Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-11-17
Lavender Gingham.
By ELIZABETH MeCRAchEN.

fingered at the Bingham counter. she
ignored the probability that she would
be half an hour late for luncheon, 10
which her Aunt Maria, who could not
tolerate hardness, was invited. She
even forgot that she had meant not
TO be late. so absorbed was she in
quaint little country girl and quaint
old man, presumably ner grandfather
who stood also at the gin%ham couh-
ter, earnestly and carefully selecting
two dresses for the little girl.
Jeanette could not help hearing
their serious discussion as to the pref
test coors and patterns. In fact she
fingered because she did hear, and De
cause she was very much concerned
lest the little girl should choose an al
.-. Il,e.der and white check, which
3otu she and her grandfather evident
Nv regarded with deep admiration.
Jeanette was sure that the lavender
would fade.
Jeannette had, almost to a fault, a
keen personal interest in the smallest
detail of the welfare Of other persons.
Her Aunt Maria described 1t as "a
fondness for putting her fingers INTO
other peoples pics" Her brother FRED
said as graphically that Jeanette
liked to put in her oar; and even her
loval and cherished mother said that
her daughter had delightful and
sweet If sometimes just a little over
Jealous. habit Of offering advice.
Certain it is that Jeanette stopped
strange children on the street and ad-
vised them to button their jackets, lest
they take cold, or pointed out to them
the superiority of peppermint drops
over chocolate creams. And she gave
her little sister Elsie so much advice
as to the spending of her weekly al
lowance that the poor child usually
ended by not spending it at all AS
Jeanette said, this really was good lot
Elsie-it taught her at one and the
same time economy and the value or
knowing her mind. Jeanette Knew
her own mind so well that she never
listened to those hints of her family
about pies and oars. although she did
listen to. and sometimes remembered,
her mothers occasional warning.
She remembered it now, but she was
none the less agitated The little girl
and the old man were lingering the
lavender bingham. Jeanette was
more and more certain that it would
fade.
THAT lilac piece is real pretty, Ser
eny," said the old man approvingly.
"Yes. grandpa" said the small girl,
cit is, and l love that color; It's just
like violets."
1T will fade" said Jeanette to her
self. 81 know it will fade!"
THAT pink and white stripes real
pretty, too, deary," said the old man.
Seem as you're going to have two,
why don't you get that for one? Your
ma used to wear them pink and white
stripes when she was your size"
did She really?" said the little girl.
Then l will; it is real pretty. I'll
take five yards of this pink and white
stripe" she said, shyly, turning to the
clerk, land | think I'll take some Of
this lavender and white check, too;
wouldn't you, grandpa"
Il think would, deary," said the old
man; its real pretty"
This was too much for Jeanette.
She touched the little girl lightly on
the shoulder. Il think that lavender
will fade" she said in low tone.
The little girl looked up In surprise.
She stared at Jeanette for a moment;
then she said, gravely, DO you think
it will?"
The selection of the two new dresses
was a serious and weighty matter to
her That a charming girl should see
this did not seem at all remarkable to
the little girl. or, apparently, to her
grandfather.
DO you think it will, miss?" the
old man said, anxiously, to Jeanette.
Yes" said Jeanette, Il am almost
certain 1t will Lavender is my fav-
orite color, and every summer | have
a lavender Bingham shirt-waist, and
every summer it fades the first time it
Is washed"
How dreadful" said the little girl
In sympathetic tones. I've always
wanted lavender dress, and I've new
er had one" she added, wistfully.
Does it always fade?"
well, l don't suppose it always
does said Jeanette, but all the law
ender bingham shirtwaists I've had
did Why don't you get blue? That
won't fade. My little sister always has
blue-and pink, too My mother says
there's nothing nicer for little girl"
she continued. comfortingly.
The little girls face frightened. and
the old man regained his cheerfulness.
Just hear that, Sereny. Now | re-
member your ma used to wear blue at
your age; and grandma, she'll like it,
deary."
Grandma said | could get what |
liked" Serena explained TO Jeanette.
Grandma says I'm big enough now to
choose my own dresses" she proudly
added.
Jeanette smiled. well. then, you
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. "a
I'VE have blue with q pattern just
Like that lavender" he said, kindly.
Have you?" exclaimed Serena and
her grandfather in one delighted
breath.