The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-21
THE END
OF 1T ALL
By BLANCHE E. WEEKS
Copyright, 1911. by Associated Literary
Press.)

WHAT'S the matter, Elizabeth!
said Aunt Bess as she caught sight
of her nieces downcast face.
The girl did not answer Immediately
but continued to gaze over the sun
lit fields. When she did speak it was
in voice that she strove to keep
from trembling
Nothing, really Aunt Bess. The
people over at the hotel asked me to
take part in the tableaux they are
having Saturday night and told them
l couldn't. She choked over the last
word
Said you couldn't, Elizabeth? What
did you say that for?"
Il had to-" They wanted me to be
Marguerite-the pictures are to be
from plays and things like that-and
they said l was to wear white satin
and Of course | knew | had to refuse,
then"
Couldn't you wear any other kind
OF white dress; your white null"
That wouldn't do at all; the whole
thing is going to be a dress show;
they're just too glad to have chance
to show of their clothes. o, dear,
it's awful to be poor"
If they want you to help them why
wouldn't one Of them lend you q
dress?'
20, Aunt Bess, II wouldn't ask
them for the world If they offered, it
might be different, but they didn't.
And there is to be dance"
Aunt Bess sighed and looked out
into the brilliant sunshine. Neither
spoke. Suddenly the older woman
clasped her hands so tightly that the
knuckles showed white, and her lips
set in a straight line. She looked
once more at the downcast face; then
without word turned and walked up
stairs to her own room She paused
In front of the great wardrobe for
moment, then flung herself down on
the bed and buried her face in the
pillows. When she sat up it was
tear-stained hut resolute. She drew
chair in front of the wardrobe, mount
ed it and from the well" at the top
drew forth a great pasteboard box,
covered with dust She stared at it
moment, then sat down on the floor
with the box across her lap, the tears
making big splotches in the dust.
Il can't can't look at it again."
she whispered. She laid it on the
floor and walked to the old-fashioned
dressing table and looked at her re-
Fiction
I'm DID," she said bitterly, "old!
Thirty-seven this month. An old
maid. It's time | had some sense"
Her eyes filled again. Il thought
had forgotten-but haven't All
these years and it still hurts-Tom!-
Tom How could you treat me so?"
Turning away she crept blindly back
to the bed and lay there sobbing pitt
fully.
The sound of music from the great
hotel, under whose shadow rested her
little brown cottage, woke her to the
plain realities of her daily life
Lunch time" she said aloud, land
] haven't done a thing this whole
morning"
She poured some water into the
wide basin and bathed her face; then
brushed back the soft curls, so like
the younger Elizabeth's in spite of the
threads of grey, and without look
towards the box on the floor went
quickly down stairs and out on the
porch
Elizabeth"
Yes, Aunt Bess"
Elizabeth, run up to my room and
on the floor near the big wardrobe
you'll see a box. It's pretty dusty.
It's been slowed away somewhere for
ten years. ever since we moved here
And-what's inside is for you, Eliza
beth"
For me? Why, Aunt Bess, what is
it?"
Run and see. It's-a surprise for
you
The box lay where it had been
dropped and Elizabeth, kneeling down,
united the cords. First there was q
covering Of wrapping paper; then
white tissue paper and then blue, and
last of all lay soft folds of shining
white satin. With an exclamation Of
amazement she held It up, and saw It
was dress in the style OF many
years ago. Catching 1t up in her
arms, she ran down to the kitchen
where she knew her aunt was max
ing biscuits for the MONDAY meal.
Aunt Bess, you're a fairy god
mother. Where did you get this love-
ly thing?"
That? o, I've had 1t long time.
I'd almost forgotten it," sitting the
flour vigorously When you spoke
about the tableaux thought it
might be some use"
It's just lovely. 1t looks like a
wedding dress The sitter dropped
on the floor, sprinkling the linoleum
with a sudden shower of -four. The
older woman moved to the door and
took the broom from behind it.
Let me, Aunt Bess." The other
waved her of
IF ever l get girl again." she be-
gan vigorously, "I'll make her prom
Use to stay year before l engage her.
! declare I've lost my knack of doing
things"
Elizabeth looked at her keenly. then
gathered up the dress again.
Il think better run over and show |
II to Mrs. Harris and ask her If It |
will do" she said. She went up 10 !
her aunt and kissed her softly.
Aunt Bess. I'm SO happy | don't /
know what to say. not because / can
be in the tableaux but'-shyly-"M |
Carter is coming down for Saturday |