The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-11

surely don't want to choose anything
that will fade"
"Oh, mol" said Serena, decidedly. Il
guess I'll get some blue" she said to
the clerk.
I'VE have a blue with pattern just
like that lavender" he said, kindly
Have you?" exclaimed Serena and
her grandfather in one delighted
breath.
The clerk produced it, and it was re-
garded with approval and even enthu-
siasm. The clerk measured off ive
yards, and gave the two parcels to
Serena. The grandfather paid the lit
tie bill, and they turned away after
thanking Jeanette for her kindness.
Don't mention it," said Jeanette.
II Just told you because | knew you
would be sorry if you did get it and it
| faded
II would have been" said the little
girl, earnestly, "and the blue it al
most just as pretty"
| Jeanette smiled at them, as she
hurried home to luncheon--for which
| she was so late that the family and
her Aunt Maria were just leaving the
dining room.
MY dear" whispered her mother. re-
proachfully, you might have been on
time-especially when you knew Aunt
Maria was going TO be here! Aunt
Maria thinks, anyway"
THAT you haven't brought me up
properly" said Jeanette, kissing her
mother on the dimple in her cheek.
Her mother laughed, but she said,
reproachfully. You might have come
before we were quite finished"
IL know it," agreed Jeanette. Il
know it. | meant TO, but something
out Of the ordinary happened that |
really couldn't help being late"
Then | will forgive you" said her
mother, but you must be particularly
nice to Aunt Maria to make up for It,"
Jeanette succeeded so well that her
Aunt Maria decided that she was, after
all, not so improperly brought up as
she had feared. Fortunately she did
not stay very long, or Jeanette might
have spoiled this good impression by
door had hardly closed upon her aunt
when she rushed to her mother and
told her about Serena and her grand
father, and the lavender gingham.
why" exclaimed her mother, as
Jeanette paused Il was at that very
counter this morning, and, my dear, |
bought some lavender and white
ah oil 70, gl,f f,sN nfeNf
| don't think what | have will fade"
Where is it?" gasped Jeanette.
Her mother brought it, and they
opened 1t. 1t was the identical ging-
ham that little Serena and her grand
father had so reluctantly left un-
bought!
They laughed until the rest of the
family hurried to the spot in alarmed
surprise, to demand an explanation.
The more they explained, the more
they laughed.
Anyway" said Jeanette, at last,
II still think 1t will fade. | hope 1t
will"
"Jeannette!" they all demonstrated;
but Jeanette insisted. Imagine how
shall feel if it shouldn't-but 1t will"
She could hardly wait to make 1t into
shirtwaist; and when it came home
from the laundry the first time, the
family seized the box containing 1t,
and almost tore 1t to pieces in their
eagerness to see the contents. 1t had
not faded!
Jeanette played golf in it; she wore
1t at the seashore; it did not fade. She
wore it the entire spring, and every
one said, How fortunate you are with
that waist! 1t hasn't faded a Bit"
II had not; it would not! To Jean
nette's eyes it became more and more
| lavender Her remorse was so keen
that when, one day, Elsie asked what
she should buy with twenty-five cents
that Fred had given her for "caddy-
ing" all the afternoon, she said, my
dear child, don't ask me! | give no
more advice!"
MY dear" her mother said, "you
are not to blame. You meant kindly,
and it might have been expected to
fade, Any one would have .hesitated,
and especially before getting it for a
child. The blue was far better, and
lavender is so uncertain
1T certainly u.s." said Jeanette.
But that little girl wanted it so!
have no way of finding out where she
lives. They were just in for the day
from the country. She never will
know-and she might just as well have
had it!".
Jeanette actually went to the ging-
ham counter not a few times that sum-
mer, vaguely hoping to find Serena
and her grandfather. She looked at
all the little girls and all the old men
she saw on the street. She wore the
lavender shirtwaist whenever she could
wear it, hoping that it would suddenly
fade.
Il really think 1t would, II | should
ever see Serena when ! had 1t on" abe
said pensively. ut couldn't have the
audacity not to-"