Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-26
Evening Story
A GIRL OF YESTERDAY.
BY Martha McCuIIoch Williams.
Copyright, 1912, by the Associated
Literary Press)

Its no use-not the least" Dora
said despondently, though her lips
curled family. Wear that--thing to
the Marstons! I won't. That's nat.
don't expect. of course, to have
things like other girls-but this once
we'll it seems to me, il father"
"Shut up" Prudence, her elder.
worn and worried, said. impera-
lively. Nag me all you want to,
but leave father out. The salt Of
the earth--that's what he is--so good
| I don't see how we can have fiirty,
Eighty child such as YOU" -
Dora was used to such sisterly
amenities There were just the two
of them-father did not count. I'm
lucky, mild, the soul Of honor, he
had a talent for losing whatever he
| ventured, so had ceased from VEN
turing-not quite voluntarily, to be
sure. Squire Hexly, his wife's father,
had tied up his daughters portion
so it Injured solely to the benefit OF
the two girls. It was safely in.
vested-so safely the income was
mighty slender. Hence the chafings
of Dora--and Prudence's careworn
face.
Prudence loved her father passion.
ately--because she understood him.
| The fine fibre that made it impos'
sible for him to be shrewd and
oney-making seemed to her the
most wonderful thing in the world.
She petted him undemonstratively-
chiefly in the way of cooking what
he liked, exactly as he liked it. Fur
Their. she made Dora keep the peace
mainly by giving the young lady
much more than was equitably hers.
But she had refused the new party
dress. firmly, and spent herself on
refurbishing an old one. Dora had
already spent much more than her
share of the joint income-and Pru-
| dence was bent upon buying her
father a new greatcoat-he had
needed one for two winters at least.
| Commonly, she either coaxed Dora
! out of the sulks, or ended them by
herself giving in. This time she did
neither. Instead, she nonchalantly
took up her shears, saying over her
| shoulder, eff you are so set against
this dress, I know girl thatll be
glad to have it. 1t only needs a lit
| tie shortening and bit off the waist
measure to make it fit Ellnor
| Lee" '.'.'
"She shan't have tits my dress
even if I don't mean to wear II"
Dora flashed out. Hateful thing!
She'd feel fine as Friday-though she
| knew everybody was laughing at her,
because she had on my cast-on
clothes"
"You don't want them to laugh at
her suppose" Prudence said argu-
mentatively.
Dora gave her a whitening look
saying, "You know don't want her
| to 20. She's so uppish, and worward.
always pushing herself into every
thing"
ct say she's nice-always trying to
help along. Tastes differ" Prudence
countered loftily, still clutching the
shears. GAS you say---this is your
frock. Wonder if haven't got some
thing that might do for Elinor?
There's my graduating "dress-you
turn up your nose at it--but those
old.fashioned rosebud silks are SOM
ing back again
"Giye it to her and welcome-if she
comes in it. she will be worse than
laughing stock" Dora said, scowl~
ing.
Prudence turned sharply on her,
you're my blood-whether or no.
! she said Don't let beau. more or
less, make you so mean and hateful.
You're afraid Flinor will cut YOU out
with Tazewell Gray. I hope she won't
he's the best chance you'll ever
have-but you won't get him by be-
ing so despicable. He has eyes that
see deeper than pretty face--even ii
it is yours"
"Yet-you won't help me-" Dora
snuffed, hiding her eyes. you know
how particular he is-that's why /
must have something new
"You can't. That's the word with
the bark on it," Prudence retorted.
! But If you'll be sensible, III drape
my lace shawl over this green satin
and then nobody will know 1t isn't
new-right straight from the city,
It was an enormous sacrifice
made in the interest Of peace and
matrimony. Dora knew 1.-THE lace
shawl was, next to her conscience,
Prudence's most cherished possession,
an heirloom, fine and costly de.
scended from q great grandmother,
to whom fine and costly things were
not rare. It would give distinction to
any frock. Instantly, Dora was smil-
| ing. She even patted her sisters
hand saying, 20, but you are clever.
Prue. l won't be naughty again for
whole month"
Then the two fell to work with the
result that Prudence had time next
day to fit the rosebud silk to slight,
pretty Elinor Leland feel more
than rewarded by the girls shy. yet
genuine gratitude.
"You-you are-better than a fairy
godmother, Miss Prue," she said.
because this beautiful frock won't
turn, to rags even if do dance on
past ~ o'clock"
| The Marston dance reached almost
the dignity of ball. Dora was easily
the belle of it-tall and dashing, vivid
in color, mobile Of face, she caught
every eye. The TRANSPORTED green
satin became her as no other gown
had ever done. 1t swathed her slen-
der, curving shape modestly, yet al
luringly. Because she knew she was
looking her best. she was at her best