The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-03-02
making an .wful one this time. Lib

making an awful one this time. Lib
bie.s e-
What is it-p1nk. like his great
grandmother used to wearY'' demanded
miss Peters scornfully. -.
"Sky blue popltn. like bis mothers
best dress
Trashr' snorted Libbie. 1--WE beard
mother tell about old Mrs. Vests gau-
cy clothes-she hadn't no more taste
than wild Indian. ! wouldn't stind
1t. Adeline. Lots making a fool Of
you before the hull village"
He always said women didn't know
how to dress. He said when he gave
up the sea and stayed to home he'd see
that one woman dressed sensible. He
don't approve Of no change of STYLE"
"Humph. l notice he's mighty per
tic'lar to buy his own clothes in the
city," shifted Libbie Peters. Them
girls in the choir watches for you ev
cry Sunday to see what yon'n wear
next. 1t jest demoralized them when
you wore that plaid suit with the
squares not matching. been expect
ing the minister d speak about It
guess you got more comic valentines
last year than anybody in town. didn't
your She saused breathlessly.
Adeline nodded hopeiessly.
IF l was you Adeline. I'd git up
some ginger and defy Captain Lot He
amt nothing but q man. and II he
was my husband"-
The sitting room door opened briskly.
"Adeline. is that chattering old maid
here againr' doomed the captains voice
through the passage. -f =
mo. she amt, Lot Westr' shrilied
Miss Peters angrily as she scuttled out
OF the door and slammed It noisily be-
hind her
When she had gone the sitting room
door closed. and presently Adeline
heard the hnzzing whir Of the sewing
machine propelled by Captnin Lots
generously proportioned feet
A whole year had past since Captain
Lot West had decided to retire and
live upon his comfortable income.
That year had been a hideous one for
sensitive Adeline West. for Captain
Lot boldly attacked the prevailing
fashions and decreed that his wife
should wear DO garments save OF his
choosing and making. That year AIDE
line had appeared among her friends
CARRIED in rainbow colors, her gowns
fashioned In styles that had endeared
themselves to Captain Lot in his boy
hood days. The gowns that his mother
had worn-the colors affected by his
grandmother and the bOnnets OF his
sisters and aunts-all these we're
, clumsily duplicated and awkwardly
draped upon Adeline's shrinking form.
The next day but one was St Valen-
tines day. Adeline quivered in antici.
patton OF the caricatures that would
fall to her lot on the 14tb OF February.
The thoughtless youth Of the village
found Captain Lots dressmaking an
endless source of amusement. and AIDE
!. line suffered for 1t all.
Her face flushed Indignantly as she
remembered that on the night Of the
14th the lodge Of which her husband
was a high official was to hold its nm
nual banquet. Even now he was hour
" expecting the expresstnan to deliver
the new suit Of clothes he had ordered
from the city for the occasion. Was
not the highest degree to be conferred
upon Captain Lot West that night. and
he must look his best before the visit
ing brethren.
Adeline stared resentfully at the pol
ished stove, and all at once light
came into her eyes, The plaintive lines
of her face settled into the tracery Of
a strong resolve
On Valentines day Captain Lot
brought home huge packet Of mail.
which he tossed grimly to his wife.
without word Adeline carefully open
led each ore and extracted its crudeiy
pcoIored and coarseiy humorous In
closure. With slow deliberatton she
brought haml1er and tackled each
, valentine 10 the wall until they hung
In long row around the room. B testi-
moniaI to Captain Lots taste In gown
!. ing his wife y 81.
+ Captain Lot was too bustly engaged
with his own perplexities to notice
Adeline's feeble efforts to attract his
attention. The express package con-
Itaining his new suit Of clothes had not
arrived. and be could find no trace OF
It The express Office had shown
a strange lack Of sympathy for his
predicament. His telegram to the city
tailors had brought forth no reply.
Captain Lot stormed noisiiy about the
house, while Adeline moved quietly to
and fro with a strangely contented ex-
preston on her face.
At supper time Captain Lot was fu-
rious. What am | going to wearT
he roared indignantly when Adeline
veatured to inquire. my old black
clothes. OF course-all shiny at the
seams and not tit to wear! What else