The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-07
TEE EVENING .STOR n
nER NEW GOWN.

HER NEW GOWN.
Florence stood before the pier glass
Small Phyllis sat up in bed. Florence :
expression was meditatlve- EhyiiAS
looked unnixed admiration.
1T cost a hundred dollars muir
INJURED Florence.
Its lovelier than anything breath-
ed Phyllis. in awe.
The gown enveloped Florence like
sunset cloud. It should have been os-
seribed in terms Of rosy mists ana 81
yer ebullitf0ns. The bill, however,
dealt only with cold actualities- soWll
of ash pink chiffon and under rooS u
white peau de cygne,' read the nlli'
Further over, in conspicuous lsolalloH'
were the figures, "S100.
Florence pursued the study of the
pier glass and gradually her mood re-
Taxed. AS you no doubt know PhSi-
lis" she pensively remarked a MAID
of honor is some one whose dress IS
described in the society column the
morning after. Wen, for three success
sive weddings Miss Florence Lock
hart, maid OF honor. has looked fadl-
ant in a white soft silk, that hoWee
in graceful folds and so forth. That
white silk of mine was getting deaoAy
monOtonous. I shall relieve many
Wearied readers. I shall at last look
radiant in something else"
Only" continued Florence, father
said it must not cost more than 500,
and, however I put it, 500 is just
twice fifty
Meditation, tinctured with gloom.
again possessed her. Without enthus-
iasn she removed the sunset cloud and
spread it on the chintz rocker, to De
called for later.
Phyllis watched the operation. She
then submitted to the ceremonial OF
tueking in.
and remember said Florence, as
a final inducement to immediate slum-
Der, II am going to put piece OF
wedding cake under your pillow 1ol
you to dream on"
But when Florence had left the room
Phyllis again sat up in bed wedding
cake, according to her Idea, was NOT
stuff made to dream on. She decided
to remain awake and put her portion TO
a better use.
Small Phyllis retired with the birds.
and there were still faint glimmerings
of daylight in her room. The pink
gown lay temptingiy outspread on the
chintz rocker. Slowly she crept from
bed and approached. She touched the
soft chiffon with reverent fingers. She
lifted it gently and smoothed the silky
feminine desires, and Phyllis tried on
the waist. There was no criticism
whatever to be found with the fit, and
the absence Of sleeves and the lOW-cut
neck delighted her soul.
She grew holder, tried on the skirt,
finally turning it inside out in her zeal
for becoming effects.
BY this time it was dark and nothing
could be seen but the faint white gllm-
mer of her last artistic arrangement.
Reluctantly Phyllis returned to bed,
there to await as patiently as might
be the advent of wedding cake.
However, the vigil soon ended and
Phyllis slept That was even before
Florence burst into the room like a
WhirlWind.
Late, as usual" she moaned to her
self. That's striking now, and the
ceremony's nearly due. I'll keep them
all waiting. Where's that miserable
gown? Won't father take my head Off
But perhaps when he sees how really
lovely it iS-Oh, these hooks! The idea
of dressing in the dark anyhow! but
I haven't a seconds time and the gas
might waken Phyllis and she would be
sure to delay me. Everything was all
right, though, when I tried it on this
afternoon, and I can look in the glass
when I get there"
But she didn't She was excitedly
seized by the bridal party and thrust
into line. She passed dizzily up the
aisles with the usual creeps and ire
mors of stage fright. She followed
the dread ceremony in the same flush
ed and eager way. She kissed the
bride duTriedly, whisked in to see the
presents, hustled out again Tor q SdA8u
and ice in the dining room, talked in
coherent nothings to hundreds of
| guests who replied in kind. In short,
she enjoyed her first lucid interval on
the way home in the carriage.
There" she sighed, Il forgot Phyl-
/ lis wedding cake after all"
! It is q fact that lucidity does not al
ways bring happiness. The next
thought was of her father. III tell
/ him. tonight" said Florence. - Il
/ couldn't sleep If didn't. Perhaps
when he sees how really lovely it
/ is
It was a desperate hope.
Florence threw back her long car
riage cloak and entered her fathers
why, daughteri" were his first
words. 81 thought you were going to
have a new gown tonight I thought
/ you had laid aside $50"
/ But Florence's expression checked
him. She was gazing at herself in
/ horror. From her shoulders to the floor
and sweeping far behind, the lamp
light shiInmered on white peau de
| cygne. "Horrorsi'' she nnurmured, Il
have the gown on wrong side out
The following morning readers of
the society column perused it again:
1.-The maid of honor. Miss Florence
Lockhart looked radiant in a soft
white silk that flowed in graceful
| folds
But it was all the same to small
Phyllis.-Chicago News.
POINTED PARAGRAPHS
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