The National tribune., 1903-05-28

time on Mrs. Klegg's mOtherly shoulder
| while the Deacon, at nod from his bet.
ter-half, fed hospitalward.
| I'm acting like a little fool know y
| laughed Maria, half hysterically, as she
at last emerged from her mothers arms
and submitted to Annabel's deft fingers
the rcarranging of her disheveled locks
l knew l had to have a good cry, but
intended to go off and have it out by my
self. l am nervous, and worried about
Will and 81, even if thy are getting bet
| ter There. now," giving her eyes a last
dab, and shaking herself, I've had my
cry and feel better.''
Annabel gave her loving little pat,
and sat down beside her, and the poor old
mother went to the cupboard to look for
something she knew very well was not
there, so that she might wipe her eyes I'M
seen. She knew, every mother does, just
! exactly what troubled waters her daugh-
ter was passing through, and knowing
Maria's disposition and character, she
knew also that her girl would decide to
do the right thing and that she was GO
ing to suffer little, because the things
she had TO face must be carried out in op-
position to all the teachings of her social
| life.
| Now, Maria" said Annabel little
wistfully, laying her hand on Maria's, ''if
you Just would let's talk about the we'd
ding
"That's exactly what I'm going to do,''
broke in Maria.
"Well, the thing that interests me
most" said Annabel, sis the wedding
dress. must make it of course. What
will you be married imp
| Maria began to look worried again. 81
don't know. 1 do wonder if 1 dare to
| think of white dress? But 1 don't care, -
she added detiantly. 'Pm going to marry
VIII at the end of the week, if have to
wrap a sheet around me-"
"Oh, Maria" cried Annabel, aghast.
anything fixed by that time"
"Well, then, l don't see anything for it
but the sheet
II have it." and Annabel jumped up
and gave Maria a squeeze that made her
get red in the face. "YOu shall have q
white dress, you shall, indeed; and it will
be beauty. too. l can get it made easy
enough. and
"Well, Annabel." laughed Maria. "you
must be conjurer. rs Elephant says.
"Me married in white! There isn't
white thing in GOldsboro but the sheets
that the Christian Commission sent down
here
THAT is just it." replied Annabel eK-
citedly. and clapping her hands in sheer
joy. "Sheets is what l meant"
Maria looked dubious. while Mrs. Klegg
came to the front again. 'Are you sure,
Annabel?'
Indeed am." returned the little lady.
''In that lot of sheets were four big linen
ones. They are perfect beauties, and how
they ever got into that box is a mystery
TO me. but there they are. for I saw
Father take them out and lay them aside.
Now, Maria. your wedding dress is plan
ned The skirt shall be very long all
around, and shall have a deep hem.
will make the waist Garibaldi, and can
trim it with the lace on that pocket hand
kerchief that was Mammals. 1t is real
thread that her grandmother made, and
the neck and the wrists. You Shall have
to wear under it that new
to wear under it that new white petit
coat that 1 brought, and have never had
it on. l did every stitch Of the embroid-
cry on it myself. and it took the premium
Of the County Fair, you know. Now,
Miss Klegg, am 1 not sure-enOugh con-
jurer?"
Thereupon ensued discussion of de-
tails in which three women tried their
best to get each ahead of the other. and
none of them. got very clear understand
ing about anything.
The confab was interrupted by the ar
rival of the pOst-oflice orderly with the
letters. which he handed to Maria.
Dear me-. she commented as she ran
the letters over in her hand. "here is one1
for poor Jim Clark. only buried yester-
day. / am sure it is from his wife. l
wrote letter for him to her when he
first came here, telling her to keep up her
courage, as he was sure to get well, and
the war was nearly over. and he would
come home and they would be together al
ways. He seemed to be doing very we'll,
indeed. but he got hold of something and
over-ate himself. and the doctors could
not do anything for him. would not
go away and leave Will to such a chance
body will have to write to the poor woan- |
an and tell her that she is a widow i
can't do it,"