Daily camera., 1901-10-01
) 10 avail. All xas darkness there

box beside the window and unlocked
the door. The moon was creeping up.
a fiat disk of pale yellow Miss
Phemcy looked down Mt herself and
saw that she still wore her best
dress. "Itll be all drabbled." she
thought: then, recklessly: i 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 noiselessly. she went. once
she heard team coming aud
crouched in corner OF the worn
fence, behind little gum tree sprout,
till it 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 n seemingly unending
tourney. she reached the Ridley's
gate. The naples threw deep shnd-
ows, aud. so. sheltered, she reached
the house. Round to the left wing
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 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, II fell
fun upon the wonderful pearl bead
ing of the wedding dress and made
scintillnting lights. Miss Phemey
saw all this, and slowly-slowly-her
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 despised
chain stitching. and she slipped her
fingers deftly along toward the col
lar. What was this? A loose end Of
thrend-a little pull-r-i-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 concealing shadow. Out to
the gate. down the road again-she
was almost home. Suddenly she
stopped and gave little chuckle.
"Them bas,in's'll hold it together
so nobody1l s'spect-lucky she left
'em in. But when Emma May puts it
on. big an fat as she is, it'll bust
square up the back like a frog" She
couldn't help laughing ut the idea; II
tickled her fancy so. She forgot her
we, feet, her draggled. muddy skirts,
and wen, TO bed with a smile still
pulling at the corners OF her mouth
The next morning the exposure
had done its work. She was hoarse
and feverish. and there was n sharp
pain that stabbed her at every
breath. Threatened with pneu-
monia." the doctor said. and com
manded her not to stir from her bed.
though she could not have done so
had she wished The neighbors were
very kind. and attended her faithful
ly, and the tenth day found her sit
ting up. very weak and frail, but with
life In her eyes and voice.
Mrs. Emerson, the town gossip,
came In and brought bundle
"Jest as soon as you git able. Miss
Phemey, want you to make me
dress. It's one Mr.. Emerson got mc
over to Bristol. an he shoAed real
good taste for man. l must say.
Look -s-there, sin't that fern leaf
real pretty?"
Its just beautiful" Asseuted Miss
Phemey. Seems II you'd have Miss
Maxwell make I. up, bein' she's from
the city an ALL"
She'll never cut into piece Of
goods rr me. en- tell you." said Mrs.
Emerson. with emphasis. "Ain't no.
body told you how she made Emma
May Ridley's weddin' dress and never
sewed up the back, an Emma May.
no, suspicionin', Ppt II on an busted
1t clean wide open? o. course. you
was sick an didn't 81, TO the weddin';
but l Wa there, an the weddin'
party was nigh an hour late Jest on
that account. Nothin' but bastin'
thread to hold il together; snch shif-
iessne.s. Course, bein' bad luck,
Emma May never tried on the dress
after il come home, like she did the
Others, an | en- tell you she was hop
pin. People At the church didn't
know what waa the matter. Non
deed, Mss Maxwell makes no clos rr
me-"
After her visitor WAS gone. Miss
Phcmey lay back on her pillows And
looked out OF the window q ing
time.
Twas an awful mean trick) I
know" she said. At last. "Twasn't
right; but I got this spell o sickness
to pay up fer il. an that butter knife
was solid silver and real expensive.
I'm evened up all 'round-an' some
howl jest can't care"