The Press., 1905-07-26
Enter: A Wine
COlOred Gown
BY RITA KELLEY
Copyright, 1905. by Rita Kelley


Padmore when Miss Rand sat up
straight and began pulling the pins
out Of her hat, a pretty wine oolored
affair that exactly matched her trav-
cling gown. Five minutes later In a
tan rain coat and cap she splashed
down into the pools OF water on the
open platform of the railway station
and faced the glazing eyes of the han
som cabs, transfer wagons and a prt-
vate brougham or two lined up oppo-
site. She paused under a lamp mid
way of the line and looked expectant.
Only a brougham and cab remained
when Miss Rand gathered up her skirts
and started down the platform. A.
coachman In green livery was guiding
a young woman in q wine colored
| gown to the brougham. Miss Rand
was hurrying toward the coachman
when a voice drawing from the cab
at her right made her stop short.
"Hello, KateT 1t said. What In
time are you doing hereT'
"Well, Tommy Yates" she laughed,
offering her hand, isn't this funny"
Eyes, isn't it?" he said, holding fast
to the hand Don't you know enough
to come in out of the rain2"
The next moment she was settling
herself on the dry cushions.
"1've been standing out there hours
waiting for some one to claim me-"
she said as the door banged shut and
the cab started OFF. "And you sitting
here all the timeI CruelI What were
you doing anyway"
Looking for a girl very much like
you" Tommy turned and gazed at
her. The damp air had made little
blond ringlets about her face. You
are just as pretty as ever, Kate" He
leaned over and looked closer. Eyes,
even prettier," he added.
"Nonsensew she said, blushing as
the cab passed under an arc light.
'fYou are just as silly as ever, Tom
my. You'll never get over that"
"What?" asked Tommy shortly.
stiffness"
81 thought had" said Tommy short
". But somehow think never will,
either" Something In his voice made
her turn and look at him.
"I am going to Brettons'," she said
after a silence. 81 think 1t is 539 Grant
II the coachman did get the wrong girl
couldn't stand out in the rain another
minute. You see, 1 was to be identified
by my wine colored dress, but it rained
SO hard put on this coat l wasn't
going to have the gown spoiled"
"Ah-hr Tommy actually Rugged
himself. He babe the cabby stop at
- a.
saw you, Kate%
"You have forgottenT'
mo. 1 just wanted to see If you re-
membered. Four years since you Tilted
me-"
The cab had stopped, and Tommy
was out in the streaming light of the |
cafe, ready to assist her. She sank |
back on the seat
"Oh, oh!' she protested. 81 forgot. |
I was to be at the Brettons' for dinner.
They'll be expecting me-"
"oh, pshawI Here I was delegated |
to look after a girl in a wine colored |
frock, and now she disapproves of my
scheme of entertainments
"Oh." said Kate, climbing out, sis |
that it? 1 thought you were simply q |
convenience"
"Now, see here"-Tommy tucked her |
under the umbrella-"I'm not kid any
more. I'm assistant cashier Of the
bank"
They were eating their soup, when
Kate Strengthened back In her chair.
Tommy Yates" she exclaimed, at
was the other girl you were looking
forr'
''What other grip
''Why, the other girl In the wine col
ored dress! The coachman was taking
her to the carriage when you stopped
me-"
well, let him take her. You didn't
see me looking for her very hard, did
you"
Tommy Yatesp Kate leaned over
the table, chin In hand. do you mean
to say this is one Of your little games"
Game" Tommy was leaning over
the table too. 81 never was SO serious
In my life"
'T'm going"
'Going? What do you meant Please
don'tp
But, you see, 1t is this way" she ex-
postulated. ST don't know the Bret
tons 1 never saw them. They're
friends Of my mothers just moved
here, and 1t was arranged by the two
families that was to visit them. It
seems there is a young man in whom
I'm expected to find a congenial life
partner"
"He's a nice Sort" commented Tom
my.
you know him, then7 Why, Tom
my, 1t isn't-it can't be your
Tommy smiled complacently.
''We'n go up after dinner and and
out" he said.
why, no." she laughed embarrass-
edly, ''of course-how silly Of me!
They said his name was Frank. Such
an ugly name! But, Tommy"-she
looked up suddenly from her salad
''who was the girl In the wine cOIOred
dressY
That" said Tommy, sis rather DIFF
1eult to explain. Would it simplify
matters any If told you she Ia the
one who is to carry OF the friend Of
the BrettonsP'
And how about the friendr'
"WelP'-Tommy looked at his watch
-"she has an hour and q half the start
OF you"
$50 this ls your little gamer she
cried. do you think for a minpta,
Tommy Yates, that I'm going to let an
other girl do me out? No, sir. He's
mine"
do you really think that much Of a
fellow you never have seenT asked
Tommy anxiously.
Want him! Who said wanted
him? 1 wouldn't take him as a gift!
But If you think am going to let an
other girl take him before he's even
seen me you're mistaken. She's up
there now, and they think she's me-
am she"