The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-14
HOW ELIZABETH MET A BRIDE.

! Elizabeth hoated in, glanced at the
glass. perked up a bow or two. and set
/ tied herself gracefully in the most artistic
chair.
! The girl at the tea table looked her over
approvingly from the gray panne crown
of her hat to the fluff of gold colored
tafeta peeping out from below the hem
of her tailor made. Here her eyes
halted.
What do I see? A new one, and it Is
yellow, Elizabeth, my dear. you gave me
{ your sacred promise that l should have
the old purple one to cut into strips for
my woven silk portieres just as soon as
it should be supplanted. Where is it?
Is ii forthcoming?"
EliZabeths self-complacency disappear
ed as If by magic. We'll, for goodness
sake send for it. or come for il. or some
thing, just as quick as ever you can
what is left of it-but you needn't ex-
pect me TO come TO see you when the por-
there's are hung. that is all. If ever 1 set
eyes on that skirt again | shall certainly
have a spasm then and there"
Why what on earth? 1 always
thought that YOU liked that purple petit
coat particulaTly-it was perfectly
lovely shade-but it seemed as if you
never would wear it out so that l could
fall heir 10 it. What happened?''
We'll, I'll tell you. You see. it began
TO wear a little just above the fiounce,
and then one day last week l stepped on
it going up stairs, and IL tore clear across
the front breadth at about foot from
the bottom, so just took it right off and
did it up in a bundle for you.
Yesterday morning Bob telephoned for
me 10 come down and take luncheon. L
had just got my new tailor made home
but I hadn't purchased my petticoat
because 1 wasn't quite sure what color
wanted. I was in a terrible fix, for the
purple was the only silk one that had
except black, and that is horrid with
gray--so l got out again to see II | could
do anything with it The fiounce wa
all right. so I thought that 1 would just
sew the rent I'D in a seam, but that made
il too short in front and l was in an
awful hurry, so l took an old piece Of
rose-colored ribbon and laid it over the
tear and sewed down both edges 1t look
ed perfectly dreadful, but il couldn't pos
sibly show, and l simply had TO wear II
anyway.
We'll, I bought my yellow one while l
was down town. and when | got home II
was four o'clock and / was tired and de-
cided 10 lie down on the couch for little
rest before dinner. l hadn't more than
got settled when / remembered that
wanted a drink of water, SO l started for
the dining room after 1t.
Now, you know that we live in pri-
vate boarding house where everybody
knows everybody else and l told you
last month about that handsome Mr.
Drinks being married 70 a girl in Galena
and that they were coming back to our
place TO board. / didn't know just when
they were coming, but ii seems that they
arrived yesterday, and as l passed
through the hall on my way TO the
dining room, who should / meet but the
bridegroom himself l was awfully sur
- Apff l-1nu
well 1 stopped TO congratulate him and
inouire as to the whereabouts of the
bride.
He said that she was still in the parlor
with some relatives who were to remain
for a few days: that they We're waiting
for the landlady to arrange about tnelr
rooms. He seemed sort of constrained
and 1 began to wonder what was up.
was anxious to see the bride, ana hao
some curiosity as to what her relatives
were like-you can tell so much by that,
you know-so 1 said:
Aren't you going to take me IN anu
introduce me?'
why. certainly he answered. hest
tating in an embarrassed way do you
want to go in now?
"'Of course l do, 1 replied You see,
suspected that perhaps he wasn't
proud Of the relations, and wasn't very
particular to have me meet them
He led the way. and when we entered
the parlor / really felt sorry for him. ne
blushed so, and when he introduced me
they all seemed so awkward ana sen
conscious that / decided that although
they looked extremely well dressed ana
refined they were not at all accustomed
to society.
Il CONGRATULATED the bride. and was just
| as sweet and genial and self-possessed as
| knew how to he. I was rather pleased
| TO illustrate the dierence between a THOR
oughbred and folks from the country, and
| I knew that 1 was looking particularly
up to date.
."Thera were three or four ladies and
gentlemen besides the bride, and when
| / had met and looked over each, seated
myself on the divan and began CONVEX
sation with the most promising gentleman
| I'm the party | rather liked the humorous
guirk at the corners of has mouth eho
he proved really interesting. In the
midst of one of my most carefully ar
ranged sentences l happened to drop my
ewes: a streak of roSe-colored ribbon on
gorgeous purple background met my
gaze. | stopped short and gasped. l felt
my law DROP / just sat like statue
while the horrible truth permeated me.
What had happened Simply this:
When I had decided 70 lie down, l had
removed the skirt of my tailor made to
avoid cTeaSlnS II. ana tAAS 1'N - :,
/ meeting with the bridegroom In the nsil
had entirely obliterated the fact from
my mind.
mo. l shall not tell you what followed;
! in fact l do not know myself. for l had
! streaks of red and purple dancing be
fore my eyes for hours afterward and
everything else is a blur.
Yes. YOU NAV have the miserable pur-
pie thing if you want it. hut don't you
ever let me set eyes on shred OF IL
again; that is all ] ask.