The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-06-27

q
an l hope your married life'n be
happy. The Foote's have all got ter
rible unreasonable tempers, they
say; but I 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. a 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 made
| her start nervOusly. Night had
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 flung
| the shutters open. The stars were
/ shining now. The air outside was
cool and damp and fragrant. She
/ looked over toward the Ridley house,
and as she did so their last light went
out. Miss Phemey strained her eyes
/ to no avail. All was darkness there.
I'm a-goin' to do it," she said
aloud, determinedly. Rumaging over
! the table, she found pair of scis-
sors. She took a match from the
box beside the window and unlocked
| the door. The moon was creeping up,
a fiat disk of pale yellow. Miss
Phemey looked down at herself and
saw that she still wore her best
dress. It'll be all drabbed," she
thought; then, recklessly: 81 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 n team coming and
crouched in a corner of the worn
fence, behind a 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 a seemingly amending
journey, she reached the Rdley's
gate The naples threw deep shad-
ows, and, so, sheltered. she reached
the house. Round to the left wing
slowly 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
full upon the wonderful pearl bead
ing of the wedding dress and made
scintillating lights. Miss Phemey
saw all this, and slowly-slowly-
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 despsed
chain stitching, and she slipped her
fingers deftly along toward the col
lar. What was this? A loose end of
thread-a little pull-r-i-i-i-i-ip-it
was done. In a 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 a little chuckle.
"Them bastin's'll hold it together
so nobody'll s'spect-lucky she left
'em in. But when Emma May puts it
on, big an fat as she is, it'll burst
square up the back like a frog" She
couldn't help laughing at the idea; it
ticllled her fancy so. She forgot her
vet 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 its work She was hoarse
and feverish, and there was a 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 tcntn day found her sit
ting up, very weak and frai!!, but with
life in her eyes and voice.
Mrs. Emerson, the town gossip,
came in and brought a bundle.
"Jest as soon as you git able, Miss
Phemey, I want you to make me
dress. It's one Mr.. Emerson got me
over to Bristol, an he showed real
good taste for man, | must say.
Lool-a-there, amt that fern leaf
real pretty?"
Its just beautiful" assented Miss
Phemey. Seems if you'd have Miss
Maxwell make it up, bein' she's from
the city an ALL"
Shell never cut into a piece of
goods FIR 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
sFwed up the back, an Emma MAY,
not suspicionin', put it on an busted
it clean wide open? o. course, you
was sick an didn't git to the weddn';
but | was there, an the weddin'
party was nigh an hour late Jest on
that account. Nothin' but a bastin'
thread to hold it together; such shift
lessness! Course, bein' bad luck,