The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-05-24
The Pale Blue
CashrnereCoWn
By SARAH S. PRATT

TIE JOHN LAWRENCE sat at his
n study table. leaning on his elbow.
his usually busy pen held idly bsSween
his fingers He gazed far over the plains,
a trancelike expression in his thought
full eyes; he believed that the time was
coming when those plains would be peo-
pied and, with the hopefulness which
made his missionary life beautiful, he
seemed to see the church leading. IN
spring and ministering to these peo-
ple Already he had visions OF school
wherein his own wife would be the rul-
ing spirit, visions Of hospital,
clubhouse and clubrooms. where these
savages might grow less savage Even
the fact that thus far only one poor
little wooden church building was to
be found in many miles did not in the
least interfere with his dreams
How long he might have dreamed. no
one knows, but he was recalled by de-
licious voice calling 10 him:
st am % inches around the waist.
John, and my skirt length is 43. You
know you asked me yesterday"
Sure enough" he answered, with
| little start. taking up the tapeline which
| lay conspicuously on his desk 81 must
get that letter of to-day; but I'd bet
ter measure you myself. You probably
measured with a string. That's the
feminine way. believe"
His wife came in. feather duster in
hand, and as he drew the line about her
waist, he dropped kiss upon her fore
head.
! "T hope they will send you something
pretty"
Mrs Lawrence burst into laughter.
"The idea of anything pretty in mis-
sionary box, John! Who ever heard OF
| It? It's against the nature of things.
Perhaps it's wicked. but have some
times thought that they made them as
| ugly as possible. Do you remember the
snuff-colored dressing jacket with the
black fringe?"
Wasn't that pretty," he queried. 81
| always thought It was very elegant. ex-
cept when the fringe dipped in the cof-
fee."
you dear dreameri You don't know
what is pretty. You don't see anything
but your beloved Sunday school and
night classes and sick people. A rheu-
| matte old Indian woman is beautiful to
you If"
"If she is q Christiani Yes, admit II, |"
he said. gently; 'all Of Gods creatures
are beautiful to me, and one of them
most beautiful" and again he gave her
loving caress and resumed his work.
Sheets and pillow cases, street suit
for my wife. clerical suit for self. over
coat hate to ask for that. but II Is q
necessity in this bleak land"
He read once again the friendly letter
in which he had been urged to make
known all his needs. assuring him that
they would be supplied, so far as posi-
BILE. by a branch Of the Women's aux
iliary.
In the meantime Mrs. Lawrence wal
dusting the sitting-room, and she had
come to a standstill before a little ivory
miniature of herself. the price Of which
would almost have paid for everything
in their modest home. 1t was made ter
years before. when she had Just finished
school and was archly charming In tha
dainty gown. How becoming 1t was
and how much he had admired her In Ii!
Alice. is there anything else yol
want? We are to mention everythin.
we need. and they will supply us as fal
as possible"
YES" she called. little sarcastically
"please tell them l need very much
pale blue cashmere gown" and ther
she smiled at the absurdity of such a re
quest from q missionary's wife. "Imag
ine the CONSERVATION that would ere
ate." she thought, 'if he really woult
ask for such a thingi"
She replaced the miniature with sigh
Was IT a 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 ha
her being in black things and brow
things, and all things that wouldn't sho,
{. dirt. Oh. dear. but-blessed after
thDughti-wouldn't she rather be tn
wife Of John Lawrence. in black bril-
: liantines aud brown surges, than any
body else in the world?
The president OF St Mary's auxiliar
was rapping loudly for order. She wa
reading letter saying that Rev. job
Lawrence would be deeply grateful 70
suit. an overcoat. etc. It was whe
she came to the overcoat that the cor
fusion arose; for one lady had a pras
tfcally new oyereoat which her preser
coachman, being stout, could not wea
II was exactly Rev. Lawrence's size. bu
being surtout, she questioned whethe
1t would be the correct thing for clerics
wear. The entire auxiliary set itself
=. argue this point when the presider
- stopped them
IN Ladies'. we can discuss this matte
ly later Let me finish reading this Iette
ry where was I? Sheets. pillow case
ID table linen. and'-what Is this? "A pa
" blue cashmere gowni'"
A A pale blue cashmere gowni Had 81
a asked for an automobile coat the reque
he could not have produced more surpris
lie There was a deep silence. Even the pre-
nd ident found nothing to say for son
time. f
~ We'll. I never had a pale blue casl
.r mere gown in my life." gasped som
=. one.
les Pale bluei So perishableI" anoth
to said. feebly.
Oi- "And cashmerel So out of stylei"
third addef.
She must be some poor little cou
try soul" the secretary said.
We'll. whatever she is. she ought
be be reprimanded. The idea of such worl
illness in a missionary's wife!"