The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-25
KETURAH'S TROUSSEAU
Byo ss1EM
Author Of "The Fight With Mexico

A wedding is like Christmas: 1t gets
into peoples bones, and that was why
the Williams household was all ex-
element. Miss Keturah, the working
housekeeper, was going to be married.
and begin the New Year as the help
mate of Elihu. the faithful hired man.
Like old apple trees that sometimes
put forth buds, though the season 10
late autumn instead OF spring. the az
lection of this middle-aged couple was
about to blossom into matrimony.
Marriage always means more to a wo-
man than man, because the brides
outfit is usually the browning JOY OF
her life. and though Katurah's trou-
seau was pitifully small. yet as she
hemstitched ruffles and whipped on
crochet lace, feminine instinct added
deftness to her fingers. All her life
she had suffered from artistic starva-
ton. but now a good portion OF her
accumulated wages went in q post
office order to one Of the big Boston
stores on Washington Street, whose
catalogue for June brides had appeal
ed to Katurah's fancy, though the
bride. like the month, belonged to De-
cember. She had longed in youth for
orange blossoms and veil: however,
now common sense suggested blue
toque as strictly suita BILE for a middle
aged woman. marrying a countryman.
The prospective bride was in a flut-
ter of excitement when the package
arrived by express and she unwrapped
1t from voluminous folds Of tissue pa
per. The soft, dark blue velvet was
marvelously becoming to Keturah's
freckled face and reddish hair, since
happiness Is a great beautifier and
at /, a h'a nnnfnnfna mind ahnwAA in
her countenance.
Grandma Williams. sitting by the
window in her wheelchair, marveled
at the transformation, and could not
determine whether 1t was the pros
poet OF welded bliss or the possess
sion OF new-bought finery that caused
the housekeeper such satisfaction.
Hence, with the sentiment OF a by
gone generation. she venturet the re-
mark: II suppose you love him dear
ly. don't you. Keturah?"
HE amt ever asked me to love him
--fust took It for granted. like folks
expect to find salt in bread" explain
ed the future bride. and as we are
Old enough to know our own minds
guess we ain't making no mistake to
cruise together. 1t would be terri
BILE lonesome without him" ventured
she. And l allow IL woman stud
les her husband like compass she
can and out the reefs in his char
acter and sandbars In his DISPOSE
ton, and shun them for the harbor
OF every day happiness. Matrimony
always struck me like the sea. some
Nowhere comes squalls along with
plain sailing; but as Elihu has got
the blunt common sense of good
skipper / don't poster about break
ers ahead!"
She paused. placed her hands on
her hips and cleared her throat as
she added: But n man has got to
be kept In a good humor. same as
Ash In brine, or you, won't keep him
long."
IT reckon you two will Jog along
with carriage horse affection" Uug-
gested grandma. "for you are 20 40
customed to each other"
And he Is too set in his ways for
me to dream OF ever making him
over, like young brides have a way
OF doing" declared Keturah. FOR
wives hands They piece them to-
gether and study them out to suit
the occasion. with a tuck here and a
frill there, till nobody knows what
they started with. But 1t takes u
genius TO do 1t. and woman with
that talent IL got the material in her
to be good politician, II the polls
were only opened to the sex that IL
got some sense"
Grandma willianA though, had
no desire for equal suffrage. The
comfort Of her household occupied
her mind. rather than affairs Of
State. and hearing ring at the
kitchen bell. she Welcomed the in
&c y,ffnn ssI hnytrH ~ nv h.
ing with that extra dozen eggs or
dered for my Christmas pound
cake"
Miss Keturah, who an tho while
had been admiring the velvet toque,
put It hurr3edly In its- nest OF tissue
paper. and. with gentle sigh. start
ed at once to open the kitchen door
That WAS why she forgot to put the
top on the bandbox- The bell kept
ringing most impatiently, 90 that the
housekeeper had II On her tongue to
remind the huckster THE world was
not made In a day" But, instead OF
stood Fred and Ben. the WilliamS
grandchildren, with their arms laden
with holly and trailing CEDAR. The
children's faces were 20 bright she
did not have the heart to ecold, but
cautioned them gently not to track
the kitchen floor. Her solfcitude
also prompted remaining near, while
the parlor vases were filed with
evergreens and the pictures draped
with trailing pine. The hour for
supper arrived. since short Is the at
ternoon OF a winter day. and Ketu-
rah knew grandma wished Fred and
Ben to have a treat Of apple sauce.
So not until the dishes were done
was Keturah FREQ to follow the bent
of her own desire. Then she stole to
her room for another look at the
lovely hat, Mrs williams cat by the
kerosene lamp in the living-room,
adding The finishing touches to .
pair Of pink worsted slippers that
she knew would delight the brides
heart a. q gift. The two little boys
were playing dominoes on the door.
Miss Keturah was sensitive about
their seeing her wedding nnery. for
fear they would tease. 90 had pre-
served great secrecy In their pres
ence-
A cold draught Of air from the
passage caused Mrs. Williams to
look up--the click OF her needles
ceased-Afiss Keturah stood ~ II
stunned on the Threshold. with her
fingers resting on tho knob OF the
door. II the earth had sunk under