The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-24

Clever little ruse Of yours !" laughed
Mary Brown. why didn't Laura
come tonight? It's a pretty party"
"Her new dress didn't come. Too
blamed bad, call 1t, but she wouldn't
wear an old one"
what shame. But everybody is
busy. My dress did not come until
eight o'clock. How do you like itT"
"Peachy! What color is tit"
TITS mauve. And the dress you tore
was hydrangea pink. saw 1t before
the electric light went off,"
At last the two figures of the cotillion
were over and Dick went to hunt the
girl. He found her In the balcony and,
as luck would have 1t, for the instant
alone.
did I ruin your gown he asked
rather abruptly.
"No" she answered sweetly, intend
ing to set him at his ease, but only
causing more havoc in his brain. "YOu
see, 1t can be mended" She held up
the flounce that lay close to snowy
shoulder.
Mary Brown in an interval inquired:
Have you found out whose dress you
tore?"
Eyes. Her name is Susanna Ra-
leigh. / don't know where she lives
she won't tell me that-but l know
enough to make up for that"
The next evening Dick came home
early from his Office for an hours sleep
before dinner. He had not seen his Sis
ter at breakfast, so he raped on her
door now before turning in.
"Come in, Dickie," she called. "What
kind of a time did you have? Tell me
all about 1t. That's the last time I'll
| go to Price for gown. 1t never came
home until this Afternoon, and isn't 1t
a dream, too?" She ruefully indicated
creation of silk and lace on the bed.
"a peach !" Dick answered laconical-
ly. Only one dress interested him just
now and the thought of the wearer
was crowding all other ideas out of his
head. He looked back quickly, how
ever-the color had caught his eye.
Dick came close to the bed and
touched a sleeve. 1t looked like the
same dress Susanna Raleigh had worn
ut the ball.
"what kind Of lace is this7" He pre-
tended interest and bent low, turning
back bit as he spoke. His sister, fiat
tered, described the whole thing vol
ubly, but Dick heard not word. For
there was the place where his cane had
caught, skillfully mended, 1t was true
so skillfully his sister would never
see 1t, most likely-but 1t was there
nevertheless to condemn the girl to
whom he had lost his head and heart.
A week later, Dick and his sister
were waiting for the elevator at the
apartment hotel where they lived when
a girl and an elderly man approached.
All were In evening dress and Laura's
cloak was open. Suddenly the girl
came over and impulsively touched
Laura's gown. Dick wheeled and faced
SusanneI
$50 1t was your dress I wore to the
ohC
"Oh, I've worried so about itp Then
suddenly: Father, this is Mrs. Morton
and her brother, Mr.. Harper. They are
neighbors Of ours You see, we have
only lived here a month";" she e1-
planned.
"But 1 don't understand about the
dressr" puzzled Laura. "Are you sure
you wore lit I'm sure it is not torn !"
perhaps Price fixed it then 1t was
this way: Ny own new dress didn't
come, and when telephoned at seven
they said it couldn't possibly be fin
ished, but that they would send me
model to wear instead. So when 1t
came put it on and departed, and just
afterward they phoned that they had
sent the wrong box and that | had re-
ceived one intended for a customer.
Father didn't know what to do about
1t and when | came home and heard 1t
I was frantic. l sent it back and told
Price it was torn, but she said she
would make it all right. I'm so sorry,
but really l didn't mean to do it."
Laura laughed. Il think the dress
has served very good purpose Miss
Raleigh, and I'm glad you wore 1t. Evil
IDENTIFY my brother thought you looked
very nice"
"And Dick instantly confirmed her
words.
downright. 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.l