The National tribune., 1903-05-28

hadn't anything, at home,' said Mrs
klegg, as she and the girls sat at the
table after the Deacon left, but l Ger
tainly do hate to have you marry way
down here. Mandy will howl over it
and, then, YOU can't have any of the
neighbors to the wedding"
And she can't have an Unfair. either,
chimed in AnnabeI. ME and 81 didn't
have Il real one, though we had reception
enough, as they call it. before 81 got away
but it don't seem like being really and
truly married when there isn't any white
dress, and no Infair," she added plain
lively. Annabei did dearly love the cere
monals of social life. and if she had been
so placed would have made very swell
society woman, for she was adaptable
and u true-born gentlewoman.
| Maria sat at the table with her elbows
resting upon it and her chin buried in her
upraised hands. The full sleeves OF the
gaudy calico dress which Annabel had
finished. fell back from her rounded white
arms, and her shining brown hair was
brushed a little back from her face and
caught up with bunch of laurel which
Shorty had bashfully tangled in the heavy
waves, declaring that the pink and white
Of the lovely blossoms was Il dead match
| for her skin. She was deep IN thought,
and the expression in her clear eyes
showed her to be many long miles away
from GOldsbOrO. She had only half heard
her mothers illusions to her scanty wed
ding wardrobe, and the lack of bridal I'M
cry was not troubling her in the least.
| Annabel and her mother were much more
concerned over that than she was. Mrs.
Klegg belonged to the thrifty housewifely
class. who began laying away linen for
the daughters of the house. the minute
the babies were out of swaddling clothes.
AS soon as the daughters could thread
needle, they were set to work at hen-
ming the big linen sheets and towels. anu
a little later to hemstitching piHowslips
and tabecIoths. In the great chests at
home Maria had dozens of each of these
household necessities neatly packed away
in lay.c.B of lavender, and in the cedar
box which Il far-away Klegg had brought
| from a sea voyage she had piles and piles
of beautiful lingerie, tiaintily tucked and
| embroidered, ruffled and shirred. Maria
had been properly brought up. Mrs. kleSg
now took pride in thinking. Sewing ma
chimes were little used then, and she had
| industriously mangled her left forehnger
through several years of scratching gath
ers and fine telling and stitching, getting
| ready for the day which every girl in
those long ago years looked forward to,
long before a man appeared on the hori-
zOn" who might in any way be suspected
to be "the" one. @ Hn' ~ iaet e'.r
"When is it to be, Maria?" asked An
mabel impatientiyt
SIT? What ?"eastied Maria as she came
back to earth Within start.
"Oh, ny goodness, Maria complained
Anrabel; "yOu are just the most ''nroman-
tic thing I ever saw. l declare, you have
settled the most momentous occurrence of a
| woman's life as though it was matter
lof a y,ra "a, ar M thiDp -alvp
mon. Me and 81 iwere heap more ro-
mantle about it than you and Sh-Wili.''
s"You and 81 had plenty Of time. Will
and me haven'tY replied Maria brightly.
II have had my dreams. just as other
girls have, / suppose" she added more
soberiy, as she sInoothed a wrinkle in the
sheet that was doing service for table
cloth. II alwaystthought L would have a
big wedding. Pals plenty able to afford
it. and he never was stingys in his life.
supposed that Of course 4 would be mar
ried in white-IIeven thought I would be
very extravagant and have white pop
lin. They are awful pretty, think; and
then, Of course, | thought I'd have some
artificial orange blossoms like them that
Katherine Alexander had liz her veil. And
then, l wanted white gloves and white
shoes, too / thought I'd have blue silk,
one just the color of the field in the flag.
trimmed in bands of white silk, for the In
fair, and il him and me went away any
where / had about decided that gray al
paca would be the dress I would like to
20 away in. II we went to Indianapolis.
I would want to have nice dresses, Of
course, and with care could make them
last at least 10 years. You can turn and
dye both poplin and alpaca, you know;
so they wouldn't be so very expensive in
the long rum
"No," responded Mrs. Klegg, apparent
ly understanding Maria's swishes, and,
motherlke, desirous of gratifying them.
"No, them dresses would be cheap enough
in the long run. I've wore my black Irish
poplin, that your uncle Daniel brought me
from his last voyage, for nearly 20 years.
and it amt been dyed but once. Now, if
you would Just wait, Maria," suggested
Mrs. Klegg reflectively.
But Maria negatived that proposition
in second. "No. Mother. / will not wait.
If was to wait for clothes, l might have
no husband to wed. It's all right, amt
it, Pa?" she asked as she jumped TO her
feet and flung her arms around the Dea
con, who came into the dining room at
that moment.
BLESS me, yes, | suppose it is, If you
say so," he said benignantly. as he beamed
on Maria through his big spectacles.
What do you want me to say yes to-"
he asked as he began to scoop brown SUI
gar into a cup of coffee for one of the
boys.
Isn't it all right for me to marry Will
to-day, if | want toy
"U-m. WE'LL, yes, 1 suppose it is, pro-
viding Will is willing to be married off
hand" he replied teasingly.
"FOr mercy's sake. Father" interject-
ed Mrs. Klegg, 'are you trying to make
syrup of that coffee? That brown sugar
is strong anyhow, and you've filed the cup
half full"
''Si said he hadn't had enough sugar in
his coffee for two years, and thought I'd
get enough in for one time" replied the
Deacon. as he stirred the black mass with
steel knife.
But, Pa, you amt answered my ques-
tion," insisted Maria.
nestIy, you are I'D enough to know your
own mind. and yioiir sNia and l can't
choose husband for you. amt an objec-
ton in the worldIto> Will l don't know
anything about his past, up to the time
that him and SiteOme together, but his
record since then has been exactly what
it ought to be. though if he was a pro-
fessor, me and your, ma would like it
little better. SUPPOSE that army life
amt the best scho6lih' for man who is
seekin' light, but we can pervaiI on Will
-. IL o.ro, af> III,