New-York tribune., 1909-10-24
LUCK OF THE LAVENDER LADY
Romantic Tales of Missing Heirs
By William NJ. Clemens

TT is getting too warm to wear my old challis
i Dress sighed the lavender lady and the GRO
CuSeS in my second best lawn are beginning to
look quite faded. As for my last years organdie
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 a half
regretful smile on her face Marie was mendng
tear in the best tableCloth. Yes | 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, deari' sighed the old lady. How dreadful
it is to be pOOr don't know how your father man
aged; but somehow he was 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 had good many
drawbacks this spring. 1t took all | had saved to
pay the taxes. But don't feel so disappointed
mother; | think in week or two the Merrill girls
Will be able to continue their lessons, and 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 | never wore 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
for yourself Marie continued the old lady fretfully
&" No in Westfied will ever know they are made
over, and some of the silks are just like new"
Yes, mother and Marie Caressed her mothers
hand.
a. asked me wedding day always to wear laver-
der, and always did. Now that he is dead and gone
| 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 sample of fabric from the workbasket
"Over at the store Mr. Browne has lust one pattern
of this helotroPe left, and have asked him lay it
aside for YOU"
There, there Marie!" said the old ladv You're
dear good girl, and mother great care; but she
loves you, Marie
THE lavender lady had been thrown from a car
riage five years before and from that time had
been unable to walk, even 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 acres on the out
skirts of the town and the mother was left depend
ent upon the daughter
For several years Marie had let out the farm to
neghbor 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.
I CANNOT understand, the mother said a few DAYS
after the Organdie incident, why we have not
heard from your Aunt Marie. How long has it been
since we received the last letter from herr"
Two years ago last April, mother answered