The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-09-28


Here comes Aunt Alyaretta," said
Elsie listlessly from her seat In the
! bow window. II wonder what has
happened She's got her knit hood on
over her sweeping cap, and she is run
ming across the orchard"
Mrs. Parsons leaned over her dasgh
ter's shoulder and peered at the tall
angular figure hurrying through the
orchard that divided the two houses
Maybe Gamaliel has had another fit
That cat viii be the death Of Alyaretta
with his fits and finicky ways; she's
worried over him half the time. I'll
open the door for her" She went to
the side porch and awaited her sisters
coming.
Alvaretta came up the narrow path
between the rows of chrysanthemums,
her prunella shod feet flashing In and
out OF the dead leaves and her faded
face quite pink with excitement.
"Is 1t Gamalielf" called Mrs. Parsons
eagerly as her sister drew near.
Miss Lee stopped short and stared.
as what Gamallelf"
II thought perhaps that cat had an
other fit, returned Mrs. Parsons sharp
ly; hes always cutting up some sort
OF ddoes"
"Gamaliers all right" assured AL
varetta calmly as she followed her Sis
ter into the warm sitting room. How
are you, Elsie? Haven't you finished
those pillowcases yet"
''This is the last one" answered FL
sic, rising to offer her aunt rocking
chair "When we saw you running,
Aunt Alvaretta, we thought something
had happened" She resumed her own
seat and bent her fair head above the
muslin pillowcase.
Something unusual did happen"
ayerred Miss Lee with mysterious
mods Of her head. an have to take
of my knit hood; it's hotter'n all
get out in this room For the land-if
haven't got on my sweeping cap!
Well, it's all in the story Of what hap
pened when | was cleaning the garret
this morning"
"What happened" queried Mrs. Par
sons impatiently as she picked up her
needles and knitted furiously at some
white lace she was making for her
daughters trousseau.
Miss Lee removed her sweeping cap
and twirled II thoughtfully on one long
finger. her keen, black eyes watching
Elsie's downcast face as she told her
story.
"As was saying. cleaned the gar
ret this morning, or | was Just begin
ming to when l decided I'd clean out
that little closet under the rafters.
There was a little hair trunk that be-
lonfed to Grandmother Lee, and 1t
had all sorts OF truck In It. l won't
tell you all the stuff there was tucked
away In that trunk. Some rainy day
you can come, Emeline, and Wen look
It over. But among other things there
was little pasteboard box and inside
of 1t was little scrap of lace, marked
Ann Lees wedding veil That was
your great-grandmother Elsie! There
was a scrap OF the wedding gown and
then screwed up In little piece of pa
per was this bit Of grandmother's we'd
ding caker Alvaretta triumphantly
held up twist of yellowed paper,
which she carefully unfolded to els
cover morsel of dark, fruity cake
with few flecks of icing clinging to
II.
I'm going to give 1t to Elsie to
dream on" said Miss Lee slowly.
Elsle's pale face flushed hotly and
she shrank back In her chair with
protesting gesture of her hands. you
needn't laugh at me, Aunt Alvaretta,"
she said tremulously. you know
don't have to dream on wedding cake
my fate's been decided for me-" She
shot bitter glance at her mothers
ayerted face,
Mrs. Parsons arose and went to the
plant stand in the window, where she
proceeded to pick the dead leaves from
the geraniums with quick, nervous ges
lures that betrayed her inward per
turbation.
II didn't know Elsie had decided
she was going to marry Jerome Bar
clay | thought she was sort OF teeter-
ing between him and Rob Harris"
blurted Miss Alvaretta, getting upon
her feet. ''I've never taken much stock
In your notion OF having Elsie get her
wedding clothes ready before she'd
made up her mind"
II never said wanted to marry Je.
rome Barclay. I-I-can't bear him"
flashed Elsie, with unusual spirit
Mrs. Parsons turned a cold face to-
ward her daughter. IL thought II was
understood" she said severely, "that
you was to marry Jerome. He said
he wouldn't take mo- for an answer,
and he saws you can keep hired help
and you needn't do n stroke of work
IL you don't want to- He can afford
10 have you live like a lady. He left
dimond ring for you to wear, and
he told me to fire ahead and get the
clothes ready. He says he knows you
will be ready, don't want TO intu-
ence you, Elsie, but I've had to work
so hard all my life II seems as II |
couldn't have you let such good
chance go by" She looked appealing
ly at the mutlnous face OF her daugh-
ter.
81 wouldn't mind working hard for
some folks" half sobbed the girl,
turning her eyes away.