The Marshall republican., 1912-10-04
Wicked


siOWiy uoWh ntf piump Cueths.
Harriet, DEAR" said Mrs. Martin,
gently, but with marked .firmness, Il
think you'd better 60 to your own
room for q while.
She's such a queer child" she
went on after Harriet had disappeared
with q gulp OF despair. "she simply
determined that she won't wear her
new dress to the party tomorrow. She
wants to wear her old onel"
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 one7" she asked.
she says 1t makes her look funny"
moaned Harriet's mother. "She says
it's not like the other girls dresses
Well. I didn't want It to be like the
other girls dresses. I tried so hard
to make II have a little individuality"
"ohl" said Grandmother Hilton. "Of
course you're right, dear" she said.
after a moments reflection. "but since
II makes her SO unhappy don't you
think II would be better to let her
wear the old one?"
when she has a perfectly new
one7" cried Mr.. Martin. desperately.
Al this moment Harriet's tear stain.
ed face appeared In the doorway.
Then can I not go to the party.
mother7" she ~hiccoughed.
Harriet" said her mother. sternly.
you will 20 to that party and you will
veal the very pretty and unusual
looking dress that I got for you. Not
another word. please"
Harriet gave vent to her feelings In
q sudden loud howl. "oh!" she walled.
How can you be so mean to met ]
don't mind a bit staying at home II
! you will let me. but II will just Kill
me to wear that dress. There isn't
another girl In the world that has one
like Il. I can't bear TO wear IT,"
Mrs. Martin looked at her own
mother. Did you eve hear anything
like TT It's ridiculous!" she exclaim
ed. foriorniy.
The atmosphere Of the household
was frpught with gloom during the
rest Of the day. Harriet's swoller
eyes and general air OF desolatior
gave the place the effect OF a tomb
When Harriet's father-who went up
on the general principle that Harrie
should be allowed to do exactly M sh,
pleased 80 long as II would do her n,
bodily injury-came home and learnet
the. cause of his daughters deep dc
preston. he laughed.
We'll. for goodness sake. why dom
O let the kid wear the old onef" h
inquired.
Then he observed the Arm lin
made by his wife's lips and he knew
there was no use In discussing tn
matter further. A new silver dolla
bestowed on Harriet helped to reliev
the tension. but the watery little smil
which he received was a far cry fror
the joyous peal Of laughter that b
had hoped for. Consequently he. toe
was depressed and silent.
After Harriet had gone to schoc
the next morning Mrs. Martin. wit
the air OF a defiant culprit. took tn
bone OF contention into her mother
room. "Now. isn't II q pretty dress7
she asked, beliigcrentiy.>
Indeed Il U.s." said Grandmothe
!, Hilton with enthusiasm. "It's Just a
pretty a II can be. but II Is raths
different from the way most Of tn
girls dresses are ma e. isn't IT."
q" wanted II to be different" sal
. Mrs. Martin. o~bstinately. 1T is
much prettier than the way dresss
. are made now and I want Harriet
have Q little independence"
Z Grandmother Hilton smoothed o,
the soft folds gently. There was u
, hint Of guile In her tone. o W.
there In her sweet face when 81
spoke again.
Don't you think It needs pressiu
Genevieve?" she asked. "Suppol
|, you let me run down to the kitche
y and smooth II out a little"
"Oh, will you, motherf" said Mr.
Il, Martin gladly. ut does need pressir
and I'm SO rushed this morning that
|, don't see how I'll get time to do IT,
! Grandmother Hilton's face was stl
~ iuu0CSuk ~ Ahat VI WI
babe when she began gently to r,
!. the iron over the delicate little froc
Il was surely no fault of hers tn
\ she was suddenly the victim Of IN :
tack Of sneezing. II was not until 81
had snsssed three times rather d
y liberately that she remembered 81
had left the hot iron resting on Il
\. himy frock. When she lifted II Il
&, imprint Of the whole iron show,
! plainly. In one place the matcri
was burned quite through! Mute
she gathered up the dress and meek
she laid the evidence Of her evil d
ings before her daughter.
nj I'm afraid I'm getting very Cal
Hess and f~orgetful. dear" she %
1contritely. TT was unforgivable."
Mrs. Martins feelings were too de-
N for words.
It was . very happy. gay HarrI
n, who danced out Of the house th