Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-08
EVENING STORY
THE WEDDING GOWN.
BY Jeanne o. Loizeaux.
Copyright, 1912. by Associated Liter
airy Press.)

| NSopyTlSHC, lSlZ, Oy Associated Lluer
airy Press.)
It was hot for the last day of May
with hot wind The flowers
dropped in the sultry mid afternoon
and Emmie dropped as she made hel
way to Miss Stills to try on her new
blue dress. She no longer cared
about her dress. and she was afraid
the village dressmaker would ask her
why she had quit goin with Elmer
Hayes" Miss Still, though kindly
was curious.
| AS Emmie languidly went through
the village with it's dozen struggling
dwellings set at random about a NIL
cleus of station, saloon, general
store and square" she wished she
herself knew why Elmer had ceased
coming to see her. There had been
no quarrel. Three times she had
seen him with Rose Greene.
Sarah Still talked volubly through
the fitting, and Emmie stood while
the summary gauzy, pale-blue thing
she had chosen because Elmer liked
her in blue, was pinned in and let out
to suit the slim lines CT her pretty
figure. Her small head, heavy with
fair hair, was held high AMI her blue
eyes were Indifferent. She was pale
and wilted looking Elmer was not
mentioned, which relieved her, but
that showed her that the village folk
thought her sensitive on the subject.
she looked about her, determined to
seem cheerful.
Dresses of various colors, half
finished. were pinned up to the walls
and curtains; patterns and scraps
everywhere, pins all over the carpet.
Near her hung dainty, lace white
thing. She put out hand to touch
its shining daintiness.
''How pretty" she said with a
womans instructive reverence for
such garments. 1T looks like we'd
ding gown"
Miss Still, busy with refractory
fold, answered through mouthful of
pins.
1T is. Don't you touch it. Rose
would have fit if she thought any
what have I said And
I promised not to! She wanted to
the village with her we'd
din. You won't breathe it to soul?'
Il will never mention it, prom
lsed Sarah, struggling for her COM
posure, her heart sinking. So Rose
would be Elmers-wife. She steadied
her thought on a trif1e. isn't 1t |
-ather short?" she asked steadily !
about her own dress. And I'd like
he neck a little closer" She began !
about clothes and kept 1t
10 until she was again dressed and
afely out Of that house.
The sun was still scorching. but
Jimmie could not go home. Alice
robbins, Roses best friend, called to
Ter from her porch to come In and
isit. but she could not bear to be
by any one. They might
nention Elmer. and all the world
new she and Elmer, while not &C.
ually engaged, had been inseparable
or year past. Indeed, she had but
moth before, for his sake. refused
) marry Harry Stevens, who came
ut from the city for vacation and ,
ung persistently about her until she =
mt him away. About then the cool j..
ess between her and Elmer had be- o,
IN. !
Now. too wretched for words, she E
# the little village street and turned +
, the country road leading not to r
or home. but away from it to the
Ike. Perhaps the sight Of water T
Guild help her; perhaps she could t
yht it out with herself and get rid \
this misery. Neither pride nor h
1ger seemed to help her hurt. She T
mply cared, and knew she cared, b
Id he must know that she cared. '
nd he was to marry Rose. whom he
Jed not to like because she was bit e
rward and boy-like in manner! q
Emmie walked on and into. the bit c
wood edging the small lakelet, a t
ne patch of mirror for blue sky,
Id sitting down on the grass threw II
T her hat and tried to think things t
It. She would have to do something a
herself before she could face even S
n mother.
An hour passed and she hardly
,ticed a sudden darkening of the sky
It'll it grew almost black Then she o
mped to her feet, and started to- ;.
ard the road. knowing that she T.
uld not reach her farm home. but II
ming to get to the village before the !, "
orm. Thunder began to roll before -
Q had gone a dozen steps, and her v
4 child's terror Of tempest arose.
ees began to bend to the swift wind,
q lake was gray, driven into :,
.inkle of little waves. Then a flash :,
lightning blinded her. :,
Rain began to beat down as she =;
ept under the fence and gained the -
ad, and the dust flicked up at the y"
UGH of the drops, and then lay wet =,
d fiat. She picked up the skirt Of q,
r white dress and began to run, for =;
tful that she had left her hat in the r.
,od. As she ran the. merciful tears "
me. relieving the pressure of her g,
avy heart, running down her ",
eeks unhindered. The wild dis ~,
Ter and storm. frightened as she :,
Is, seemed to clear her mind as the r.
at and brightness had befogged it. n
she stopped running O,
d took a steadier gait. BY now the =,
in was heavy, and she was already !.
wet that she could be no wetter, y
d a half mile away she saw, gray a
d indistinct. the nearest house. ltu
splashing along. the tears and rain -