Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1901-09-12

small parties given by the other girls.
for there were three of her to be in
vited. and that would have made q
large party out of any small one.
Adalette envied her small brother
Johnnie. He was complete boy all
by himself. His clothes were his own.
his room was his own and his lessons
were his own. He had the satisfaction
of knowing that the jack-knife he
found in his Christmas stocking was
not duplicated in two other stockings,
and when he had his photograph Ia
ken, he knew he was himself and not
his brother. Best of all he could wear
his own clothes and be certain that
they were his own clothes.
Adalette thought seriously at one
time of running away, but as she
could think of no place to which to
run, she gave up the idea. She could
and she did abandon dolls at an early
age; for the dolls were always trip
let's, too, and she had had enough of
triplets.
The girls were to be graduated in
June. It happened that although there
was nothing remarkable about their
voices, they were able to sing rather
well, and it occurred to Miss Brown,
who was arranging the programme for
the commencement exercises. that q
trio by the triplets would be unique
and pleasing feature. The idea was
pleasing to Adelaide and Adeline, but
to poor Adalette it was the last straw.
IL won't do it," said she, $50 there!"
"But, my DEAR" said Miss Brown,
persuasively, "you sing that song so
we'll! took it for granted that you
would be willing. The programme has
gone to be printed, and it is too late
to make any change. Why should
you mind?"
because I'm just sick of Icing a
freak!'' said Adalette, her eyes snap
ping angrily. "I'm sick and tired Of
being q triplet. I'd rather be Hot
tentot! I'm tired of going round in
thirds. I hate the figure three! That's
why I'm always so lame in arithmetic.
1 leave out all the threes. I wish
Adelaide would have smallpox, and
that Adeline would turn purple with
rage or green with envy, and stay SO,
I'm so sick of their everlasting faces"
"Why, Adalette!" exclaimed horri-
fed Miss Brown.
"Well, do, and I ami" said Ada
lette, breathlessly. "Oh, please say
we needn't sing!"
I'm afraid" said Miss Brown, cts
too late for that. The arrangements
are all made"
That night Adalette was seized with
an inspiration. She crept out of bed,
found her pocketbook, and counted
the contents as well as she could in
the dark. Then she stole quietly into
the spare room, closed the door after
her, lighted the gas and turned down
the white counterpart, disclosing a
pink and white striped quilt, tufted
with yarn.
IF there'd been enough of that for
three gowns, it would have been made
up for U.S. said she, ''but as there
wasn't, they made quilt of it, which
was a great waste of good material.
It's the only pretty thing Aunt Har-
riet ever bought. I've always wanted
pink dress with nice full skirt.
Ours have always been skinny"
Then the midnight marauder, sat-
isfied with her visit of inspection,
pulled the Counterpart over the quilt,
turned out the light and crept back
to bed; but her countenance, for the
first time in many days, wore an ex-
preston of complete satisfaction.
"Why," asked Adelaide, the follow
ing evening, "did you go into that
hair-dresser's shop this noon?"
II was taking time by the foreleck, :"
said Adalette, demurely. II may get
bald some day, like Aunt Harriet, and
need false front. It's just as we'll to
prepare for war in times of peace,
you know. Please pass the cream"
"Adalette must be planning TO sur
prise us all with her essay" remarked
Alkaline, week later. "She locks her.
self in the spare room with it for an
hour ON two every day. I never knew
her to study anything before. She
seems to learn things without study.
ing"
commencement night arrived.
Three dainty white dresses. all alike
to the last ruffle, were laid across the
three single beds, and the excited
triplets were ready to slip into them.
Little Mrs. Stone was flying from one
tall daughter to another in nervous
haste, and Aunt Harriet, who had con-
tributed the dresses, seemed to be in
everybody's way at once.
cts pretty thick in here said
Adalette, gathering up one of the
fluffy gowns. eff you don't mind,
mother, think I'll take possession
of the spare room. I have an errand
to do besides, so don't be uneasy it
you find that have gone on ahead"
There were twenty-seven graduates,
of whom nineteen were girls. Mrs.
Stone, down in the audience, tried to
distinguish her white-robed triplets
upon the stage. There was one au-
burn head. There was another, but
where was the third? Mrs. Stone
began again at the beginning of the
row, but only two of the red-gold
heads could she find.
Adalette's essay was tho fourth
number on the programme. Ara