The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-08-28
Wicked
Grandmother


gently. but with marked firmness. /"
think you'd better 60 to your owl
room for q while.
shes such a queer child" sh'
went on after Harriet had disappeare,
with q gulp OF despair. "She simpl!
determined that she won't wear he
new dress to the party tomorrow. Sh'
wants to wear her old one"
Grandmother Hilton. to whom tn,
remark was addressed. passed owe
this unnatural state of mind withou
comment. why doesn't she want t,
wear the new one?" she asked.
"She says it makes her look funny,
moaned Harriet's mother. "She say
it's not like the other girls dresses
Well. didn't want it to be like thu
other girls dresses. tried so hare
to make it have a little individuality.
oh" said Grandmother Hilton. 20
course you're right, DEAR" she said
after moments reflection. but sine
1t makes her so unhappy don't 20,
think It would be better to let he
wear the old one?"
when she has perfectly new
one?" cried Mr.. Martin. desperately.
At this moment Harriet's tear stain
ed face appeared in the doorway.
Then can not 60 to the party
MOTHER" she hiccOughed.
Harriet" said her mother. sternly
you will SO to that party and you vii
wear tn" very pretty and unusua
looking dress that I got for YOU. No
another word. please"
Harriet gave vent to her feelings il
a sudden loud howl. oh" She walled
"How can you be so mean to me?
don't mind a bit staying at home |
you will let me, but it will just xii
me to wear that dress There ism
another girl in the world that has ont
like it. | cant bear to wear it.
Mrs. Martin looked at her owl
mother. Did you ever hear anythins
like It? It's ridiculous" she eyclaim
ed, fOrlOrnly.
The atmosphere of the household
was fraught with gloom during tn
rest of the day lIarriet's swollel
eyes and general air of desolatio,
gave the place the effect OF a tomb
When IIarriet's fathcr--who went w
on the general principle that Ilarrie
should be allowed to do exactly as sh,
pleased so long as it would do her n,
bodily injury-came home and Learned
the cause of his daughters deep dc
preston, he laughed
We'll, for goodness sake, why don
you let the kid wear the old one?" h.
inquired
Then he observed the firm 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 far cry from
the joyous peal Of laughter that b
had hoped for Consequently he. toe
was depressed and silent.
After Harriet had gone to schoO
the next morning Mrs. Martin, witt
the air Of defiant culprit. took tn
bone Of contention into her mother
room. Nov. isn't It a pretty dress?
she asked, belligerently.
Indeed II u.s." said Grandmothe
Hilton with enthusiasm. ITS just a
pretty as 1t can be. but 1t IL rattle
different from the way most Of tn
girls dresses are made, isn't IT."
II wanted 1t to be different" sal,
Mrs. Martin. obstinately. 1T is s.
much prettier than the way dresse
are made now and want Harriet L
have a little independence
Grandmother hilton smoothed on
the soft folds gently There was II
hint of guile in her tone. nor VA
there in her sweet face when sh
spoke again.
Don't you think it needs pressing
Genevieye?" she asked. "SuppoS
you let ne run down to the kitche,
and smooth IL out Il little
oh will Won. mother" said Mrs
Martin gladly 1T does need preSsin,
and I'm 50 rushed this morning shat
don't see how I'll get time to do it,
Grandmother llilton's face was still
as innocent as that of a newborn
babe when she began gently to rul
the iron over the delicate little fsock
1t was surely no fault of hers tina
she vas suddenly the victim OF an al
tack of sneezing. 1t was not until sh
had sneezed three times rather de
liberately that she remembered sh
had left the hot iron resting on tn
filmy frock. When she lifted II tn
imprint Of the whole iron shove,
plainly. In one place the materia
was burned quite through. Mutel,
she gathered up the dress and meekl.
she laid the evidence of her evil dc
ings before her daughter.
I'm afraid I'm getting very care
less and forgetful. dear" she sal,
contritely. 1T was unforgivable.
Mrs. Martins feelings were too dee,
for words.
1t was very happy, gay Harrie
who danced out of the house tina
afternoon on her way to the party