Gloucester County Democrat., 1909-06-17

lH
Then III get a fo' dress of pila
mill with wreath If silver roses
She'll look ike a dream. Jimmie"
q hope she will" Jimmie said. and
Bnbblps sighed
"fs9pdby Jimmie she said as she
came TO the tenement where she lived
On the third floor.
He looked 1T her anxiously. YOU'RE
lot cut UP about not being bridesmaid
:ire you?' he asked
She shook her head. No. she an.
swered bravely
sNTell. you're pretty nice, Bubbles
he said heartily, and then he Went on
his way
When Bubbles reached home she
took cut her boarded store of money
With what she would add on her next
pay day she would have So and she
could buy the hat with the white
feather
She fingered the money for mo-
ment, and then she dropped her head
on her arm with sob. for Bubbles
had wanted that hat to wear to church
the choir with Jimmie Bryan 1t had
been for Jimmie's admiration that she
had craved the pretty hat. And. after
all. it was Alice that Jimmie cared
for
Two days later Alice came to her
counter breathlessly
"Oh, Bubbes,' she said, "such
wonderful thing has happenedr'
"Nyhat?" asked Bubbles innocently.
And then Alice told her of the won
derful gown and the dainty accessories
that had come the night before in
big box.
'I can't imagine who sent them.'
1T must have been a fairy god
mother" said Bubbles demurely.
And now | can be Miles brides
maid caroIed Alice when she had
exhausted all her conjectures as to the
giver You won't mind, will you,
Bubbles?"
No said Bubbles steadily.
And as she sold needles and pins and
hooks and eyes and whalebones and
hundred and one other things that day
she told herself that she did not care.
Why should she want to walk beside
Jimmie Bryan when he preferred to
have Alice?
She passed the window with the hat
with the white feather that night with
out glance ard on Sunday she wore
a plain little black sailor v ith cheap
red rose. and she looked prettier than
ever in it.
"Alice thinks you're a fairy god
mother" she told Jimmie after serv-
ice
Say. did she like it?" he demanded.
"Of course she did, said Bubbles.
WHO wouldn't?''
But Jimmie did not answer inme-
diately. He stood looking down at her.
Say, little GIRL he said presently.
you look mighty nice in that hat"
1T cost just s1.9S." Bubbles inform
ed him glibly. marked down from 50. Z
'sI don't care what it COST Jimmie
stated. "You look mighty NICE
Bubbles couldn't resist saying. But
not half as nice as Alice will in that
pink robe
Bubbles. believe you're jealous" :"
flashed Jimmie Unexpectedly.
Bubbles cheeks famed. why. jim
mie Bryanr she faltered
Look here" Jimmie demanded. did
you think | was in love with Alice?"
Under his keen scrutiny Bubbles was
forced to admit, 81 couldn't very well
help it. could l p
Il was afraid you would" Jimmie
said. ''that day when planned to get
her the things. but l had promised.
Oh. look here. Bubbles, you come out
to the park with me. and I'll tell you
about it,.
And all the way to the park Bub-
bles heart sang. and she seemed TO
walk on air. and she was glad that
she hadn't bought the hat with the
white feather. She was glad she
hadn't been extravagant. for Jimmie
seemed to like her just as well in the
black sailor with the red rose.
In the park the beds were full of
jonquils and tulips and hyacinths and
crocuses, and under the Towering aim
ond tree Jimmie and Bubbles sat down
to talk
you see." Jimmie explained. there's
Bob Travers. and he's in the navy.
and he's away on three years cruise,
and he made me promise that I'd look
after Alice they've been in love with
each other since they were kids-and
when Alice's father got sick tried to
help. but they wouldn't let me, and it
seemed as if getting her the dress
would be what Bob would want me to
do, and now he's going to get home in
time for the. wedding, and | told Millie
she'd have to have him for best man."
"Oh.' cried Bubbles, aglow with
happiness.
.'And then | told her how much +
thought of you, and she wants us to be
in the. wedding party. and Oh, we'll
look here, Bubbles" And in the shad.
ow of the Towering almond he held