought of the darts she
had planted in Mrs. Ridley's capa-
cious breast brought her no real
comfort, when the vision OF the
snowy wedding dress rose before her'
Things amt edge even yet, she
murmured. 4 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. The quick thump OF
heavy rain drops on the roof mace
her start nervously. Night hao
come with the storm, and after her
supper was over. Miss Phemey sat In
the dark and meditated. About ten
o'clock the rain ceased, and she hung
the shutters open. The stars were
shining now. The air outside was
cool and damp and fragrant. She
looked over toward the Ridley mousse
and as she did so their last light went
out. Miss Phemey strained her eyes
to no avail All was darkness there.
"T'm a-goin' to do it," she said
aloud. determinedly. Rumaging over
the table, she found pair OF scis-
sors. She took match from the
box beside the window and unlocked
the door. The moon was creeping up
a fat disk of pale yellow. Miss
Phemey looked down at herself and
saw that she still wore her best
dress. "It'n be all drabbled, she
thought: then, recklessly: Il don't
care, nohow."
She brushed against the dripping
flowers beside the garden path, and
held her breath as the gate gave
whining cr-e-ak Out on the road,
walking noiseleSSiy. she went. once
she heard team coming ana
crouched in a corner of the worn
fence, behind a little gum tree sprout'
till il was past. She recognized the
doctors rig, and her heart came up
in her throat and beat there with
great frightened leaps; but he passed
by and safely she crept on.
At last, after a seemingly amending
tourney, she reached the Ridley $
gate. The naples threw deep shad-
ows. and, so, sheltered, she reached
the house. Round to the left wing
slowly-slowly-a the window was
still open! She stopped and looked IN
The moonlight lay in patches on the
floor, the dresses spread upon the
bed. and there, within reach, 1t fell
full upon the wonderful pearl bead
ing of the wedding dress and made
,scintillating lights. Miss Phemey
saw all this, and slowly-slowly-h
hand went out toward those glisten'
ing beads. A quick jerk, and the
waist of Emma May Ridley's wedding
dress lay across her knees. She
sought the seam in the middle of the
back. She could feel the despiseo
chain stitching, and she slipped heI
fingers deftly along toward the col
lar. What was this? A loose end o.
thread-a little pull-r-i-i-i-i-ip-i
was done. In spasm OF fear MISS
Phemey hustled the waist through
the window, back into place, and RAJ
into the ooncealing shadow. Out t'
the gate, down the road again-Sh'
was almost home. Suddenly sh'
stopped and gave little chuckle.
"Them bastin's'l hold it togethe,
so nobodyll s'Epect-lucky she lef
'em in. But when Emma May puts i
| on, big an fat as she is, it'll bu s
| square up the back like frog" Sh'
couldn't help laughing at the idea; j
1 - L. e. A FORGOT
wet feet, her draggled. muddy skirts
| and went to bed with a smile still
| pulling at the corners of her mouth
The next morning the exposure
had done it's work. She was hoars
| and feverish, and there was a sharl
pain that stabbed her at ever,
breath. "Threatened with pneu
monia," the doctor said. and com
manded her not to stir from her bed
though she could not have done 81
had she wished. The neighbors wer
very kind. and attended her faithful
ly, and the tenth day found her sit
ting up, very weak and frail, but wit
life in her eyes and voice.
Mrs. Emerson, the town gossip
came in and brought bundle.
Jest as soon as you git able, Mis-
Phemey, l want you TO make me
dress. It's one Mr.. Emerson got m
over to Bristol, an he showed rea
good taste for man, l must say
Look-a-there, amt that fern lea
real pretty?"
Its just beautiful" assented Mis-
Phemey. Seems if you'd have Mis-
Maxwell make it up, bein' she's froI
the city an all"
"Shenl never cut into piece @
goods FIR me. en- tell you," said Mrs
Emerson, with emphasis. "Ain't nc
body told you how she made Emm
May Ridley's weddin' dress and neve
sewed up the back, an Emma May
not suspicionin', put it on an buste
it clean wide open? o. course, yo
was sick an didn't git to the weddin'
but 1 was there, an the weddiI
party was nigh an hour late jest o
that account. Nothin' but a basti1
thread to hold it together; such shift
lessnessl Course, bein' bad lucl
Emma May never tried on the dres
after it come home, like she did tn
others, an en- tell you she was hoI
pin. People at the church didn
know what was the matter. Nor
deed, Miss Maxwell makes no clos
me-"