Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-03-06
A GOWN OF
LAVENDER SILK
BY MRS. BESSIE d. DUcEY

nhh dBlocu " bdy uVehAhb 0A sAS SiO
en- engagement until after the holiday.
Under protest l consented to wear
che diamond circlet few days long
or.
It was THANKSGIVING night. At din
ner Jack and / managed to carry ON
q desultory conversation, but l was
conscious that my laughter was
strained and that Aunt Elizabeth was
oovertly watching us. There were to
be tableaux in the evening and the
young people had been given the free
dom of the garret, with its trunks and
chests Of dainty. old-fashioned linery.
I felt little interest in the general
merriment and hastily selected
gown Of lavender silk. from whose
folds / shook out little sprigs of its
fragrant namesake. l slipped 1t on,
brushed back my hair and tied 1t
loosely at the nape Of the neck with
q wide lavender ribbon, and then ran
down to the library to be alone with
my unhappy thoughts.
Aunt Elizabeth was sitting by the
open crate and sprang to her feet
with low cry as went up to her.
"Child, how you frightened mel"
she exclaimed as she drew down my
face and kissed me tenderly. For
moment l thought was seeing my
own ghost"
curlec myself up on rug at her
feet. WAS this your gown?" l asked
curiously.
She slipped her fingers under my
chin and lifted my face until | met
her glance, but she chose to ignore
my question.
"Have you. and Jack quarrelled
Marian?" she asked, gravely.
l dropped my lashes lest she see
the quick tears in my eyes, and felt
O hot flush creep up in my cheeks.
"Tell me, child, there is no trouble
between you and Jack, is there" Her
voice was troubled.
"I'll tell you tomorrow" l said at
last in husky whisper.
/ attempted to rise, but she gently
pushed me back and drew me closer
to her.
"You asked me II the gown you are
wearing was mine, she said quietly.
81 am going to tell you story about
It"
Her voice was very low and sweet.
and she falterel now and then as she
continued.
81 wore 1t only once. 1t was on
another Thanksgiving night years ago,
way back in '61. That night the One
Man in the world asked M to be his
wife and gave him my promise. He
slipped onto my finger little gold
circlet, much simpler than yours,
dear"-she touched the bright stones
on my hand that caught the red
CLEANS from the freight and was
the l-appiest girl in the town. But
soon a cloud came between us-the
dark war cloud that was shadowing
the nation. Nearly every other young
man In the neighborhood had enlist
ed; he alone remained at home.
Occasional sighting remarks
aroused my temper. and Christmas
eve told him plainly that his duty
was to be at the front with the
others. He was deeply hurt. and said
sadly that his mother was Southern
woman and he could not break her
heart by fighting against her own
people. taunted him and called
him Coward name man never
forgives ol forgets from woman's
, lips. He pleaded with me to take
back the word, but was reckless and
passionate and we parted in anger,
forever"
The last word was wall of hope
h.,
ories of the past.
"The next day he enlisted" she
went on. sadly, land he did not re-
turn until the war was over. He
found his mother dead and his home
desolate. A year later he went South
again to bring back his bride"
She bent down close to me and
again lifted my face to hers.
Child, don't break Jacks heart and
know it. Trust him."
A sudden illumination came to me;
Jackson Grey's mother was South.
ern woman. "It wasn't his father?"
asked wonderingly
She bent her mead silently and hot
tears fell on my forehead.
Jacks father!" And now was
sending Jack away, perhaps forever
The thought was unbearable and
broke into choking sobs, while her
arms held me still closer in their
tender clasp.
at was all my fault" whispered
''but it's too late now to call him
back"
Then someone sprang from crouch
that stood in far corner, completely
concealed by the deep shado-''. In
an instant jackson Grey was neel
ing by my side at Aunt Elizaoeth's
knee, holding my hands tightly.
Forgive me for listening" he plead
ed, II must have been asleep ant
your voices woke me-"
Marian dear" he said tenderly
looking searchingly into my wet eyes