The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-08-09
Wicked
Grandmother


slowly down her plump cheeks.
Harriet. DEAR" said Mrs. Martin.
gently, but with marked firmness, Il
think you'd better go to your own
room for while.
Shes such a queer child" she
went on after Harriet had disappeared
with a gulp OF despair She simply
determined that she won't wear her
new dress to the party tomorrow She
wants to wear her old one"
Grandmother Hilton, to whom the
remark was addressed. passed over
this unnatural state of mind without
comment. Why doesn't she want to
wear the new one?" she asked
"She says it makes her look funny"
moaned lIarriet's mother. "She says
it's not like the other girls dresses.
Well | didn't want it to be like the
other girls dresses tried SO hard
to make 1t have little individuality. J."
obi" said Grandmother Hilton. "Of
course you're right, dear" she said.
after moments reflection. but since
1t makes her so unhappy don't you
think It would be better to let her
wear the old one?"
when she has a perfectly new
one?" cried Mr.. Martin. desperately.
At this moment Harriet's tear stain.
ed face appeared in the doorway.
Then can I not 60 to the party.
mother?" she hiccoughed
Harriet" said her mother, sternly.
you will 90 to that party and you will
wear the very pretty and unusual
looking dress that I got for you Not
another word, please"
Harriet gave vent to her feelings in
sudden loud howl. oh" she walled.
How can you be 80 mean to me?
don't mind bit staying at home II
you will let me, but It will just kill
me to wear that dress. There isn't
another girl In the world that has one
like It, can't bear to wear IT,"
Mrs. Martin looked at her own
mother. Did you ever hear anything
like It? It's ridiculous." she exclaim-
ed. forlornly.
Tho atmosphere Of the household
was fraught with gloom during the
rest Of the day. Harriet's swollen
eyes and general air OF desolation
gave the place the effect of tomb
When Harriets father--who went up
ON the general principle that Harriet
should be allowed to do exactly as she
pleased so long as It would do her nc
bodily injury home and learned
the cause of his daughters deep de-
preston. he laughed.
We'll. for goodness sake, why don,
you let the kid wear the old one??" he
inquired.
Then he observed the firm line
made by his wife's lips and he knew
there was no use IN discussing the
matter further. A new silver dollar
bestowed on Harriet helped to relieve
the tension, but the watery little smile
which he received was far cry from
the Joyous peal of laughter that hi
had hoped for Consequently he. too
was depressed and silent.
| After Harriet had gone to schoo
the next morning Mrs. Martin. will
the air of a defiant culprit, took thu
bone of contention into her mother
room. Now, isn't II n pretty Dress
she asked. belligerently.
Indeed It is" said Grandmothe
Hilton with enthusiasm. ITS just a
pretty as 1t can be, but it is rattle
different from the way most of tn
girls dresses are made. isn't it,
II wanted 1t to be different. SAT-
Mrs. Martin, obstinately. 1T is s.
much prettier than the way dresse
are made now and want Harriet 4
have a little independence
Grandmother Hilton smOothed gu
the soft folds gently. There was n
hint Of guile in her tone. nor wa
there in her sweet face when sh
spoke again.
Don't you think it needs pressing
Genevieve"." she asked ''Suppos
YOU let me run down to the Mtche
and smooth ii out Il little
oh. will You. mother" said Mr..
Martin gladly. 1t does need pressir
. and I'm SO rushed this morning shat
don't see how I'll set time 70 90 il"
| Grandmother lIiltons face VAS sti
as innoccn, as that OF 81 ncNlor
babe when she began GEM L. re
the iron over the delicate lt'r .rra.
It was surely no fault a her= tia
she was suddenly the victim al ~ 81
tacl. of snee2ing. II was Hot unH' &
had sneezed three times Tatlc~ e,
libcrately that she remembered sh
had left the hot iron resting Cd til
filmy frock. When she lifted |; III
imprint of the whole iron Shove
plainly. In one place The materia
was burned quite through Mutef
she gathered up the dress and meekl
she laid the evidence OF her evil 4,
ings before her daughter.
I'm afraid I'm getting very ear,
less and forgetful. dear, she sal
contritely. 1T was unforeivable
Mrs. Martins feelings We're TOO dee
for words.
1t was a very happy. gay Harris