The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-04-06
gelett Sturp.
THE BATTLE MAUDE FOUGHT.

VINO nau answered the postulaH IlhS'
at isn't from grandmother aud 1t lsn
from Aunt Edith. From whom do You
suppose it can be?''
"You seem to think my correspondence
is limited, smiled mother, as she slipped
her knife blade under the flap of the en-
velope
''Oh, how delightful she explained
as she began to read 1T is letter from
Eva Hackett, now Mrs Brightley, saying
that the old Buckston Academy girls are
going to form an association and hold their
first reunion next week in the school build
ings. 1t will last two days She says
they want every Buckston girl to join, and
to be present Wednesday and Thursday, if
possible -
Mrs. Sandersou looked round the break
fast table with shining eyes There was a
bright color in her cheeks.
1T makes You feel As if you had just
been graduated, doesn't it?' laughed her
husband
Yes, it does I'd give anything to
20 next week believe it would actually
make me feel twenty years younger to
meet those girls again, said Mrs. Sander
son, eagerly.
We'll. go. by all means. said her
husband, cordially There's no reason
in the world why you shoulin t.
"Oh, Frank, do you think 80 p Mrs.
I Sauderson looked across at her husband
with grateful smile ''lou always were
such a dear, Frank e.
Thank YOU, returned Mr. Sander
son, with an appreciatiye look
'But mother, put in Maude, there {,
my dress, and Stella :
/ "Oh. YES. knaw. OF course | can {
go. It's folly to talk like this Some
times | think the Young folks are foolish,
but believe m just a bad myself |
/ thrilled over that reunion As If were only
sixteen Mrs Sanderson took another
! piece Of toast and subsided She was So
absorbed in her own thoughts that she did
not notice the look her husband gave
/ Maude
What about your dresses, Maude p
he a.ked, CURLY
We'll there Stella graduating dress
to finish for next THURSDAY morning. aud
there my organiy to make for next week.
! Friday Mother promised tha, | should
have II 10 wear at Emily Grcenleais gar
den party, explained MAude, and
must
/ Why mustg asked her father
We'll, haven thing to wear. re-
turned Msade, beginning ,o look injured
What about that graduating suwu YOU
made such a rgmpu- abou; Jas; year
Why, father. il WASH lass year It
vas two year. age coulin wear that
old thing in which | was graduated from
/ the grammer school tWo years ago
! .Ob. voc eoulIntr' Fathers ,oee
Implied a greA, deal, and MaaIo looked
uneosnfortable
No. she ooaliu't Frank, said moth
I eT, comirg TO the rrseue. Don lei :
think any more aboa, II,
- nOthing morc vas saii abcut uew
I gowns Or academy rcunions Molher put
/ on an air of extra chceTfulness, and Stella
/ did her share q the talking. Father and
/ Maude were quiet, Ii was very aaforta.
/ nate about that rcani0u thought Maudc
I II 1t bad come two weeks later. there would
l b. nothing in the world 10 prevent mother
| from going Il vas aice in father 70 want
her 10 70, bat be eoald no, understand hos
/ extremely important a new sown for that
I party WAS Neither could be understand
that there Was nothing quite 50 obsolete to
/ a high school Junior As 4 grammar school
7 graduation gown. To be sure this gown
was made Of pretty white muslin, and the
sleeves iii very well, for ,hey had been
/ altered last year But Maude had So, her
heart on \ rosebud orgaBdy for that party.
I and she mus, have II, II was with De.
termination to hold her own righteoasly
that she began 20 clear away the brcakias,
1 things As she carried some dlshes To
I the slide she heard her father and mother
talking in the kitchen.
How much have you to do on Stella
dress?' father was asking.
II have nothing to do but to hem the
skirt and put on two uffies-
This Is only Friday Couldn't you
finish that and get ready to 70 by We'd
nesday?''
YES, could, easily, if j, were not for
Maude dress, answered mother. but
| dislike to ask her to give up the party
or wear the old dress They are expect
ing some very young people, and | want
Maude to look well, Of course.
What dear mother she Is thought
Maude, as she fingered in the china closet
to listen
Il wish | could say let Jane Howard
come and sew you all up, but can t, -
said Mr.. Sanderson.
Now, Frank, | don't want YOU TO
think any more about it, " spoke up moth
er, quickly. ''0f course we can't afford
to hire our sewing done. and we ought not
to while | am strong and well. and know
how to do it. You run right along down
town and don think reunion again.
We'll, Marion, you know best, per
haps, but | know if were Maude | would
put my pride in my pocket for once and
let my mother have some fun in her own
way, said Mr.. Sanderson. with indigua-
tion in his voice.
The white muslin hasn't any pocket.
50 now, laughed Mrs. Sanderson.
They began to talk house affairs, aud
Maude did not stop to hear any more.
She had heard enough, though, to make
her more uncomfortable than she cared to
be. 1t was just like man to think one
gown as good as another, SO long as it an
swered the purpose but mother knew
better 1t was very lovely Of mother to
give up like that and not be cross or COM
planning about it. Why, the very thought
of giving up the party or the new gown
made Maude feel as if she were boiling
The reunion would last a couple of days.
and mother would meet all her old friends.
Well, mother always was sweet about
things.
Maude and Stella washed the break fast
dishes together, and then went upstairs to
make the beds.
Stella walked over TO her mother's hu-