Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-02-08
making an awful one this time. Lib


trash snorted I.ibbie. 1--WE heard
mother tell about old Mrs. Vests gau.
dy clothcs-she hadn't no more taste
than a Wild Indian. wouldn't stand
IT, Adcline Lots making fool OF
you before the hull village"
'ie 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. lie
don't approve OF no change OF style"
"Iiumph. 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 you'll wear
next. It Jest demoralized them when
you wore that plaid suit with the
squares not matching I been expect.
ing the minister d speak about It. l
guess you got more comic valentines
last year than anybody In town, didn't
youY She paused breathlessly.
Adellne nodded hopelessly
Ell | was you. Adellne. I'd git up
some ginger and defy Captain Lot. He
amt nothing but man. and II he
was my husband
The sitting room door opened briskly
"Adclinc Is that chatterlng old maid
here again. doomed the captains voice
through the passage
mo. she amt. Lot West" shrilled
Miss Peters angrily as she scuttled out
OF the door and slammed II noisily be
hind her.
When she had gone the sitting room
door closed. and presently Adeline
heard the buzzing whir Of the sewing
machine propelled by Captain Lots
generously proportional feet.
A whole year had past since Captain
Lot West had decided 10 retire and
live upon his comfortable income
That year had been hideous one for
sensitive Adeline West. for Captain
Lot boldly attacked the prevailin:
fashions and decreed that his wife
should wear no 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 awkwardiy
draped upon Adeline's shrinking form.
The next day but one was ST. Valen.
| tNpas. Har Alkaline tpiraraA In 0nttei.
patton OF the caricatures that would
fall 70 her lot ON the l4th OF February.
The thoughtless youth OF the village
found Captain Lots dressmaking an
endless source of amusement. and AIDE
line suffered for II all.
Her face flushed Indignantly as she
remembered that OH the night OF the
14th the lodge OF which her husband
was high official was to hold It's an
nual banquet. Even now he was hour
" expecting the exprcssman 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 mt the pol
ished stove. and all ut 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 mall.
which he tossed grimly TO his wife.
without word Adeline carefully open
ed each one and extracted Its crudely
colored and coarsely humorous in
closure. With slow elaboration she
brought hammer and tackled each
valentine 10 the wall until they hung
I'm n long row around the room. a testi'
monlal TO captain Lots taste In gown
ing his wife
Captain Lot was too buslly engaged
with his own pcrplexities 10 notice
Adcline's feeble efforts 10 attract his
attention The express package con
tanning his new suit OF clothes had not
arrived. and he could find no trace of
II. The express Office had shown
strange lack OF sympathy for his
predicament. His telegram TO the city
tailors had brought forth no reply.
Captain Lot stormcd noisily about the
house. while Adeline moved quietly Ia
and fro with strangely contented ex-
preston on her face.
At supper time Captain Lot was IN
rious. What am ! going TO wear:
he roarcd Indignantly when Adcline
ventured to inquire. MY old black
clothes. Of course-all shiny ut the
Jeans and not fit TO wear. What else
can I wear
Adeline's face grew pink. II can
make you pair OF pants out of the
blue poplin like your mothers dress. y
she said boldly.
Lot West stared ut her with aston
ished eyes. he you crazy?" he de
manded huskily
Not as some folks" retorted AIDE
line deliberately. Then she arose and