The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-04-10
THE; BLUE DRESS.
BY SUSAN HUBBARD MARTIN.

sons dreSSmaklng paTlols, "Aele '1to
large easy chair nearly enVeloped ner
small, shrinking figure.
She was not old, not more than thlr-
ty-fye, but already the bloom ana
beauty of her youth had gone. Ihere
We're streaks OF gray in her brown
hair: fine lines revealed themselves
under the sad eyes. The cheeks were
pal and a trife sunken, and the hands,
folded over a parcel in her lap, were
rough and callousel. Whoever sne
was, life had gone hard with her.
Madam Jackson came in. You
wished to see me?" she asked.
Madam Jackson was large. impos-
ine.looking woman, clad in rich black
dress.
The little woman rose timidly.
"Yes'm," she answered. II want
Won to make me dress if you Will.
I've made all my own clothes ever
since John and l were married. Ihey
haven't been very many, either" sne
added. But this is something differ
ent. We live on farm, and we raise
fruit and vegetables for market. Ev-
cry year John has said to me, Wen,
Lottie. guess this fall we can af1ord
that blue dress.
She unrolled her package carefully
aai smoothed out the cloth 1t con-
tanned with tender hand.
81 was to have had this blue dress
the second year we were married,
she explained. Il was young then
but somehow something always hap
pened. Often we'd have dry year,
then again we'd have to buy an extra
Nplow, or maybe COW would dle, OF
something else would come up, so
never was able to get the dress until
now, and we've been married sixteen
years. The last thing John said to me
when be gave me the money was,
Now, Lottie, don't buy anything but
a blue dress, and just forget how long
you've waited for It..
I'm afraid, though" she added, with
a wistful little sign, 'it's too late to
look we'll on me. You see getting up
at half past two in the morning to be
ready for market will make any one
old. and I've worked hard. Sometimes
we have six men to cook for; that is IN
in the busy season"
Madam Jackson took the roll OF
cloth in her hands. It was a soft,
beautiful blue, fine and rich in texture,
but it could make a dress suitable
only for a young girl; some one with
rosy cheeks and golden hair and dim
pies. It was so far from being appro-
pirate for the little, STOPPING figure
opposite
Madam looked kindly at the pale
little woman. I'm afraid" she began,
you'll find this color little trying.
A black or a gray, or perhaps dark
brown would be more becoming. You
understand"
The woman clasped her hapfs.
Don't say it," she cried. YES, l
understand, but if you onlpzknew how
all these years I've wanted that blue
dress! Something different from any
tkngt~e had. All, you needn't tell
me! know I'm faded and old, but,
oh. do not want that bit of coicr
for my own! If can't wear it, 1 can
at least look at it.
A large tear shone in worldly Mad
am Jackson'S eye-and she was not
much given to tears. very WELL sle
answered; and then followed discus
sion of lining and thread.
The woman came again in few
days to have the dress fitted. LII one
hand she carried basket Of purple
grapes with the bloom still on them.
"I've brought you these" she said
to the iressmaker. Il picked them
myself early this morning"
THANK you so much" was the
warm answer. 81 dearly love grapes,
and those are especially fine.'
In few minutes the blue dress went
on over the thin little figure Some
how its bright hue seemed mockery.
1t brought out So clearly the gray
hairs that would have been softened
by a more sober color. The pale
cheeks, too, looked winter tnan be-
fore.
The little woman saw her reflection
in the tall mirror opposite, and sighed.
"Yor were quite right she said,
slowly; "a darker color would have
been best, and yet-somelow l
couldn't give it up. I've thought about
it so much all these years. Why, Of
ten when the work was hardest and
the days longest, I've said to myself,
Never mind, Charlotte, some of these
days you're going to have a beautiful
blue Dress and the hope of it soma
how kept me up"
Il understand" Madam Jackson
said, gently.
In a few days the dress was done.
The customer came for it one morn
ing, in wagon driven by tall, broad
shouldered man with rugged, wealth
er-beaten face.
Her husband" thought Madam
Jackson, looking out of the window.
The pale little woman came hurried
she said, smiling, "anj the dress-on
isn't it beautiful"
The blue gown lay across chair
Madam Jackson had done we'll with it
It was finished off with silk of the
same shade. and there was pretty
lace collar and soft, fine ru1fles Of lace
at the wrists.
"You must let me see you in it be
fore you 60" Madam Jackson said.
AS the dress was being fastened, {
faint color stole into the woman.
white cheeks.
Isn't it pretty?" she whispered
wonderingly. The very pretties
thing I ever had! 1t seems wrong
somehow for me to have it now. Some
body young and beautiful ought tc
wear it. If only I could have had il
years ago."
Madam Jackson's left fingers were
busy with the brown hair touched
Ill a.