The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-12-27
THE BATTLE MAUDE FOUGHT.


Maude, who had answered the post
mans ring.
cit isn't from grandmother and it
isn't from Aunt Edith. Who do you
suppose it can be from ?"
"You seem to think my cores
pcndence is limited" smiled the
mother as she slipped the knife blade
under the flap of the envelope.
ooh, how delightful - she ex-
claimed, as she began to read. cit
is from Eva Hacket, now Mrs. Bright
ley, and says that the old Buckston
Academy girls are going to form an
association, and will hold their first
reunion next week in the school
building. 1t will last two days. She
says they want every Buckston girl
to join and to be present on Wednes-
day and Thursday if possible. -
Mrs. Sanderson looked around the
breakfast table with shining eyes.
There was a bright color in her
cheeks.
cit makes you feel as if you had
just been graduated, doesn't it ?"
said her husband with laugh.
eyes, it does. I'd give anything
to go next week. I believe it would
actually make me feel twenty years
younger to meet those girls again, :"
said Mrs. Sanderson, eagerly.
"Well, go by all MEANS" said her
husband, cordially. There's no rea-
son in the world why you shouldn't. :"
ooh, Frank, do you think so"
Mrs. Sanderson looked across at her
husband with a grateful smile. "You
always were such dear, Frank. =
''Thank you" returned Mr.. San
derson with an appreciative look.
But, mother" put in Maude,
'there is my dress and Stella
ooh, yes, 1 forgot. Of course I
can't go. It's folly to talk like this.
Sometimes 1 think the young folks
are foolish, but 1 believe I'm just as
bad myself. 1 thrilled over that re-
union as if l were only sixteen" !"
Mrs. Sanderson took another piece of
toast and subsidized. She was so ab-
sorbed in her own thoughts that she
didn't notice the look her husband
gave Maude.
"How about your dresses, Maude ?"
he asked curtly.
"Well, there's Stella's graduating
dress to finish for next Thursday
morning, and there's my organdy to
make for next Friday week. Mother
promises that I should have it to wear
at Emily Greenleafs party, and 1
must, " explained Maude.
"Why must?" asked her father.
"Well, haven't a thing to wear"
returned Maude, beginning to look
injured.
"What about that graduating gown
you made such rumpus about last
year?"
''Why, father, it wasn't last year
it was two years ago. | couldn' t
wear that old thing in which was
graduated from the grammar school
two years ago !"
ooh, you couldn't p Father S
tone implied great deal and Maude
looked uncomfortable.
mo, she couldn't, Frank, "said the
mother, coming to the rescue. Don t
let's think any more about it."
So nothing more was said about
new gowns or academy reunions.
Mother put on an air of extra cheer
fulness and Stella did her share of the
talking Father and Maude were
quiet. 1t was very unfortunate about
that reunion, thought Maude. If it
had come two weeks later there would
be nothing i'll the world to prevent
mother from going. 1t was nice in
father to want her to go, but he could
not understand how extremely i'm
portant a new gown for that particu-
lar party was. Neither could he un-
derstand that there is nothing quite
so absolute to high-school junior as
a school graduation gown.
To be sure this gown was made OF
pretty white muslin, and the sleeves
did very well, for they had been al
tered last year. But Maude had set
her heart on a rosebud organdy for
that party, and she must have it. II
was with determination to hold heI
own righteously that she began tC
clear away the breakfast things. As
she carried some dishes to the slide
she heard her father and mother talk
ing in the kitchen.
''How much have you to do or
Stella's dress?' father was asking.
81 have nothing to do but to hem
the skirt and put on two ruffles. +"
''This is only Friday. Couldn't
you finish that and get ready to go by
Wednesday," ?"
Eyes, 1 could, easily, if it were no
for Maude's dress" answered moth
er; but dislike to ask her to give
up the party or to wear the old dress
They are expecting some young peo
pie, and | want Maude TO look we'll
of course"
"What a dear mother she is
thought Maude, as she fingered il
the china closet to listen.
81 wish 1 could say let Jane How
ard come and sew you all up, but
can't" said Mr.. Sanderson.
"NoW. Frank, I don't want Won (,