Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-01-20


wouldn't for the world ask for more
advance pin money from daddy. He'd
give it to me, even if he had to Dor
row it, but 1 couldn't think of allow
ing him to do that I've just about de-
cided to phone Lily that she'll have
to get some one else to play the
Egyptian queen in my place" e..
Jessie shook her head slowly and de-
terminedly. mo, Flora May she said
eve cannot find any one like you to do
the queen. You are so tall, stately and
dark. You are the only girl Of our set
who has inky black hair and dark
brown eyes. And what would the play
be without you. anyway" she added,
by way OF coaxing. mo, we shall man
age somehow" =
81 don't see how we can" said Flora
May, some of the clouds passing from
her sky. I'D just love to-but"-
Say, what have you in the store
room?" cried Jessie. 81 mean in the
shape of old clothes. Got any ancestral
-grandmothers or great
grandmothers' gowns?"
Flora May shook her head Moth.
ing in that line in this household" she
said sadly. my grandmothers seemed
to be rs badly off for clothes as their
poor little granddaughter. many times
removed. and they did as l am doing
wore their buds threadbare."
well, I can't say that any of us
have stocks of grandmothers' gowns
smiled Jessie. "But, say, maybe you've
other things-your mothers frocks
and gowns worn when she was
BRIDE"
eve have mammals wedding gown,
but | hold it too sacred to wear on
any occasion" declared Flora May.
mo, we have practically nothing, with
capital n my dear Jes. So III have
to drop out ..s.'.'. IS
Just at this point Mrs. Frederick
came upstairs and Interrupted the
girls conversation, and they turned to
other topics, which held them till
Jesse was obliged to take her leave.
She was going to matinee with her
mother that afternoon, 1t being Satur-
day, and her time being her own from
school duties. So she reluctantly left
Flora. whispering to her at the door:
Don't hand in your notice. dearie, till
we have given the matter more con-
Where there's a will there
is a way" r. q
Long after Jessie had gone her last
words rang in Flora Mays ears;
where there's will there is way"
Yes, Flora May had not thought of
that. Then she ru1nmaged about in
her mind for the way, for she had the
will. At last she arose from some
mending she was doing and went to
= -
and dark and musty there. On opening
an old trunk her eyes beheld cheap
print pasted in the back of the trunk
lid. It was queen in stately robes.
Her underrobe was of pale yellow
draped with heavy lace. Her top robe,
a great training thing, which fell away
from the undergarment at the front,
was OF dark red velvet trimmed with
ermine. And crown of jewels was
on the queen 8 stately head. M.l,
Flora May looked long at the gaudy
print in front of her. Then something
came to her. THAT old pair of red
plush curtains" the portierre which
had been discarded several years ago
for another Of newer style and fabric. !
II could make the outer training robe
Of these old curtains" she said to her
self in high hope. "And for the under
skirt and front bodice could use some |
old lace curtains we used to have in |
the spare room and which are rather |
delicate in texture. The holes can be |
darned, or hidden have it all now!"
And Flora May clapped her hands in |
glee. Then she undid boxes and |!
trunks till she came across the old |
plush portiere-consisting Of two cur
tains which could easily be separated.
They were rich color, but faded in
and spots. These faded places
it would be so draped as to hang in !
loose folds.
Laying the portiere out, Flora May !
began her search for the aged and |
cast-off lace curtains. These came to |
light and were of deep cream color. i,
So much for having lain away for
several years in close, dark trunk. |
"I'll put them over an old pink slip |
of mamma's.' said Flora May, 1.-The |
slip she used last summer under her !!
lace frock. I'll have very queenly az !
fair after all
Then she gathered up her heavy /
draperies and ran down stairs to her |
mothers sewing room Mrs. Frederick i
was there doing some light sewing. |!
but as soon as Flora May had explain
ed her appearance with arms full of
cast-off lace curtains and portieres.
Mrs. Frederick put aside her work and !
insisted on assisting her with the !
Egyptian queens robes.
"I'll tell you. daughter" she said as
the work progressed, 1--WE might use
cotton batting for the ermine. used |
it on fancy dress costume once when
| was about your age. And it made a !
very pretty effect. You may run to
Mrs. Jones' shop down the block and
get a roll of the cotton batting-get
the best quality"
And so it turne dout that where
there was a will there was a way" for
Flora Mays queen costume was the
of all who saw it on the
occasion Of Lily Smiths private the /
atricals" And no one would have
guessed that it was made of old curl
tains, trimmed with cotton batting4,
And the crown which adorned Floral,
NJ, ri boir rpal yynrkl