The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-21

holiday made him young for the moment.
His wife thought him beautiful.
Did you say 1t had not come home yet?
You must be sure to have 1t on time.
Take all your party clothes along, too''
oh, yes, I'm going to- said Mrs. At
wood She was on sure ground here.
The gown she had made for wedding in
the spring was crying to be worn again.
What color did you decide on?''
I'll decided on-brown," said Mrs At
wood with fixed eyes. Her respite was
gone.
Brownies, I always liked you in
brown. Have you heard your mother talk
much about her new clothes, Josephine?"
NO" said Josephine, II haven't"
Didn't you wear brown when we went
on our wedding trip? 1t seems to me that
remember that. I know you had red
berries In your hat for knocked some of
them OUT
Were you married in brown dress?"
called Sam.
NO" answered the father for her.
your mother was married In Wholesome
kind of white mosquito netting. What
makes you look SO unhappy, 10? Aren't
you glad to go off with me-in a new
suit?''
'Edward!'' said Mrs. Atwood. She rose
and stood in front of him, her dark eyes
unnaturally large, the color coming and
going in her rounded olive cheek. Her
red lips trembled. Here, before the
loved and dreaded domestic tribunal she
would be shriven at last Her children
should know just what she was like. Ed
ward, have something to tell you."
There's the door bell" said her hus-
band, with an arresting hand, as he list
ened for the outer sounds.
"A package, sir BY the Express.
Twenty-Five cents
Have you the change, 10? It's some
clothes I ordered for myself for the
Washington trip. I wanted to do you
credit. Oh, don't go up stairs for it,
Il don't mind" said Mrs. Atwood.
Change! She had nothing but change.
Clothes! How easy it was for him to get
them! Do her credit-in his glossy new
ness. while she was in that old block
skirt grown skimp and askew with wear,
and that tight, impossible jacket. She
charged up and down stairs in the We
hemence of her emotion, filled with anger
at her folly, and paid the man herself be-
fore re-entering the library.
Her husband was untying the cords of
the long pasteboard box with slow and
patient fingers. He was man who had
| never cut string in his life. The chill
dren were standing by in what seemed
unnecessary excitement, their faces all
turned to her as she came toward them.
Edward had lifted the cover of the box
What color are your clothes, Edward %
asked his wife. It was the first time that
he had ever bought anything without con-
sulting her
what color? Oh, brown" said Mr. At
wood. He swooped her into a front place
in the circle with his long arm. Here,
look and tell me what you think Of this
Edward &
''Lined throughout with taffeta, cores
on every frill-why, 10! Bring your moth
er a chair, Josephine
Before the eyes Of Mrs. Atwood lay the
rich folds Of a cloth skirt, surmounted by
a Jacket trimmed with fur.
| She lay back in the armchair with the
family clustered around her, their tongues
| loosened:
| I'VE all knew about it" ''We prom
Used not to tell We wanted to see you
get it There won't be ; anybody as
pretty as you, mama" "You left out
| that letter Of measurements, and papa
and I took it to Aunt Cynthia''-this from
Josephine-"and she helped us. She says
you're dfsgracefully unselfsh.'' The girl
emphasized her remark with sudden and
strangling hug. There isn't anybody in
| the world as good as you are. was watch
ing you all last week. I knew you would
not buy a thing. But it was papa who
| thought Of doing it, when I told him. Fee
the stuff-isnt it lovely? SO thick and
| soft. He and Aunt Cynthia said you
should have the best. She can spend mon
ey! And you're to go uptown to-mor-
| row with me to buy a hat with red in
1t, and if the suit needs altering it can
be done then. Don't you like it, mama p
Its perfectly beautiful" said the moth
er, her hands clasped in those of her three
darlings, but her eyes sought her hus.
bands.
| He alone said nothing, but stood re-
sarding her with twinAling eyes, through
suspicion of moisture. What did she
see in them? The love and kindness that
clothed her not only with silk and WOOL
but with honor. That made of this new
| raiment a vesture wherein she entered
| that special and exquisite heaven of the
woman whose husband and children arise
up and call her blessed