Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1916-11-09
THE PINK DRESS
BY ANNE MoREHoUSE.

cotillion that Dick Harper noticed the
girl. Even at the disadvantage of hav-
ing his first view OF her under the try
ing rays Of calcium light, he saw that
she was unusually pretty and Instantly
asked his partner who she was.
Il never saw her before" said Mary
Brown. AS the figure progressed, Dick
passed and repassed the pretty girl n
dozen times determined to make sure
of an introduction when the thing was
over. But as 1t happened, he was dcs-
tined not to wait. for in the intricacieS
Of the dance when fsurS were formed
he found the girl beside him at his left
She looked unusually piquant ana pref
~ under the tiny parasoi which the
Girls had received ms favGrs while the
men fourishcd slender walking sticks
Died with ribbons.
At the end of the ballroom tours sep
arated again into twos and here some
thing happened The curved head of
Dicks cane caught in the filmy lace OF
The fair strangers bodice and held fast.
He felt the jerk and instinctiyely let
go. At the next meeting the girl held
ont the stick with smile. This be-
longs TO you, | believe" she said.
eyes, thank you. am sorry If tore
your gown was all he had time for as
they passed
Clever little ruse of yours !" laughed
Mary Brown. "Why didn't Laura
come tonight? It's pretty party"
Her new dress didn't come. Too
blamed bad. call it, 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 it,
"Peachy! What color is it?"
ITS mauve And the dress You tore
was hydrangea pink. | saw 1t before
the electric light went Off"
At last the two figures of the cotiliion
were over and Dick went to hunt the
girl. He found her In the balcony and,
rs luck would have 1t, for the instant
alone.
did I ruin your gown2" he asked
rather abruptly.
"Nor she answered sweetly, intend
ing to set him ut his ease, but only
causing more havoc in his brain. You
see, it can be mended." She held UP
the nouncc that lay close TO snowy
shoulder.
Mary Brown in an interval inquired:
Have you found out whose dress YOU
tore?'
Yes. Her name is Susanna RAJ
leigh. I 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 IN 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 time did you have? Tell me
all about it. That's the last time I'll
90 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
eyer-the color had caught his eye.
Dick came close to the bed and
touched a sleeve. Ii looked like the
same dress Susanna Raleigh had worn
at the ball.
"What kind of lace is thisT' He pre-
tended interest and bent low, turning
back a bit as he spoke. His sister, fiat
tered, described the whole thing vol
ubly, but Dick heard not a word. For
there was the place where his cane had
caught, skillfully mended, 1t was true
so sklllfully his sister would never
see 1t, most llkely-but it 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 We're in evening dress and Laura's
cloak was open. Suddenly the girl
came over and impulsively touched
Laura's gown. Dick wheeled and faced
Susannel
so ii was your dress | wore to the
cotillion and tore - she exclaimed.
"Oh, I've worried so about it," 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. I" she ex-
planned.
But | don't understand about the
dress - puzzled Laura. Are you sure
you wore it? I'm sure it is not tornr'
Perhaps Price fixed 1t then! 1t was
this way My 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 it
came put 1t 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
II and when / came home and heard It