West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-05-31


IA he was. he noticed II and was
drawn to his doom.
Minnie did the most OF the talking
that afternoon. Mary was filled with
new JOY. 80 great and so wonderful
that she had no words. Whenever she
raised her limpld eyes TO Ormond's
face she saw such light OF tenderness
and love In his that hers dropped with
the wealth OF happiness that had come
10 her. He loved her.
The next Sunday Mary remained at
home. and Minnie wore the hat Mr..
Ferguson came home with her. Late
In the afternoon Ormond came to ask
If Mary were lndIsposed. lie had not
seen her Mt church.
No: Mary was quite well, but women
know how to invent excuses that prove
one thing while being entirely the 9th
er. He remained to tea. During the
afternoon mention was made OF Me-
mortal day. which would be the follow
Ing week. Both the men proposed to-
gether that they should all 20 to see
the parade In landau and afterward
drive out TO the cemetery 10 decorate
the graves. Elverton had quantities
OF flowers growing In his yard which
he would have gathered. and they
could take them nlon2. Mary had been
tenderly cultivating few potted
plants. Some OF them were for the
few soldiers who lay In that graveyard
md the rest for the father who had
laid down his life for the Union. Mr..
Ferguson said he had some new silk
HaUe which fhay rott1d ,,Io.a or, tbo
soldiers graves. The two girls looked
at each other with white faces. They
said neither Yes nor NO to the In
vitation, but the men took II for grant
cd that they intended to 20 and ad-
mired them all the more at their evil
dent appreciation OF the solemnIty OF
the occasion. Said Ferguson TO Min
ME:
You'll wear your new hat, Miss
Minnie. You look fine In II. No girl
In Brockton has one as nice" They
stood by the little gate together, as she
had made pretext to gather him
bouquet. Mary and Ormond were still
In the little sitting room.
You will wear that pretty hat with
the roses on. hope. IL Is the prettiest
nat a tNti buM, anu yOu DtCOIlc II.
Mary put her hand TO her throat.
suddenly choked by tho awful thought.
To whom would fall the partnership
hat for the dayi And az soon as the
two girls were alone Mary said to Min
ME. whose face shone with her happl-
ness:
What are we going to dor
About the hatf Why, II IL my turn
next Sunday. 40 instead OF Sunday I'll
wear It then" replied Minnie coolly.
Minnie" gasped Mary. "let me wear
1t and I'll give you my new gloves"
mo, not for twenty pairs" replied
Minnie decidedly.
Mrs. Pierce was called. Mary was
desperate. Somehow this partnership
began to assume unexpected proper
lions, and she even thought that per
haps II was against the law-such a
deception. What II she were to be
dragged into court and Ormond obliged
to hear the awful truth! The hat had
lost Its luster. yet he thought IL pretty,
and she knew it was becoming. Min
ME might wear IL.
But Mrs. Pierce believed In the ulti-
mate justice of heads and tails, and
Mary won. But when she saw Minnie
turn white and sway as IL about to
faint she said:
Minnie, won't wear IT, You may"
But Minnie was generous, and Mary
must wear 1t. Then neither mentioned
II until the eventful day. Twice Min
ME tried 1t on. surreptItlously. with a
new arrangement of her hair. sighed
and put II away again. Mary said
nothing. but felt much like crying all
these days. She could not give up her
chance of happiness which might de-
pend upon the allurement OF this hat,
and yet the settled despair OF Mlnnie's
set face hurt. Minnie had renounced
Ii and was suffering the pain attendant
upon that heroic act.
The girls were at breakfast on that
sacred morning. but neither had any
appetite. Suddenly Mary sprang up,
upsettlng her coffee In her hurry, and
disappeared In their Joint bedroom.
Minnie knew that she was coming
forth respondent In that beautiful hat,
but Instead Mary came out dressed In
the deep mourning gown, with the
close bonnet and long Grape veil, that
her mother had worn for so short a
time. In her hand she held the part
nershlp hat and gave 1t to Minnie.
"Oh, Mary, you are saintw was all
the surprised girl could say, and she
Rugged Mary out OF breath, to the i'm
mlnent danger of the hats destruction.
When the handsome landau arrived
before the gate the young men came In
IN holm Nyifh tho
looked admiration at Minnie, and as
they passed down the walk to put their
fragrant load in the carriage newell,
Il was all settled then.
Elverton had stood as though trans
fixed as he saw Mary. Her sweet and
gentle beauty had gained a new dig
nifty and something so touching that
II appealed to all his tenderness. lie
said with great respect and admiration
and sympathy:
Il scarcely knew you. Have you lost
any oneY
At the same time he noted the pearly |
iclicacy OF her face against the Grape
"I-I-think black is more fitting for
this day. My father was n soldier. you
know, and my mother is dead. too, but
II you think you would prefer 1T |
need not go with you"
Mary. can keep silence no longer
| do want you to go with me. not only |
today, but all my llfe Will you goT'
And Mary said she would.
OLIVE HARPER.
-.------
A Conscrfpf Father.
j. VI. Learned OF OxfOrdvllle, n. IL.