The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-04-18

ing, In q wagon driven by a tall, broad.
shouldered man with a rugged, wealth.
er-beaten face.
Her husband" thought Madam
Jackson, looking out Of the window.
The pale little woman came hurried.
ly In. John came with me today"
she said smiling, "anj the dress-on.
isn't II beautiful"
The blue gown lay across a chair.
Madam Jackson had done we'll with It.
Il was finished of with silk Of the
same shade. and there was a pretty
lace collar and soft, fine rufies Of lace
at the wrists.
you must let me see you in Il be-
fore you 60" Madam Jackson said.
AS the dress was being fastened, a
faint color stole into the woman's
white cheekA.
Isn't II pretty?' she Whispered
wonderingly. THE very prettlest
thing | ever had! It seems wrong
somehow for me to have It now. Some
body young and beautiful ought to
wear 1t. II only i could have has It
years ago!"
Madam Jackson's left fingers were
busy with the brown hair touched
with silver, combed so severely back
you must not wear your hair quite
so plain she said. "A looser effect
softens the face wonderfully. There.
that it is better"
She Strengthened the lace at the
throat and settled he skirt. wait a
moment. she added, stepping into the
next room. When she returned she
held a dainty lace-trimmed handker-
chief, fine as a spiders web. She
tucked it into the rough little hand.
"A present from me" she said, light
ly. When you wear the dress you
must carry that"
Over the thin face there swept a
beautiful flush
us that for me?" she said, in an awe
struck voice. ooh, thank you. thank
yOu!"
There was so much radiance in the
lCok that Madam Jackson was startled,
and then wonderful thing happened.
For the moment it seemed as if the
years had rolled back, and the worn
face shone with its lost beauty and itJ
lost youth.
The eyes were very bright a tender
smile lowered over the tremulouB
mouth, and Madam Jackson saw what
the woman must have been long ago.
before the hard years had robbed ner
of her bloom.
Il wish John could see me- the lic-
tie woman whispered.
AS if in answer tn her wish, there
came a knock at the door Madam
Jackson opened it quickly.
Come in, won't your" she said,
pleasantly Your wife is ANXIOUS to
have you see her in her new dress"
The man entered. When the blue
gowned. radiant vision faced him, he
started. why, Lottie, he said, why
my dear, is it really your"
DO you like it, John?" she said.
Like it! Why you look just as
you did when we were married, only
somehow, sweeter and dearer," and
then, regardless OF Madam Jackson in
the background, he took the small
woman in his arms and kissed her on
her glowing cheeks.
A few minutes later Madam Jackson
stood at the window and watched them
drive away with the blue dress care
fully wrapped up. The flush still lin
gered on the little womans face as
she waved a last good-by.
Madam Jackson waved back. She
knew that before long the flush would
fade from her friends cheek, the
lines would come back, the cares re-
turn. The burdens must be taken up
again.
There would come, too, the weary
hours and the lonely ones that must
be lived through. The blue dress
would be folded away as something
sacred, seldom worn, but never forgot
ten. There would be something beau
t;ful at least to look at in the bare old
farmhouse.
AS the rafting wagon disappeared
Madam Jackson tUrned away from the
window with a smile that was half
sigh.
That blue dress-it as a success,
after all" she murmured.-Youths
Companion.
Cedar Rapids Daily Mirage.
Every day in the year when the sun
| L. oh ininno- n MIN co NOV he cnn-, In,