The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-23

SWered WeSley'S questions IN
IN monosyllables so that he
90 thought she was nervous or
rehearsing her speech and did not care
to talk. Several times the girl tried
to tell him and realized that If she said
the first word it would bring torrent
of tears. The Bird Woman opened the
screen and stared unbelievingly.
"Why, I thought you would be ready;
you are so later she said. IF you
have waited to dress here we win have
to hurry" ~
81 have nothing to put on" said FL
nora.
In bewilderment the Bird Woman
drew her inside.
"Did-did''- she faltered, did you
think you would wear that?
"No. I thought I would telephone
Ellen that there had been an accident
and could not come. I don't know
yet how to explain. I'm too sick to
think. Oh, do you suppose I can get
something made by Tuesday so that I
can graduate?"
"Yes, and you'll get something on
you tonight, so that you can lead your
class, as you have done for four years.
Go to my room and take off that ging-
ham quickly. Anna, drop everything
and come help me-"
The Bird Woman ran to the tele-
phone and called Ellen Brownlee.
"Elnora has had an accident. She
will be little late" she said. "You
have got to make them wait. Have
them play an extra musical number
before the march"
Then she turned to the maid. 'Tell
Benson to have the carriage at the
gate just as soon as he can get it there.
Then come to my room. Bring the
thread box from the sewing room, that
roll Of wide white ribbon on the cut
ting table and gather all the white pins
from every dresser in the house. But
first come with me minute.
'I want that trunk with the Swamp
Angels stuff in it from the cedar clos
et,' she painted as they reached the top
of the stairs.
They hurried down the hall together
and dragged the big trunk to the Bird
Woman's room. She opened 1t and be-
gan tossing out white stuff.
How lucky that she left these
thingsv' she cried. Here are white
shoes, gloves, stockings, fans, every
thing"
81 am all ready but a Dress" said
Eln0ra.
The Bird Woman began opening clos
cts and pulling out drawers and boxes.
81 think I can make it this way" she
said.
She snatched up a creamy lace yoke
with long sleeves that recently had
been made for her and held it out.
Elnora slipped into it, and the Bird
Woman began smoothing out wrinkles
and sewing in pins. It fitted very well
with little tapping In the back. Next.
from among the Angels clothing she
caught up white silk waist with low
neck and elbow sleeves, and Elnora
put it on. 1t was large enough, but dis
tressingly short in the waist, for the
Angel had worn it at party when
she was sixteen. The Bird Woman
loosened the sleeves and pushed them
to a puff on the shoulders, catching
them in places with pins. She began
on the wide draping of the yoke, fas-
tening it front, back and each shout
der. She pulled down the waist and
| pinned it. Next came soft white silk
dress skirt Of her own. By pinning her
| waist band quite four inches above Ell
nora's, the Bird Woman could secure a
| perfect Empire sweep with the cling
ing silk. Then she began with the
| wide white ribbon that was to trim a
new frock for herself, bound it three
| times around the high waist effect she
had managed, tied the ends in Knot
and let them fall to the floor in a beau
| tiful sash.
"Elnora," she said, forgive me, but
! tell me truly. Is your mother so ex-
tremely poor as to make this neces-
sary?"
NO." answered Elnora. ''she is-i
| different
The Bird Woman turned the CIR
facing the tall mirror.
"Oh!' painted Elnora. 'Is that me
You are genius! Why, I will look a
| well as any of them
The organ began rolling out tn
march as they came in sight. Elnor'
| took her place at the head of the pro
cession, while every one wondered.
Mrs. Comstock gripped her hands to
| gether and shut her eyes. 1t seeme'
an eternity to the suffering woman
before Margaret caught her arm AM
whispered: "Oh, Kate! For any SAX
I look at her! Here! The aisle across!
Mrs. Comstock opened her eyes and
directing them where she was told
gazed intently and slid down in he
seat on the verge of a collapse. Sh
was saved by Margaret's tense gri
and her command, Here, idiot, sto
| THAR
In the blaze of light Elnora CLIMBS
the steps to the palm empowered plat
form, crossed it and took her place
Sixty young men and women, each O
them dressed the best possible, follow
ed her. There were manly, fine looh
ing men in that class which Elnor
led. There were girls Of beauty an
grace, but BOT one Of them was hand
somer or clothed in better taste tina
she.
Billy thought the time would neve
come when Elnora would see him, bu
at last she caught bis eye, then Ma
garet and Wesley got faint signs Q
| recognition in turn, but there was D