Daily camera., 1901-07-20

Phemey looked down at herself an
saw that she still wore her bes
dress. It'll be all drabbled," sh
thought; then, recklessly: II dom
care, nohow."
She brushed against the drippin,
flowers beside the garden path, ant
held her breath as the gate gave ,
whining cr-e-ak. Out on the road
walking noiselessly. she went. One,
she heard team coming ant
crouched in corner of the worr
fence, behind 4 little gum tree sprout
till it was past. She recognized the
doctors rig, and her heart came uT
in her throat and beat there with
great frightened leaps; but he passed
by and safely she crept on.
At last, after a seemingly unendine
journey, she reached the Ridley's
gate. The naples threw deep shad
ows. and, so, sheltered, she reached
the house. Round to the left wing
slowly-slowly-and 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, it fell
fun upon the wonderful pearl bead
ing of the wedding dress and made
scintillating lights. Miss Phemey
saw all this, and slowly-slowly-her
hand went ont 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
thread-n 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.
"Thcm bastin'sll hold it together
so nobody'll s'spect-lucky she left
'cm in. But when Emma May puts it
on. big an fat as she is. it'll bust
square up the back like frog" She
couldn't help laughing at the idea; il
tickled her fancy so. She forgot her
wet. feet, her draggled, muddy skirts,
and went to bed with 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 brongh. q bundle.
jest as soon as you git able. Miss
Phemey, ! want you to make me n
dress. It's one Mr., Emerson got me
over to Bristol. an he showed real
good taste for o man. l must say.
Look-a-there, amt that fern leaf
real pretty?"
Its just beautiful" assehted Miss
Phemey. Seems IL you'd have Miss
Maxwell make II up, bein' she's from
the city an ALL"
shell never cut into a piece of
goods f'r me, ! en- tell you" said Mrs.
Emerson, with emphasis. "Ainr no.
body told you how she made Emma
May Ridley's ~eddin' dress and never
sewed up the back. an Emma May,
no, suspicionin', put it on an busted
IL clean wide open? o. course. you
was sick an didn't git to the weddin';
but was there. an the weddin'
party was nigh an hour late jest on
that account, So,hin' but bastin'
thread 20 hold it together; such shir.
iessness! Course. bein' bad luck.
Emma May never tried On the dress
after il come home. like she did the
others, an Gu tell You she was hop
pin. People Al the church didn't
know what was the matter. Nom
deed. Miss Maxwell makes no clos fr
me"
After her visitor was gone. Miss
Phcmey lay back on her pillows and
looked out of tho window long
time.
"'Twus an awful mean trick,
know" she said, at last. "'Twasn't
right: but got this spell o sickness
to pay up fer it, an that butter knife
was solid silver and real expensive
I'm eyened up all 'round-an' some
howl Jest can't care"