Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-02-14

The tears gathered in her poor red
eyes and Amy, moved by a sudden i'm
pulse, put her arm around her waist
and kissed her. "Now, remember, |
shan't mind, I'm not bit set Oh my
Dress" she whispered
And fearful lest Hilda's Impotence
might lead her to return, she ran off
hurriedly to rejoin her.
A few days later Hilda entered the
cottage in high glee. my dress is
nearly finished" she announced to
Amy, ''and it looks sweet. But I'm
afraid" she added, "she's not going
on as fast as she ought to with yours.
and do for goodness sake pitch into
her about it, and keep her up to the
mark"
Upon Amy's return the next day,
Hilda eagerly questioned her as to
Miss Stitchmore's progress. Amy as
sured her sister that her dress (Hil-
da's) was perfectly finished, and look
ed dream, but returned evasive an
swers about her own. AS soon as she
could escape from Hilda she went up
stairs, and locking the door Of her
bedroom, took out the despised frock
Of two seasons ago, and with lace and
ribbon, which she drew out Of a little
parcel hidden under the cover of her
jacket, tried to freshen it up. II am
sorry on Hilda's account" she thought,
because this old dress will certainly
look rather odd against her new one,
but it can't be helped Miss Stitch
more has nearly killed herself over
Hilda's frock as it is. 1 must let Hill
da enter the ballroom first, and hide
behind Mrs. Heath as much as posi-
ble''
The next day, 9s can be imagined,
poor Amy had a very bad quarter of
an hour indeed when the box from
Miss Stitchmore arrived, and was
found to contain only Hilda's dress.
There was something to be said for
Hilda's disappointment, for if her sis
ter looked shabby, half her triumph in
her own smartness was spoilt Amy
attempted to excite her pity on Miss
Stitchmore's account, but it was quite
useless. Hilda overwhelmed her with
reproaches, and declared she thought
more Of everyone than her own sis
ter. She was presently somewhat
soothed upon seeing the wonders Amy
had wrought upon the old, despised
frock, which even beside HiIda's new
one would now pass muster, and then
an hour later, what a delightful sur
prise came for both girls Two lovely
bouquets, magnificent pink one, tied
with white satin ribbon, and a less
pretentious white one tied up with
pink, and a note from Mr.. Carslake
to anticipate the pleasure of seeing
them that night, and to express the
hope that each would choose the bou-
quet which best correspondent with her
dress.
Isn't that just like a man?" said
Hilda, taking up first one bouquet and
then another, "pink and white, white
and pink, the colors are just the
same"
But the flowers themselves are diff
ferent," said Amy; (which do you
like best, HildaY'
"Well, L think the large one would
be more in keeping with my dress,
don't your
Eyes, indeed" said Amy cordially,
"and l would just as soon have the
little white one"
Presently a cab ratified up to the
door; Mrs. Heath had called for her
charges. They got in, and much mu
tual admiration was exchanged.
Does an eagerly anticipated ball
ever surpass ones widest expecta-
lions? Yes, occasionally! In any
case, in this instance 1t bid fair to- for
both girls. Hilda was the acknowl-
edged bell Of the evening; so much was
she in request that her head seemed
to be a little in danger of getting
turned. At any rate, for the time be-
ing she seemed to have forgotten her
designs on Mr.. Carslake, else how
came it that dance after dance found
him at Amys side? Amy, glancing
timidly at him from time to time, fan
cied that he was watching her sister
modify.
Early in the evening he had claimed
dances from both the girls. Later, he
confided to Amy that he was not a
dancing man. Would she sit out with
him and talk to him of things that in
terested her?
Here, indeed, was the chance for
which she had longed! In a few min
utes she found herself pouring the
tale Of Miss Stitchmore, her work, and
her ill-health into Mr. Carslake's sym
pathetic, if somewhat astonished ears.
IF only someone would send her to
the South of France" she said, Il am
sure she would recover"
IF you wish that she should CO.
he said, smiling, 'Pll certainly send
her to please you And SO this ex-
DlainSH no wont ON oIaOcinO 0t her