The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1912-04-05

~ONA"6O ~ ~ tAASuSn VIII IL.
But Beth was not afraid. She,
like Gloria, was sustained by the
thought that something must be done
to bring happiness to her mother.
"And thank goodness, mother isn't
going to be at the dinner" said
Gloria.
There was much rummaging the
next day in the attic. There was
some giggling, too, but when Mrs.
Iverson asked the cause of the hilar-
ity, Gloria answered 'We are trying
to find something to wear, dear
mother
Beverly's lover was as young and
ardent as herself. "You're a beauty"
he whispered, as Beverly threw off
her cloak in the room downstairs and
displayed her costume. you've got
a sort Of driven from home look
that's wonderful"
Beverly in an old gray gown of her
grandmother's, made with a skimpy
skirt and fiat sleeves, with a prim
little collar and her fair curls falling
over her neck, was perfect-Beth
was, on the other hand, grotesque.
She wore q big green silk poke bon
net, a crepe shawl and a vide skirt
over a hoop. Her hands we're in
cased in mitts, and her hair was
looped over her ears, Gloria was in
a brown stuff gown, too big for her,
and made on Quakerish lines.
They created a sensation as they
came into the room. Mr.. Iverson,
far up at the end, talking to the
philanthropist, Raw the people cram
ing their necks and turned to look.
"Girls dressed up queery-faDcy
costumes, evidently" said the phil
anthropist
MI. IversOn watched the advanc-
ing figures with smiling liberation,
but as they came closer, his jaw
dropped. What did it meanP Why
were his girls making such a show
of themselves?
In a moment, the three stood be-
fore him.
"Father," said Gloria, Dervously,
''tale US home. People are staring
at u.s."
what does this NEAR? ?" MI. Iyer- |
son demanded. why have you made
such frights of yourselves" {
Then, right before the philanthro-
.ist, Gloria made her little speech.
'You told us you were too poor to
give us new gowns. You told us to
1ress as mother did-and we have
done it-what should you find in
that to criticised"
Then suddenly it seemed to Mr..
Iverson that he saw written across
the face of the philanthropist, in
tanning words, "You-miser-P He {
saw it on the faces of all the people.
GONE away" he said hoarsely, {
went out, followed by the trem- |
'ling girls, who, now that they had '
punished him, were in tears of re- :
morse and humiliation. :
"Who would have dreamed it =
would have been SO awful" whim-
'ered Beth to her lover, who had t
toward her out of the shad- t
WIS. G7 az ss4ap-.. a
Once in the house, Mr.. Iverson
vent straight up to his wife's room. i
Martha" he said, "did you know
those girls were going to do ?"
She looked her surprise. NO D
That is it, stephenf" n
He kissed her. "Nothing," he v
aid, and went downstairs. h
''Was it necessary" he asked the v
iris, who stood waiting. Il
at seemed the only way" said s,
people were calling us G.
The miser's brood We are going '
0 marry honorable men. We love .
ur mother. How could we 90 on
on, letting you grow harder and :
older-we wanted to bring you back .
0 us-to let you see yourself as 9TH !
saw you" 81
Sand now?" he asked. h
"Now, oh father" Gloria was :
"now we know how dread Il
it was for you and for us all. We
sorry-we are sorry"
He dropped into a chair, and hid u
is face in his hand. g" deserved Il
!" he said, and for a moment there
as silence. Then Beth went and 9
melt beside him. 4