Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1913-02-07
AuNF's sOllED GOWN
By ). N. ROWLAND

ing room OF the little fat where she
ana Aline Carr had been keepip,
mouse for two years. Her face wa,
flushed. and her eyes were wide with
fright.
What In the world is the matter
child! Are you hurt! What ia itY
she exclaimed as she rushed inte
Annes tiny bedroom and found tia,
small person In Q sobbing heap On the
bSG ~, --r' Ma -, :
%Alins. what have you done. Come.
dear, you mustn't cry. Aline, speah
to me-"
Aline lifted her .tsar4tained face
ana brushed back . mass Of thich
golden curb. Just look ut It! See
what I've done to my dress-it's ruin,
ed! Oh, Virginia can't 70 10 the
ban. What viii Win thinki What
wiz hiS mother think?
"lnksaA'ever the mont Of ny-rewu
my pretty new gown! Isn't It just
terrible? There's no time to ret any.
Thing che. 1t It wasn't q fancy dress
party, could manage, but i can't 70
IN lust an evening gown. and there In
no possible way for me to get even q
domino to put over NY pink frock."
Again the pretty head was buried
IN the pillow. and the slight form Of
the girl shook with sobs.
Virginia looked with alarm and In.
terest at the lovely nuify frock fung
over = chair back. All over the front
and side was q dark blue stain, = biz
elotehy stain that completely spoiled
the pretty laces and chiffon.
Virginia knew that she looked on a
tragedy. Aline had been engaged to
Winston Scott just two weeks. She
was to meet his mother for the hrst
time that evening-the mother who
would be critical, who was giving a
costumed ball for Wlnston's sister,
and would expect great things from
her daughter.in-law-to-be.
Virginia knew that Mrs. Scott was
not the sort Of woman to look with
favor upon her sons marriage with
. Sirl who earned her own living; but
she knew Aline could win even the
sternest woman's heart with her gen.
tie manner and sweet, loving dlEposi.
ton II she only. had 2 chance.
Don't CITY, tttleTM think We
can tx it all right, Come along with
me. may have something that will
do % well as this shepherdess dress"
Wonderingly, Aline followed vlr-
ginia into her room, where the older
girl knelt beside a large trunk taking
things out Of 1t until she drew forth
package wrapped in tissue paper.
Opening 1t, she held up a lovely crepe
hmono, a real Japanese garment, Of
the palest shell pink, with cherry bios,
SONS embroidered over It's surface SO
that they looked as II some merry
summer breeze had scattered them
there. 1t was lined with dreamy
satin.
Aline gasped with joy. She could
wear the lovely robe over her pink
slip and represent a daughter Of ia
pan.
Virginia helped her to arrange her
hair with tiny fans and pretty pins.
Her brows and eyes we're penciled; a
little rouge applied deity to her
cheeks and lips gave her the piquant
appearance Of dainty geisha girl.
Where did you get this lovely
hmono, Virginia? How sweet Of you
to lend 1t to me-
Il wore 1t once-to a party-hve
years ago" replied Virginia, and then
quickly changed the subject.
1t was nearly midnight when Aline
sank down in secluded corner Of the
conservatory justin to get her breath
and think for a minute" She had
been q success. Mrs. Scott had re-
ceived her most graciously. Winston
had told her over and over how lovely
she was, and his sister had admired
her costume and said she was the
prettiest girl In the ballroom. II was
almost time to unmask.
She leaned her head back on the
cushions Of the divan and closed her
eyes behind their satin mask. Sud-
denly she was conscious Of some one
sitting down beside her; then
Virginia! At last I have found
you. ! came late. and only caught
sight Of you In the crush. Why have
you hidden yourself from me, Vir
giniar
Il beg your pardon. ] am not virt
ginia. suppose you mean Virginia
Taylor" And Aline quickly pulled OF
her mask, revealing her face to the
man In monks costume seated by her
aide.
Pardon me. I'm sorry made the
mistake-but surely, that is-it was
your hmono that led me to think you
were Miss Taylor She has, or had
one Just like 1t.
This is Miss Taylors kimono. She
let me wear 1t tonight because / spoil
ed my own dress"
You know Virginia. Tell me- u
she here?"
NO"
But ! can find her! ! am Jack
Howard, an old friend; in fact, we
were engaged to be married, but after
Q foolish quarrel / left for the west