Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-10-17
GETTING READY

Ii was when she was only 10 that
Jennie's mother, finishing hemming
the last of dozen new napkins. re-
markell THERE Those are ready
to 90 into the chest" Questioning
brought to light the further infor-
nation that the chest was TO be flied
with things for Jennie.
"Of course she'll get married some
day" said her mother, "and it's lots
handler to be making things along
instead of rushing at the last min
ute. I'm doing table linen now
BY the time Mrs. Markham had
finished the set of kitchen towels
and had begun on china every one
took IL without comment. When
Jennie was IS the chest was full and
big dry-goods box was called into
requisition to hold things. Not that
Mrs. Markham was anxious for her
daughter to marry and leave her. On
the contrary, she often dropped
foar on a completed dolly or bureau
scarf as she laid 1t with the rest Of
the collection. Adding things 10
Jennie's store grew TO be a habit.
Christmas gifts OF an attractive nat
ure were ruth. essly sacrificed to the
box.
"Thatll be nice when you have
house OF your own" was the requiem
Jennie heard sung over numberlcss
things snatched from her before she
had a chance to use them at the mo-
ment.
All her friends knew about her
collection and by the time Jennie had
left school the older women had be-
gun TO say It was lucky that Mrs.
Markham had been so far-sighted,
for in case anything did come OF
Ross Whipple's devotion TO Jennie
all her trosseau except mere clothes
would be prepared
Ross Whipple certainly had bad
case of young love. He haunted Jen-
ME. All the other girls and boys OF
their age spoke OF them as engaged
Then Ross went away to college
and in six months his affair with
Jennie was broken off. He had fall
en- in love with colIege-town girl.
Jennie bore up well. Perhaps the
fact that young Lauderback was call
ing frequently assisted her to salts
factory state Of mind. Young Laud-
erback had a high brow and Jennie
began to read thick books. Also she
took TO signing her name Jane"
She said II was more dignifed.
Young Lauderback certainly had
serious Intentions for he brought his
mother and sister to call on Jennie
and her mother and Jennie frequently
was asked TO the Lauderback home
for Sunday night tea. Again peo-
pie rehearsed the contents OF the
chest and the dry-goods box and de-
cided on what extra things Jennie
could buy with the money which
otherwise she would have had to
spend for brides usual linen and
household outfit.
Her mother became interested and
told her she must think seriously Of
getting married.
Nobody ever quite knew what caus-
ed the trouble between Jennie and
young Lauderback She carried her
head high for time, while he look
ed depressed and blue. Before he
recovered she was enjoying immense
ly the visit OF young doctor who
had graduated in the same medical
class with her brother He was good
Iooking-and so was she. He had
not been at the Markham home for
a week before every one was talking
about how desperately in love with
each other they we're.
Jennie was invited to visit the
young doctors family later and she
went. She had a glorious time and
came home to find her mother fever
iEhly hemming large tablecloth. Il
thought you needed another three
yard one" she explained.
After Jennie had broken her en-
gagement to the young doctor be-
cause she was tired of writing letters
to him she went in for social settle
ment work for year or so. She
came near marrying a professor OF
bJueLHiuh VI OlutI WHO Udu cldSScS
down there, but she changed her
mind.
The years sped on. Admirers we're
not so plentiful, but Mrs. Markham
occasionally added dolly to the
store. The boxes were SO full that
there was no room for more linen.
The friends of the family began to
smile pityingly about Jennie's I'm
mense stock of household goods.
Jennie was nearing 80.
Then Of sudden Jennie married
q theatrical man. Now she travels
with him everywhere. so she has not
the remotest need of the contents Of
the chest and dry-goods box in the
attic at home. She lives at hotels
the year round.
But Mrs. Markham hopefully turns
over the pieces of linen and rubs up
the china from time to time. She
gets a great deal of comfort out OF
fha fact that there's a fine house-