The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-26

pness Sophie was held in the grasp of two absorb ing concrete issues matters which necessitated long sitting up at night, much fine embroidery, and oh, so many buttonho1es, delrium in every of them is very hard poor Sophie discovered not to betray emot,on in anes bntonholss But each for her two great expenditures, the wedding present and the wedding dress.
 "Or, at least, sha1l always call it my wedding been difficult to decide, with Eve1yns calm aid upon gift that should be appropriate for the un- worldly Stephen and his unknown Marry ou know, she has everythingt' Miss Sophie always in- sertedthe foster-parent had found that the question: ites It Mrs. Darrow who vigorously plunging into the crisis demanded that occasion Miss Burchell wear something really substantial and Smart"
 ;. "Ifn sure they won't expect me to be actually fashionable' Sophie tn1idly objected, recalling fear sonely the ta brittle ladies with pumed hats that she had seen in the fashion papers. They know, of course that in Wrayford we are nothing of the sort Stephen will have told them everything And stll- l couldn't bear to have Stephen ashamed of me. want something handsome, Mrs. Darrow. l had made up my mind to that.'
 "Of course you do. And in pearl-gray satin, Miss Burchell you would look really distinguished"
 "You think 1t oughtnt to be black? Perhaps a be ostentatious. I mustn't wear the kind of dress that Marys mother would have worn Net being Stephens own % ,I in my a1 ,dn be too showy too young for me?"
 "Yo umust have. your best lace put 6n it," Mrs. Darrow went on irnperatively. And, Evelyn, you must see that she doesn't get too dark silk
 fIt was Sophies own bold resolution not to "take stitch" as she put it, in the heavy gray brocade that the ultimate result of the anxious counsels To dressmaker in the next town the almost holy privilege was entrusted; and from this accomplished, although notoriously unreliable, despo oaths were exacted that the precious garment should be hnshed not later than the first of September "A near rela- tive of mine is to be married,' Sophie stated, with the impression that she severely browbeating the porty woman whose stubby professional fingers ndifferenty turning over the sacred gray bro- cade "The day isn't quite decided upon, but must have it by the hrst"an admonition that she re- peated each thrilling time that she stood before the dressmaker's long mirror and saw in its vision- clouded distances not only her slight figure, but Stephens, and Marys, and stately hushed troop of nuptia guests--and she could scarcely bear it all
 Her 1ife newly strung with such giaring excite ments as this now seemed to her like great city street starred along either side with indomitably brilliant lights; a street that knows night. Through ali her sleepless hours there unvary- ing circle of speculation about which, faster and faster she endlessly swung; Would Stephens wife consent to share him with her? Was she, Mary, as much as any woman could be, worthy of him? Would they, as Wrayford ptophesied, demand that Sophie come to live with them? Would Stephen think the gray .brocade suitable? What else ought she to pack iii her little trunk? Could she safely