Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-24
LUCK OF THE LAVENDER LADY
Romantic Tales of Missing Heirs
By William M. Clemens

TT is getting too warm to wear my old challis
dress sighed the lavender lady, and the
cuses in my second best lawn are beginning to
look quite faded. As for my last years organde.
that is quite out of the question. | think you had
better put them both in the missionary bag.
Marie Ingram glanced at her mother with half
regretful smile on her face. Marie mending
tear in the best tabecoth. Yes, l know, mother
dear, she said softly, barely lifting her eyes from
her work, her slender fingers flying back and forth,
showing evident haste to complete her mending.
"Oh, dear! sighed the old lady. How dreadful
it is to be poor! don't know how your father man
aged; but somehow he always able to get my
organdie dress by the first of May. | always had it
made up in time for the first hot weather.
Marie laid aside her mending and took the mothers
hand in hers. Il know it is late mother she said
in tones Of apology but have n had good many
pay the taxes. But don't feel so disappointed
mother; l think in week or two the Merrill girls
will be able to continue their lessons and if they do
everything will be all right and you have your
lavender Dress
Mrs Ingram sighed again. There's the trunkful
of clothes your Aunt Marie sent" she said; but
there's not lavender dress among them. / don't
suppose she remembered l any other
color And Aunt Marie never wore lavender herself.
Marie bushed at the thought of the old clothes;
but discreetly remained silent
Il think you might have some of them made over
for yourself Marie continued the old lady fretfully
No in Westfeld will ever know they are made
over, and some of the silks are just like new
Yes, mother, and Marie caressed her mothers
hand.
4our dear father, Mare, drOned the Old lady,
" asked me on wedding day always to wear laven-
der and always did. Now that he is dead and gone
l try to do as he had wished; but he never would
have made me wait until for my spring or
candle" The lavender lady pressed dainty BIT of
cambria handkerchief to her eyes and whmpered
Don't feel badly, mother consoled Marie as she
took up a sample of fabric from the workbasket.
lover at the store Mr. Brownel has just one pattern
of this heliotrope left and have asked him to lay it
aside for YOU.
There there, Mare! said the old lady. You're
dear good girl, and mothers great care; but she
loves you, Marie
THE lavender lady lad heen thrown from a car
riage five years before, ana from that time had
been unable to walk, about the house. She
could help herself from the rocking chair to the bed
and back again; but that all. Her husband
dying suddenly short time after the accident, had
left nothing but homestead of fifty the out
skirts of the town, and the mother left depend
ent upon the daughter.
For several years Marie had let out the farm to a
neighbor to work on shares; but somehow the crops
had always failed, and Marie found it troublesome
to pay the taxes out of her meager earnings as a
music teacher. And Marie did the housework and
cared for the crippled mother between times.
7 CANNOT understand, the mother said few days
after the organdie incident why have not
heard from your Aunt Marie. How long has it been
since we received the last letter from herr"
1.-TWO years ago list April. mother" answered