The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-17
THE EVENING STORY
An Heirloom.
{ By Martha ACCOMPLISHMENTS

in the long mirror.
Rose her sister, laughed softly, as
she returned: Better say blessed be
feshl If grandad hadn't weighed near
three hundred, you'd never get a skirt
out of his Sunday best black broad
| cloth trousers"
Don't you darei If one breathes
real loud in this village folk are sure
to hear" Alison adjured, turning to
| look at herself over her own shoulder.
And the gossips would say sacrilege
rather than thrift. I'm sure grandad
himself would approve-dead this ten
years, what harm can it do to have his
leftover clothes help US round a hard
corner?"
None in the world" Rose assented
merrily, adding with a touch of visit
fulness: 1T is so harbour stock pass
ing dividends, just at this special time
We could do so much with that five
hundred we haven't got"
And other people doing all sorts Of
things. This town is going to be real
giddy." Alison answered, signing at
the end of a giggle. Three weddings
already announced-that means at
cons not counted
"And tableaux for the Missionary
Society. and two Germans if no more"
Rose chanted.
Alison took up the chant with, And
three strange-very strange-young
men a-coming to the weddings-and
likely to stay on awhile with their
kin. Rosyposy, I tell you, it's distinct
ly hard lines. A new party frock apiece
is the most we dare hope for-and
even they spell a month without but
ter. Praise be, you didn't make that
new melton last fall-you would hardly
have put it on, with Aunt Anne so i'll.
But whatever we would do If you
hand't thought of grandad. I surely
don't know. Really, believe, though it
sounds like magic. I'll get a swagger
outfit from his suit"
HE wore it only once-poor dear"
Rose sighed. And he was always
particular as to his clothing. I wish
color-though you can stand all black
with your yellow hair and blue eyes,
I hate to see you nun-like."
20! If only dare!'' Alison exclaimed
Dare what?" Rose asked.
Alison answered with a breathIess
siggle: Sacrifice our best heirloom
but Aunt Anne will never agree"
you mean the waistcoatr Rose
cried, catching her breath.
Alison nodded. Rose darted away
up the stairs. to the garnet where the
waiStcoat, which had come down from
a beau of colonial times, lay linen
wrapped, in lavender. In a wink she
was back with it, unwrapping the
swathings. They fell apart, revealing a
fabric of degree. Brocade whose satin
powdered
with rosebuds yellow, white and pink.
had faded to soft delicious Indian
red. Time had likewise improved the
rose hues-they seemed to melt one in
to another Alison gasped at sight of
the rich bIendings. TIT seems wicked
even to think of cutting it up.'' she
said. But O!-wouldn't it set off my
ack?"
Tt shall set it off," Rose said stout-
~. Aunt Anne would never agree
nj
once the thing is done she'll be glad. |
1 found her crying yesterday. over
our bank accountable seems to feel n |
her fault that things are as they are
why! 1 believe there's enough for a |
narrow panel besides revers and cuffs - |
Alison answered eagerly-she had been
measuring the waist-coat while her
sister spoke
1t was very long and had been built /
Tor man over six feet. 1t was
still it's full complement of carved rock
crystal buttons. No wonder Aunt Anne /
cherished tit was all that had come
down to her, in the division of ances-
of her greatgrandfathers.
Fate ordered it that she came
through the door from the living loom
Just as Alison, scissors in hand, made
She had slipped a kfmono
over the unfinished frock she had
contrived-the short coat, which would
be new and jaunty by and by, hung
at her side. All about was the litter
and disorder inevitable to close con-
irving. Rose stood gazing at her sis
ter-both were too intent to note the
hand fell-she held the waistcoat
away from her, saying in a choked
voice: "Rose-take it-back. II
somehow I can't spoil tit Feels as
though it would be spiritual murder"
A hand fell upon Aunt Anne's
shoulder soft hand, heavy with
rings and only family wrinkled 1t
drew her back, leaving the door a lit
tie ajar- Very shortly the owner of it
was saying, hushing Aunt Anne's sobs
the while:
ITO think you wouldn't come to me,
your oldest friend. Anne, dear, I'm
ashamed of you-you know your girls
feel almost as though they were mine.
But your pride has had its reward
Not many girls under the conditions
would foreso as nobly as our Alison.
Don't tell her ard Rose we overheard
not yet, at least. 1t would hurt
going to be sensible, and let me ad-
vance you those delayed dividends.
Also, you are to remember, cabs are
a wicked extravaganza when one has
friends with cars, and next to nobody
to fill Them
At that Aunt Anne cried harder
than ever, but after a little agreed
meek1y to do as her friend babe. The
friend, Mrs. Norris Lane, a rich
widow, childless, with two adored and
adoring nephews, was unobtruSively,
the great lady of Charlotte town.
Perhaps there was no direct SCI
luence of events-but people began to
notice early in the season that Lane
Norris and Howard Lane, the great
ady's nephews, were mighty attentive
10 the Agnew girls. Rose and Alison
lie 1,1I Got, |
nother-aH at once Aunt Anne had
ceased worrying-she had only smiled
and told them things
we're not SO bad as they had threat