Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-06-03

ing 1t sweetly and uncomplainingly. He
would try to believe that she did not
care.
In the meantime, Mrs. Lawrence was
busting the sitting room, and she had
come to standstill before little
ivory miniature Of herself, the price
of which would almost have paid for
everything in their modest home. It
was made ten years before, when she
had just finished school and was arch
ly charming in that dainty gown. How
becoming it was, and how much he
had admired her in 1t!
Alice, Is there anything else you
want? We are to mention everything
we need, and they will supply us as
far as possible"
"Yes," she called, a little sarcas-
tically, please tell them 1 need very
much a pale blue cashmere gown"
and then she smiled at the absurdity
of such a request from a missionary's
wife. Imagine the CONSERVATION that
would create" she thought 'if he
really would ask for such thing"
She replaced the miniature with
sigh. Was 1t crime to love pretty
things? And would she ever have
any again? Her trousseau was long
ago exhausted, and now she lived and
moved and had her being in black
things and brown things, and all
things that wouldn't show dirt. Oh,
dear! but-blessed afterthought!-
wouldn't she rather be the wife Of
John Lawrence, in black brilliantines
and brown surges. than anybody else
in the world?
The president Of st. Mary's Auxil-
larry was rapping loudly for order. She
was reading letter saying that the
Rev. John Lawrence would be deeply
grateful for suit, an overcoat, etc.
1t was when she came to the overcoat
that the confusion arose; for one lady
had practically new overcoat which
her present coachman, being stout,
could not wear 1t was exactly the
Rev. Mr.. Lawrence's size, but, being
surtout, she questioned whether 1t
would be the correct thing for clerical
wear. The entire auxiliary set itself
to argue this point, when the president
stopped them.
Ladies, we can discuss this matter
later. Let me finish reading this let
ter. Where was L? Sheets, pillow
cases, table linen, and'-what is this
a pale blue cashmere gownv"
A pale blue cashmere gown! Had
she asked for an automobile coat the
request could not have produced more
surprise. There was a deep silence.
Even the president found nothing to
say for some time.
"A little unusual" she finally said.
"Well, l never had pale blue cash
mere gown in my life," gasped some
one.
"Pale blue! So perishablew another
said, feebly.
"And cashmere! So out of style!" a
third added.
"She must be some poor little coun-
try SOUL" the secretary said.
"Well, whoever she is, she ought to
be reprimanded. The idea of such
worldliness in missionary's wifew
HE should have known better than
to have asked for itv'
"The idea of our money going for a
pale blue cashmere gown!"
So the comments went around, till
everybody had had her say; some Of
them had had two or three Says" and
they were seemingly gasping for
breath to say something even more Sc
we're, when a bombshell fell In their
midst:
"Why shouldn't she have a pale blue
cashmere gown? She is probably a
young woman, and maybe has not a
single pretty thing! Oh, gracious!'
and the speaker grew so energetic that
she arose and stood facing them, her
face rosy with excitement. II have
helped with box after box In this 80.
ciety, and never have seen a really
pretty thing go into one Of theml They
are 30 deadly practical. How It will
wear, how 1t will wash, whether It will
show dirt sympathize with this
woman away out there among those
Indians, dependent on us hard-hearted
things for the little she wants. God
knows" she added, even more earn
estly. where they get the grace to sus-