The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-07-31
MARES DRESS
 WAS IN STYLE.
But the Consequences Led Her
 to a New Point of View.


 seam so I'll have plenty of room to i walk"
 l These instructions were given in a tone of hnality which the speaker was far from feeling, and she glanced cautiously over at ner mother who seams which the little dressmalxer gave her.
 But it did not pass unnotfced as Marie had hoped, for her mother looking over her spectacies at her in shocked disapproval said: You won't have nos call to leave none of the seams open, Miss Peru, for guess we'll manage to find goods enough to make a dress she can walk in without any sits If T ain't asham- ed of you, Marie Sparkes; you afn't gQt such a handsome figure that you need want to go around showfn' if. Marie's cheeks were crimson, tfWel1 I don't cares' she stormed. @sI don't see why can't have my clothes made like others girls. never have any dress it's made so old-fashtoned that no one knows its new.,'
 Her mother looked at her pretty wi1fuI daughter with troubled eyes She knew Marte's love of hnery. and the present exaggerated style of dressing seemed to the good woman to be the work of the devil himself
 cIf4 it wasn't for the wtlfuI waste l of good material I'd have one of them dresses made for you and make you how soon you'd come to your senses them
 "oh. do, ma, please let me have just one dress made in style and won't say another word" The tone was ,I very pleading. and the bright eyes
 We'll agreed her mother re1uct- 1 antly, sI guess you need the lesson, and it'll be worth it if it gives you 1 some sense about your clothes. Now go ahead and tell Miss Perm what you want, and mind you, young Wonn- an, you'll wear it to the party wheta- CT you want to or not"
 "Oh, ma, you'rd the best ever," and 1 giving her mother a rapturous kiss she flew for the fashion books to @x- 1 plain just what she wanted. The night of the party arrtved. Ma rie's dress had not been discussed at all except with the dressnaker, but mas lips were compressed into a thin l straight line many times at this exhi- i bition of Marie's weakness. 1 Marie went upstairs to dress and 1 her pretty hair was curled and huhed and drawn down over her ears, hid- i ing them completely.
 The dress, a thin, flimsy bit of white voiIe, was drawn down close to her heels, with a deep slit in the front showing a rose-colored petticoat. Sew l eraI hounces over her hips emphasfz- 1 ed the narrownesg of her skirt, while a very wide sash of gay1y-colored rib bon encirc1ed her waist The neck was cut darfng1y low while a long string of bright-co1ored tango beads i Icangled about her neck.
 The family looked on expectant1y, as she came in, ready to pay her the usual compliments when she was dressed for a party, for in truth she -.I kI. very proud of her, but at sight Of her there was an ominous silence, which was quickly broken by Jimmie, the small brother.
 "Get on to the scenery. Say ma,'' he yelled, "yer atn't goin' to let her I out, are yer?
 Marie" thundered her father You march straight back to your room and strip that rig off mighty quick. What do you p1eant by dress ing like that? Yer ma never In the world let yer dress like thati' with an amazed glance at his wife. Her elder brother, Gordon, stepped up to Marie and taking her arm led her to a mirror, Marie little sister. this mirror is too small to show you when I say I would not walk to the corner with any girl dressed as you
 Marie fiounced away from her brother and burst into tears. T think it's a shame This is the first time mother ever gave me a.Schance to dress as I liked, and because want to dress like other girls you all abuse met
 'sYes." said ma in reply to the in- quiring glances, I'm tired hearin' about how Marie's abused about her clothes. and thought the best way to cure her was to let her dress as she liked for once and guess her lesson has begun," looking knowingly at her weeping daughter.
 ssWait till Joe sees her,'' shouted Jimmie g1eefnliy. At this moment the bell rang and Jimmie flew to open the dcor. ."Conc in, Joe; Marie's all ready" and with a dendish grin of joy, Jimmie I,shered Joe in.
 ssGood ev ening folks. All ready, Ma rfe? That's" he got no farther as his amazed eyes rested on 4ser, She had dried her tears and stood looking defantly at him. well, go on. say it. The rest have been rubbing 1t ins but I thought you'd be glad to see me dressed like other girls for once"
 =teWhy, yes, of course, stammered poor Joe, ''but didn't know that the girls in our set dressed quite like that Perhaps I never noticed Shall we go ?r' His face was crimson, and he showed plainly that it would take all his courage to go with her
 Marie, continuing to look defiant. slipped on a pretty evening cap. an- ether abomination in her mothers eyes, and picking up her wrap led the way to the door.
 One hour later she burst into the roomel and rushing to her mother fell sobbing into her arms.
 ttOh, mother. I've had such dread fuI time. Joe was ashamed of me, and the girls hardly noticed me, but kept whispering among themselves all the time. and none of the boys asked me to dance so I slipped away and came home as soon as I could.
 tsThere. dear,'' soothed her mother. 'sI know it was hard, but we all have our lessons, and rather guess you've learned yours tonight. Nice people never dress in way to make em look like freaks. dearie, no matter what the style is. Now you run right up to