The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-02-12

is SO neaf-SlSuLSu, you huo", 'ho'
shouldn't think she could ever see any
one offer to shake hands, She can
scarcely see one word in the re-
sponses!'
Anne looked up at Hilda gratc-
fully, and sighed in relief. while Mrs.
Parsons dismissed that branch of the
subject, and continued:
Mrs. Adams is getting ready to
spend some time with her sister, l
am told. She's having dress made.
Mrs. Parsons raised her brows sig
nificantly. Il understand from her
dressmaker that it is to be the great
est surprise we have ever had yet,
and you know what surprises Mrs.
Adams costumes are! 1 am anxious
to see it,
YES" smiled Hilda. in an agree
able, non-committal way, and waited
until Mrs. Parsons had departed.
Then she finished to Anne: well,
if the dressmaker thinks it is SUR
prise, what can it be like? Anne,
I'm simply wild to see it."
"I-I'm not" quavered Anne, and
was thankful for the headache that
kept her at home the following Sun
day.
Mrs. Tupper and Hilda went to
church, however, and when they re-
turned. the former was smiling, the
latter in hutter of excitement.
Anne" cried Hilda, "the surprise
appeared to-day, and it was certainly
the biggest surprise Mrs. Adams ever
gave US! Oh, that dress is beauty!
It's a soft gray silk, trimmed with
silyery lace. Why, Anne, Mrs. Ad-
ans looked almost handsome! You'd
never believe it without seeing her!
If only her hair matched that suit,
and her cheeks weren't so red-oh!"
Hilda stopped to catch her breath,
while Mrs. Tupper placidly smoothed
out her gloves, and said again, Il
know Mrs. Adams. Give her little
more time"
Anne suddenly sat up and looked
at her mother. do you mean"
she began, and stopped.
"Wait and find out what I mean"
returned her mother.
Hilda turned abruptly, looking
from Mrs. Tupper to Anne with
new understanding dawning in her
eyes. At the dinner-table she was
thoughtful, and she did not mention
the subject of tact. In fact, she
spoke only once of Mrs. Adams, and
that was to remark abruptly, Anne,
Mrs. Adams didn't speak to me to-
day, but she did make out to see
mother"
"Give her time" repeated Mrs.
Tupper. "She goes to her sisters on
Friday"
Just what connection there was be-
tween a visit to her sister and the
subject in hand, neither Hilda nor
Anne saw-until her return.
On Friday Mrs. Parsons stopped on
the porch to rest, and incidentally to
relate joke.
"I was out to tea with Mrs. Ad-
ans last night" she said. "And what
do you think? 1t amused us all so
much. She had forgotten to put on
her rogue! We all said afterward
that we wished she'd forget it al
ways. It does seem as if some one
ought to speak to her about that.
But then, who would dare? I'm
sure 1 shouldn't"
Anne flushed, and drew back un-
easily into the shadow of the vines.
After Mrs. Parsons had gone, Mrs.
Tupper laughed and looked at Anne.
perhaps Mrs. Adams did fol- get
last night. If so, she was just as for
getful this morning. I was down at
the station when she left"
Mrs. Tupper rocked moment, and
then added, "She was as cordial as
ever this morning."
The snow was flying before Mrs.
Adams again dawned on the Tupper
horizon. Anne was out walking one
day, when Mrs. Tupper and Hilda
heard the news. 1t came by way of
an excited Mrs. Parsons.
"Can you believe it," cried that
lady, entering the house without ring
ing the bell. She was not il a state
to use ceremony. MRS. Adams is
home in gray hair and a tailor-made
suit Of black broadcloth! Think of
it," Mrs. Parsons waved her muff
frantically. Gray hair as gray as
mine, and not bit of paint or pow
der on her face! And I must say,
Mrs. Tupper, she's fine-looking
woman-decidedly fne-looking. How
I wish she had visited her sister be-
fore!"
Yes" said Mrs. Tupper; but Hilda,
for wonder, said nothing.
Mrs. Parsons had scarcely gone
before Anne cane rushing in with
glowing cheeks and sparkling eyes.
She spoke all in one breath.
Guess what's happened?" de.
manded Anne. "But then, you'd
never guess-it's so nice. Mrs. Ad-
ans waylaid me and invited me in.
She was perfectly lovely to me. She
says her fifty-third birthday is next
Tuesday, and she's going to have
some of the young people in for tea.
and she wants me to come and help
her entertain! Isn't that jolly"
Mrs. Tupper laughed, and muir.
INJURED. "Fifty-three, is it? 1 thought
she was only fifty"
But Hilda sat up and looked re.
prOvingly at Anne: