The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-08-23
Wicked
GRANDMOTHER

- 10 NSSS SHNu NUN uuueE
Harriet's lids and made their way
slowly down her plump cheeks.
Harriet, dear" said Mrs. Martin.
gently, but with marked frmness, 4
think you'd better 60 to your own
room for while.
Shes such queer child" she
went on after Harriet had disappeared
with gulp OF despair. "She simply
determined that she won't wear her
new dress to the party tomorrow. She
wants to wear her old one!r
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 one?" she asked.
she says It makes her look funny"
moaned Harriet's mother. "she says
IT'S not like the other girls dresses.
Well. didn't want It to be like the
other girls dresses. r tried so hard
to make It have little individuality"
"oh!" said Grandmother Hilton. "of
course you're right, DEAR" she said,
after moments reflection, "but since
1t makes her so unhappy don't you
think It would .be better 10 let her
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 go to the party,
mother?" she hIccoughed.
Harriet" said her mother, sternfy,
you will go to that party and you will
wear the very pretty and unusual
looking dress that / got for you. Not
another word, please"
Harriet gave vent TO her feelings In
a sudden loud howl. Obi" she walled.
How can you be SO mean to me?
don't mind bit staying at home II
you will let ME, but It will Just. kill
me to wear that dress. There isn't
another girl in the world that has ono
like 1t. ] can't bear TO wear. it.
Mrs. Martin looked at her own
mother. did you ever hear anything
like 1t? It's ridiculous!" she exclaim.
ed, forlornly.
The atmosphere Of the household
was fraught with gloom during the
rest Of the day. IIarriet's swollen
eyes and general air Of desolatIoR
gave the place the effect OF n tomb.
When Harriet's father-who went ulI
on the general principle that Harriet
should be allowed to do exactly as she
pleased so long as It would do her no
bodily injury-came home and learned
the cause OF his daughters deep de.
preston, he laughed
well, for goodness sake. why don't
You let the kid wear the old one?" he
inquired.
Then he observed the firm line
made by his wife's lips and he knew
there was no use in discussing the
matter further. A new silver dollar
bestowed on Harriet helped to relieve
the tension, but the watery little smile
which he received was q far cry from
the joyous peal of laughter that he
had hoped for. Consequently he, too,
was depressed and silent.
After Harriet had gone to. school
the next morning Mrs. Martin, with
tho air OF a defiant culprit, took the
bone OF contention into her mothers |
room. Nov. isn't 1t a pretty dress"
she asked, belligerently.
Indeed 1t Is" said Grandmother
Hilton with enthusiasm. "It's Just as |
pretty as 1t can be. but 1t is rather
different from the way most OF the
girls dresses are made, isn't it?"
II wanted 1t TO be different" said |
Mrs. MARTIN. obstinately. at Is SC
much prettier than the way dresses
are made now and want Harriet to
have little Independence"
Grandmother Hilton smoothed out
the soft folds gently. There was no
hint Of guile in her tone, nor was
there in her sweet face when she
spoke again.
Don't you think II needs pressing,
Genevieye?" she asked. Suppose
you let me run down to the kitchen
and smooth It out little"
"oh, will you, mother?" said Mrs.
Martin gladly. at does need pressing
and I'm so rushed this morning that
don't see how I'll get time to do It'll
Grandmother Hllton's face was still
rs innocent as that OF newborn
babe when she began gently TO run
the iron over the delicate little frock
1t was surely no fault OF hers that
she was suddenly the victim Of an at.
tack OF sneezing. 1t was not until she
had sneezed three times rather de
liberately that she remembered she
had left the hot iron resting on tho