The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-24
The Euening Story
The Hydraneea Pink Dress.
(By Anne Morehouse. }

.
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.
81 never saw her before" said Mary
Brown. Mrs Payne can tell you, per-
haps" AS the figure progressed, Dick
passed and repassed the pretty girl
dozen times, determined to make sure
of an introduction when the thing was
over But, as it happened, he was
destined not to wait, for in the intri-
cacies of the dance when fours were
formed he found the girl beside him
at his left She looked unusually
piquant and pretty under the tiny
parasol which the girls had received
as favors while the men flourished
slender walking sticks tied with rlo-
bonS.
At the end of the ballroom fours
separated again into twos and here
something happened. The curved
head of Dicks cane caught in the
filrny lace of the fair strangers bodice
and held fast. He felt the jerk and
instinctively let go, but he would glad
ly have followed his favor. At the
next meeting the girl held out the
stick with a smile. This belongs to
you, 1 believe" she said
Eyes, thank you. am sorry if tore
your gown was all he had time for
as they passed.
His heart was hammering fast.
What was there about this girl that
upset him so?
Clever little ruse of yours." laughed
Mary Brown. You can't teach an
old dog new tricks, can you. Dick?
Much better than a regular how-do-
you-do introduction, Only that girl
will bless you forever for spelling her
dress. It's the most stunning thing
here"
Dick grumbled softly. She'll think
7
don't know how it happened.
1T doesn't matter. 1 don't sup
pose she will mind a lot. Why didn't
Laura come tonight? It's a pretty
party"
Her new dress didn't come. Too
blamed bad, I call it, but she wouldn't
wear an old one"
What a shamel But everybody is
busy. My dress did not come home
until o'clock. 1 was at the smelling
salt stage when it walked in. How
do you like it?'
"Peachy, What color is it?"
-'Thanks!"
We'll, with these CHASTITY colored
lights over everything one can't tell.
It's mauve. And the dress you tore
was hydrangea pink. 1 saw it before
the electric light went Off Watch
there, Dickie. You nearly tore Mrs.
Wimple's hair net off with that stick
Better give 1t TO me or you'll land in
Jail"
At last, the two figures of the cotil-
lion were over and Dick went to hunt
the girl. He found her in the balcony
and, as luck would have it, for the
instant alone.
Did 1 ruin your gown" he asked
rather abruptly. for when she turned
her eyes up to his speech was shut
off almost entirely.
mol" she answered sweetly, in
tending to set him at his ease, but
only causing more havoc in his brain.
You see, it can be mended." She
held up the flounce that lay close to
a snowy shoulder. And it doesn't
show much the way it's folded, but
she stopped.
But" he insisted anxiously.
That's all I can tell you," she said
hastily But it really wasn't any
ones fault, so please don't think of it
again Won't you sit down? My part
ner went for some punch, but he's
been sidetracked somewhere evident
ly."
Mary Brown in an interval in
quired, Have you found out whose
dress you tore?''
leigh. 1 don't know where she lives
she won't tell me that-but 1 know
enough to make up for that. Barring
you, Mary, she's he dearest, sweetest,
loveliest creature ever knew:''
Dick. don't lie just for me. You
mean without any exception she's the
most adorable thing you ever saWi''
laughed Mary
The next evening, Dick came home
early from his office for an hours
sleep before dinner. 1t had been day
light, almost, before he had got to
bed. He had not seen his sister an
breakfast. SO ne 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 it That's the last
time I'll go to Price for a gown. 1t
never came home until this afternoon,
and isn't it a dream, too?" She rue
fully indicated a creation of silk and
lace on the bed.
"A peachi" Dick answered laconic-
ally, glancing at it and away. Only
one dress interested him Just now and
the thought of the wearer was crowd
ing all other ideas out of his head.
He looked back quickly, however-the
color had caught his eye There was
something familiar about the whole
thing.
What color is it ?" he asked.
.Hydrangea pink Something new
Price says-the only gown she has
made of it SO far"
Dick came close to the bed and
touched a sleeve 1t looked like the
same dress Susanna Raleigh had worn
at the ball-there was the bit of gold
embroidery in front of the waist, the
foamy, soft white lace over the shoul-
ders, the shepherdess drapping of the
heavy silk skirt-everything
What kind of lace is this2" He
pretended interested and bent low
turning back a bit as he spoke. His
sister, 6attered, described the whole
thing volubly, but Dick heard not a
word. For there was the place his
cane had caught, skiIlfully mended. it