The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-09
BY Blanche Il. Weekes.
Copyright. 1911, by the Associate
Literary Press


Literary Press
What's the matter, Eliza beth -
said Aunt Bess as she caught sight
OF her niece's doWncast face.
The girl did not answer imm ediate
~ but continued to gaze over the
sun-lit fields. When she did speak
1t was In a voice that she strove to
keep from trembling
Nothing. really. Aunt Bess. The
people over at the hotel asked me to
take part In the tahIeaux they are
having Saturday night and / told them
l couldn't. She choked over the last
word.
said you couldn't, Elizabeth What
did you say that for 90
II had to. They wanted me to he
Marglerite-the pictures are 10 be
from plays and things like that~~and
they said was to wear white satin.
and OF course | knew | had TO refuse.
then"
Couldn't you wear any other kind
OF. a white dress; your white mull---"
THAT wouldn't do At all, the whole
thing is going 10 bee ii dress show:
they're just too glad 10 have "a chance
To show off their clothes. ., dear. its
awful to be poor"
If they want you 10 help them why
wouldn't one of them lend you Il
dress
20. Aunt Bess, II wouldn't ask
them for the world, ir they offered
1T might be different but they didn't
And there is 10 be dance"
Aunt Bess sighed and looked out
into the brilliant sunshine. Neither
spoke. Suddenly the older woman
clasped her hands SO tightly that the
knuckles showed white, and her lips
set in straight line. She looked once
more at the downcast face, then with
out a word turned and walk ed up
stairs 70 her own room. She paused in
front of the great wardrobe for a
moment then flung herself down on
the bed and buried her face in tho
pillows When she sat up II was
tear stained but resoIute. She drew
chair In front OF the wardrobe,
mounted it and from tile 'wen' at
the top drew forth a great paste
board box, covered with dust She
stared at il a moment then sat down
on the floor the box across her lap
the tears making big splotches in
the dust
II anti can't look at II again"
she whispered. She laid II on the floor
and walked to the oid-fashionad
dressing table and looked at her re-
NectlOn.
Tn old" she said bitterly, old"
Thirty seven this month. An old
maid. Its time ] had some sense. y
iior eyes filed again. Il thought r
had forgotten--but I haven't All
these years and it stiIl hurts--Tom. -
Tom! How could you treat me SO %
Turning away she crept blindly back
to the bed and lay there sobbing pitt
fully.
The sound OF music from the great
hotel. under whose shadow rested her
little brown cottage. woke her to the
plain realities of her daily life.
Lunch time" she said aloud. land
l haven't done a thing this whole
morning"
She poured some water into the
wide basin and bathed her face: then
brushed back the soft curls. so like
the younger Elizabeths In spite of
the threads Of grey, ana withou, a
look toward tho box on the floor went
quickly down stairs and out on the
porch.
Elizabeth"
Yes. Aunt Bess."
Elizabeth, run up to my room and
on the floor near the big wardrobe
you'll see a box It's pretty dusty It's
been slowed away somewhere for ten
years ever since we moved here.
And--what's inside is for you, Eliza
beth"
For me- Why. Aunt Bess. what
is it," = !.
Run and see. lisa surprise for
YOU"
The box lay where It had been
dropped and Elizabeth kneeling down
united the cords. First there was a
covering OF wrapping paper; then
white tissue paper, and then blue, and
last of all lay soft folds of shining
white satin. With an exclamation of
amazement she held It up, and saw
II was dress in the style OF many
Years ago. Catching 1t up In her arms,
she ran dowa to the kitchen where
she knew her aunt was making bis
cults for the MONDAY meal,
Aunt Bess, you're fairy god
mother Where did you get this love-
~ thing"
That? O. I've had 1t long time
I'd almost forgotten It," Sitting the
-four vigorously when you spoke
about the tableaux Thought 1t
might be some use"
IT'S Just lovely. IT looks like
wedding dress The SITTER dropped
on the floor sprinkling the linoleum
with a sudden shower OF -four. The
older woman moved to the door and
took the broom from behind it.
Let me, Aunt Bess" The other
waved her off.
IF ever ! get a girl again." she be-
ran vigorously. It'll make her promise