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

think any more ABOUT IL, spoke VI
mother, quickly. "Of course, W,
can't afford to hire our sewing done
and we ought not to while am strong
and well, and know how to do it
You run right along down town anc
don't think reunion again"
"Well, Marion, you know best
perhaps, but l know if I were Maudt
1 would put my pride in my poke
for once and let my mother have some
fun in her own way" said Mr.. San
derson, with indignation in his voice
"The white muslin hasn't any
pocket, so now," laughed Mrs. San
derson.
They began to talk house affairs
and Maude did not stop to hear any
more. She had heard enough, though
to make her more uncomfortable thar
she cared to be. 1t was Just like {
man to think one gown as good as
another, so long as it answered the
purpose, but mother knew better. II
was very lovely Of mother to give uI
like that and not be cross or complain.
ing about it. Why, the very thought
of giving up the party or the new
gown made Maude feel as if she
were boiling The reunion would
last a couple of days, and mother
would meet all her old friends. Well
mother always was sweet about
things.
Maude and Stella washed the break
fast dishes together, and they went
upstairs to make the beds.
Stella walked over to her mother s
bureau and called Maude. "See, "
she said, looking in the glass, "we're
almost the same size. You're only a
mite taller. 1 believe 1 could wear
your dress at commencement, and let
mother put in the time on yours.
"Stella Sanderson p exclaimed
Maude, finging away from the bu-
reau, angrily. "You haven't any
more pride than a-a-mosquito!
Wouldn't it be lovely to have folks
say, Stella Sanderson wore Maude's
old graduating dress 7 Why, they'd
think we were poor -
"I'd rather be poor than be prig,
any day." retorted Stella. "You' We
said yourself that it isn't anything to
be graduated from the grammar
school. Then, if it's nothing, why
should / care what wear ?"
"Oh, 1 said that when 1 was mad,
I guess" returned Maude, looking
ashamed of herself. 81 thought it
was something when was graduated,
and it is. You must have your dress
and besides, there is so little to do on
it that the time saved wouldn' t count
much on mine. You'd give up any
thing to make somebody else happy"
"Well, I'd rather feel comfortable
inside than to have something fine
outside, if / couldn't have both, "
commented Stella, as she pulled the
mattress over.
After Stella had gone downstairs
Maude slipped her white dress out of
the box and looked at it. She had to
admit that it was as nice gown as a
sixteen-year-old girl need wish, even
for a garden party where her best
friends Harvard cousin was to be the
lion. Maude wished the dress didn't
look so pretty and fresh
All in the world it needed was a
thorough pressing, and she could do
that herself. She looked at the sam
pie or organdy pinned on her cushion.
1t was delicate green ground, sprin-
kled with pale pink rosebuds and
dainty green sprays. How cool and
refreshing gown made of that would
look Emily was to have pale pink
organdy. It was no use. Maude
could not give it up. No, she would
not
"Good-by, mother" " called Maude,
when she was ready for school. CT m
off now. Are you going down town
to buy my organdy this afternoon ?"
eyes, dear" mother called back,
cheerfully. 81 expect to. I'll leave
your dinner on the stove. You know
where to find the key?"
eyes, in the same place." returned
Maude. "Well, good-by." She did
not go out to the kitchen to kiss her
mother good-by. But then she didn't
always do that now that she was in
the high school. Mother didn't seem
to mind. At least, she never said
anything.
Maude's school kept until two
o'clock, and the family had dinner at
noon. Maude's dinner was always
saved hot, and her mother had to go
out, the door key was left in a secret
place. Today, however, Maude sur
prised the family by walking in while
they were at dinner. To their ex-
Carnations she said, smilingly, that
she had very important matter tc
attend to, and she had been excused
early. She went to the closet and
got her plate and knife and fork and
took her place at the table. Her
father looked at her curiously, as he
helped her to the baked fish.
"You look tremendously happy
about something, Maude," he said
"what is it? Have you had a cable
gram that his royal highness, the
Prince of Wales, is coming to that
wonderful garden party?"
ooh, no." laughed Maude, "some.
thing BETTER than that, father. Moth
er, how many yards of that organdy
were you going to buy?"
ooh, that's it. Well, l thought
would make twelve yards do" replied
mother. 'But do you think yor
ought to have been excused for that
Couldn't you trust me?"
Twelve yards, at thirty seven ant
half cents yard" " went on Maude
chow much is that, grammar -schoo
girl? ?"
-Four dollars and fifty cents" an
swered Stella, promptly.