Oxford Democrat., 1913-08-26
Somehow I didn't enjoy dressing to-
night for nv dinner as ] did for the

dance. and when I was through stood
before the mirror and looked at my
self long time. was very tall and
slim and-well, I suppose I might say
regal in that amethyst Grape with the
soft rose point. but looked to myself
about the eyes as I had been doing for
years when put on my Sunday clothes
to 20 to church with Mr.. Carter. He
was always in a hurry, and didn't
care about looking at myself In the
mirror anyway. Nobody else ever
looked at me and what was the use?
And tonight that Rene triumph made
me feel no different from one Of Miss
Hetue Primm's conceptions that had
been wearing for ages with indifer-
ence and total lack Of style. shrug-
ged my shoulder almost out Of the
dress with what I thought was sad
ness. though 1t felt tri6e like tenn
per, too. and went on down into the
garden to see If any Of my flowers had
cheer up message for me.
But It was a bored garden stepped
into Just as the last purple flush OF day
was being drunk down by the night.
The tall white hlies laid their heads
over on my breast and went to sleep
before I had said word to them, and
the nasturdums snarled around my
feet until they got my slippers stained
with green Only Billy's bachelors
button stood up stiff and sturdy. slight
| " flushed with imbibing the night dew.
| and tipped me an impertinent wink. !
| felt cheered at the sight Of them and
bent down to gather bunch Of them
| to wear. even If they did swear at my
amethyst draperies. when an amused
smile that was done out loud came
from the path Just behind me.
"Don't gather them all tonight. Mrs
Peaches" said DR.. John teasingly as
he stopped beside me. Leave n few
for-for the others" walked up in
half second and so did all those pryins
| flowers, felt sure.
IT was just gathering them for place
bouquets for-for the girls" l said stu.
pidly as moved over little nearer to
him. Why It is that the minute that
man comes near me l get warm and
comfortable and stupid, and as young
as Billy and bubbly and sad and hap
py and cross. is more than can say.
but do.
never possibly know how to an
lwer any remark that he may happen
u make unless It Is something that
makes me lose my temper. His next
remark was the usual spark.
Better give them the run Of the
scrdez-alone. Mrs. Molly. 70 show
| for em unless you do" he said laugh.
Ingly, "or the buttons either" he added
under his breath so could just hear 1t.
[ wish Mrs. johnson could have heard
how soft his voice fingered over that
little half sentence. She was so ex-
perienced she could have told me If 1t
meant-but. Of course. he isn't like 9TH
er men!
There are lots Of questions I'm going
| to ask Alfred after I'm married to him
MIR. Carter didn't know anything
about anything and | never cured to
ask him, but wonder how you know
when
"Oh, you Molly" came hail In
Toms voice from the gate. just AZ
was making up my mind to try to
think up something to wither the doc
tor with. and he and Ruth came up
the front walk to meet US. wondered
why l was having u party In my house
when being alone in my garden with
Just q neighbor was SO much more fun.
but I had to begin to enjoy myself
right of. for in a few minutes all the
rest came.
don't think ever saw my house
look so lovely before. Mrs. johnson
had put all the flowers out Of hers and
Mrs. Gains garden all over everything.
and the table was a mass Of soft pink
roses that were shedding perfume and
nodding at one another in their most
society manner There is no glimmer
| In the world like that which comes
from really old polished silver and
rosewood and mahogany. and ones
great great-grandmother's hand woven
linen feels like oriental silk across ones
knees.
Suddenly l felt very stately and
granddamey and responsible as l look
ed at them all across the roses and
sparkling glasses They were lovely
women, all of them. and could such
men be found anywhere else In the
into the big universe to meet the dis
tnctions that l knew my husband
would have for me. would sit at salt
with people who loved me like this?
saw Pet Buford say something to
Tom about me that know was lovely
from the way he smiled Mt me. and the
judges eyes were full cup for any
woman to have offered her. Then In
| fiash all the love fragrance seemed to
20 to my head-Tom's mixing OF that
1ulep had been skillful, too-and tears
rose to my eyes. and there l might
have been crying at my own party If /
hadn't felt strong warm hand laid on
mine as 1t rested on my lap. and DR..
Johns kind voice teased into my ears.
STEADY. Mrs. Peaches. there's the lov-
| ing cup to come yet" he whispered.
| / hated him. but held on to his thumb
| tight for half a minute. He didn't
know what the matter really was. but
| he understood what I needed. He al
ways does.
And after that everybody had a good
time. the ginger barber and Judy as
much as anybody. and could see Aunt
Bette and Mrs. Johnson peeping in the
| pantry door. having the time Of their
lives too.
That dinner was going like an air
ship on high wind. when something
happened to tangle Its tail feathers and
can hardly write 1t for trembling
| yet 1t was simple little blue tele-
gram, but It might have been nitro
| glycerin on tear for the way It acted.
| It was for me. but the ginger barber
handed 1t to Tom. and he opened 1t
and. looking Mt me over his full-after
many times empded-glass. he solemn
| " read 1t out loud. 1t said:
IL.