The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-15

said Aunt Bess as she caught sigh
of her niece's 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 tC
take part in the tableaux they are
having Saturday night and l told them
| 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 l knew l 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 a 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 il
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 a
moment. then flung herself down on
the bed and buried her face in the
pillows. When she sat up it was
tear-stained but resolute She drew a
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
a 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-
Election.
I'm old" she said bitterly, "old /!
Thirty-seven this month An old
maid. It's time | had some sense y
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, and
| haven't done 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 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. Its-a surprise for
you
The box lay where it had been
dropped and Elizabeth, kneeling down,
united the cords. First there was
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
she held it up, and saw 1t
was a dress in the style of many
years ago. Catching it 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 fairy god
mother. Where did you get this love-
ly thing"
That? 0. I've had it long time.
Id almost forgotten it," sitting the
flour vigorously. When you spoke
about the tableaux thought 1t
might be some use"
It's just lovely 1t looks like
dress" The sitter dropped
on the floor, sprinkling the linoleun
with 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 OFF
IF ever 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
81 think | better run over and show
it to Mrs Harris and ask her If II
will do she said. She went up to
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