The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-27
THE EVENING STORY


me was saving up her money to get It. |
Every morning when she went to
the store she found the girls talking
of their summer hats.
What kind are you going to
have 2" they would ask her. and Bub-
bles would laush-the gay bubbling
laugh that had given her her nick
name-and would say. wait and see,
girls; wait and see.''
"Oh. piffle." one OF them said on q
certain June morning. 81 don't be-
lieve you're going to get hat
Wait and see; wait and see." sans
Bubbles provokingly.
And then. after the store was clos
cd, she went around the corner and
looked at the hat with the white
feather.
The price was In plain sight-$1O.
Bubbles earned - q week. Out of
that she paid her aunt 1880 for
board Fifty cents went for cArfare
and the rest she had for herself. Since
last summer she had managed to save
$3.50. and the other fifty would add
the complete amount necessary to buy
the hat with the white feather.
She decided to tell Alice Forbes
about 1t.
Alice was at the ribbon counter,
while Bubbles sold notions. Their ac-
quaintance arose from the fact that
they walked home in the same dfrec-
ton.
"I'll have to wear it with my old
blue suit" Bubbles said az she went
along. But I don't care. I've made
| myself white net waist. and it's aw-
"Ten dollars Is a lot for a hat"
Alice said quietly.
But Bubbles laughed with her head
hung up and her bright eyes shining.
"Oh, what's the use OF living. she
said, eff a girl can't have something
y,av
Alice nodded; her blue eyes were
| wistful. That's what think, she
said. Now there's a remnant OF RIB
| bon at my counter; it's white, with
| punches Of pink roses on It. 1t would
make lovely gird1e. and could buy
white dress for fifteen cents a yard,
and q little wreath OF pink roses In
the millinery department, ana then 1
could be bridesmaid for Mil1ie Drake"
"Does she want you to BET" Bub-
bles asked with interest.
Eyes," Alice said; Jimmie Bryan Is
to be best man"
~On.. bubbles was silent for d mo-
ment; then she asked. Don't you
| think you can afford the dress"
No" Alice said quietly. Il can't.
you, Bubbles. 1 knew you wouldn't
mind being asked second, because I'm
her oldest friend. I laid the piece of
Powered ribbon away this morning,
SO that II you wanted 1t you could
have it. You could make a white net
skirt to your new waist. It would be
awfully pretty with the pink roses.
| But Bubbles was looking at her
curiously.
Don't you mind,' she asked; II
mean not being bridesmaid"
| eyes, I do" Alice said, and Bub-
b1es saw that her eyes were full Of
tears, "but I have to give all Of my
money to mother now that father is
sick and can't work"
"well, it's a hard old world" Bub-
bles remarked as they reached the
corner where they separated. IF
decide to take the ribbon, Alice, I'll
let you know in the morning"
At the next corner Bubbles met
Jimmie Bryan.
Jimmie she said, with her gay
eyes challenging him. "Jimmie.are you
going to be best man at Miles we'd
ding?"
"Sure," answered Jimmie. "Cuta-
way, white flower In my coat ana all
the rest Of the agony"
And me to walk up the aisle with
you," said Bubbles.
Jimmie looked at her In surprise.
81 thought Alice was going to do
it." he said.
"Alice can't get the clothes,'' Bub-
bles informed him, land if I wasn't q
selfish pig I'd get them for her. but
hat"
Jimmie hesitated. Look here, Bub-
bles," he said, a little awkwardly,
"ain't there some way you could make
Alice think you were getting her dress
and let me pay for it? I'd like to do
lit"
Bubbles caught her breath quickly.
''Why. Jinmie!" she said.
Jimmie flushed. "She has an awful
hard time" he said.
Eyes, she does" Bubbles agreed.
Iabstractedly. She was a little white.
but she still smiled at Jimmie.
$50 you don't want me to be brides
maid with you?'' she teased, still with
a funny catch in her breath.
Jaw, Bubbles he stammered, you
know / think you're about the incest
"But you'd rather have Alice walk
up the aisle with you," was her quiet
reminder.
II wouldn't" he declared. stountly.
"but I'm sorry =. for ,s Alice. ssrs.a and
then she went on to plan. II could
get her the things and tell her the
money had come to me unexpectedly.
IT am afraid that wouldn't do
was Jimmie's worried response
"she'd feel as if she had to pay It
back, You get the things and send
them to her, and don't have any mark
on the box. and she'll never know
j where they came FROM.
well, I can't get the things we
talked about" Bubbles said. "or she
would know right away. Do you care
i how much you spend, Jimmie ?"
"No," he told her with the reckless
ness Of the skilled laborer who earns
his So day, mo. don't"
s~Then I'll get robe dress OF pink
null with q wreath OF silver roses.
She'll look like q dream. Jimmie"
II hope she WILL" Jimmie said, and
Bubbles sighed
/ "zoodby. Jimmie she said as she
came to the tenement where she lived
/ on the third floor.
He looked at her anxiously. You're
| ~ oft nm about not being bridesmaid.