Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-01-30
HER PEACH GOWN by NATURAL Signs


peach-colored grown, and 1t had lain
in the closet for Ave long years. ever
since the night that its owner had, for
the pure pleasure OF making up"
quarreled with the One Man. al
She had been particularly charming
that night, wearing her dark hair part
ed as he liked 1t best, which was his
favorite. Then. the coquette In her
had mastered, for the moment, the big
womanly nature of her that she had
gradually built up. Carefully had she
struggled to eliminate the feline which
lies dormant, at least, In most OF her
sex, and 1t had reappeared at mo-
ment when she was happiest. The
man. Philip Steel, had gone away dis
illusioned. despair stamped upon his
face, when without rhyme or reason
she had quarreled with him and then
insisted that he apologize for some
thing he had not done.
Afterward. a single moment after
he had gone, she would have willing
ly apologized upon her knees, but she
would not call him back. 1t was not
pride; she was too big to allow so
small a thing to stand between her
and the man no one could replace In
her affections, but 1t was a conviction
that the discovery of the shallow, the
light, the frivolous, the very feline
traits which she had striven SO hard
to eliminate, had disillusioned Phil.
ip Steel beyond any recall. That II
she sent for him he would come to
her, during that first agonizing year.
she had had no doubt, but it was
again her firm conviction that he
would return through pity and not
love. And, though sometimes she
would gladly have had him come to her
even through the charity she felt his
pity would be, she loved him too much
to allow him to sacrifice himself. And
! now five years had gone by, and
though he lived in the same city, she
had heard OF him only through mutual
friends, and the night before, one had
informed her of rumor of his engage
ment to a girl in distant town.
But tonight, this very last night.
Philip Steel was again to be her own.
When the engagement was announced
she would have no right to think OF
him and she would not Neither would
she wait until the announcement to
give him up even in thought. No one
brance of him in her heart but herself.
and after this one night that should
be rich with dreams of the past, she
would think OF him no more. Yes.
she would punish herself with even
her quarrelsome words that had sent
him away. Her memories Of that last
night would be complete. She would
have her happiness for brief hour,
| and then she would be brave and take
the bitter with the sweet.
All but herself had gone out after
dinner and she would be In the house
alone and her play acting would be un'
disturbed So she went up the stairs
to dress, singing happily as she had
done the last night, even to the same
song, little lifting melody that set
the pulses throbbing and the heart
singing the chorus. Then, entering
her room, she went to the closet that
contained the little peach gown. Ten
derby she took it out from the dark
ness and unwrapped its shroudlike
protecting cover
HE likes you, little frock. did you
know" she murmured happily, as she
shook out the folds. 1.-THE first time
he saw me wearing you he called me
his peach blossom. and though you are
Just little bit out OF style. he has
asked me to keep on wearing you fol
him. So l guess III never have quite
the heart to throw you away, little
frock." And on and on she chartered
gayly. dressing the while. just as she
had done on her treasured night five
years ago. Then she ran tripptngly
down the staircase and into the little
drawing room with its pink winged
chair with a book in hand to wait fol
him.
Gravely she read on until the little
French timepiece chimed the quarter
hour Then she rose, for her hearts
ear heard again the opening of the hal
door and the maids voice as she di
rected him to the drawing room. Al
the drawing room door opened. she
went forward. Words had never beer
needed for their greetings, and sh'
closed her eyes in content as in spiri
she felt the arms of Philip again abou
her and knew that his lips were rest
ing on her hair.
From happening to happening, sh
played the evening through, the ghost
liness and piteousness Of her brav
little show never once darkening tn
hour. Then in order came the quar-
rel, the silly, catty little quarrel tina
had wrecked the happiness Of life
time, and she went over it word TO
word as bravely as she had recounte
her happiness. Only at the last, II
stead OF leaning in helpless despai
against the door which Philip ha
closed so sharply after him, she fun
1t wide, followed him into the garde
and cried after him to return.
The scene was over, the curtai
dropped and YEARLY she went bac
and lowered the lights before creepin
lifelessly up the stairs. Once In he
room she opened the bottom drawer Q
the old highboy and laid the dress ter
derby in a piece of soft white linen an
sprinkled lavender over it, repeatin
mockingly. Ashes to ashes, dust t
dust" Then she closed the drawer
feeling as though she had sealed III
tie tomb.-New York Press.