The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-01-03
1.-THE LITTLEsT BRIDESMAID:
BY lola FORESTER.

pAL leliANAs oliO W. JSNAS
glanced at the youngest member of
the Raleigh family speculatively. Il
do think it was perfectly fiendish of
Dell to disappoint The right at the
very last minute. She knew ! never
could get another girl way up here in
the mountains in time for the we'd
ding"
Don't you care, Marge," Nancy
spoke up generously. iii be the res
cue party. l can wear your high
heeled slippers If l 81 uff the toes and
I'll do my hair way up high. l don't
mind a bit"
Marjorie went down to the yeranda,
where her mother sat planning the
final arrangements for the wedding
the next day, and presently Nancy
heard the familiar voice call her down
likewise for close inspection.
The high heels would add TO her
height" Mrs. Randall said musingly,
land there's little dress you wore at
the Farley lawn party. You remem-
Der, dear, it has a lace underskirt and
the overdreSs of white null Powered
in pink roses"
SO it was arranged. and Nancy trod
on air in the seventh heaven while
the dress was altered to fit her slim,
alert figure. The wedding was to be
at ten in the little UNCOVERED chapel
across the winding road from the
| Raleigh estate. Nancy, as she came
downstairs with the other girls, in
| tent on her slippers and new dignity,
| heard one of the men saying that
/ Andy was late as usual. And it
meant nothing at all to her who Andy
was or why he was late. She almost
| tripped on the yeranda steps, but
caught her balance.
You tore the lace" Vera Kennedy
whispered-the girl just behind her
and Nancy, taking one backward
| glance at the telltale shred dangling,
/ slipped out of line and made for the
sitting room for a pin 1t did seem
as if every pin had vanished.
did you lose something's"
Nancy was on her knees before the
lower desk drawers when the new
voice startled her. 1t must be a be-
lated guest, she thought, yet very
\ desirable. He was tall and athletic
and just dusty and rumpled enough
to look refreshing after the groomed
perfection of the others.
Have you a pin:" asked Nancy. II
tore my skirt"
Indeed I have he retorted heart
= ;rrl,~ haI, 81.
flower girl?"
I'm not the flower girl" Nancy an
swered haughtily Il am one of the
bridesmaids"
THE littlest one" he added grave
l., as she rose with the rufIle pinned
safely in place. Can you run? I've
got to. because the rings in my pocket
and I'm late"
Nancy's blue eyes danced with sud-
den mischief. They went down the
steps and the path on run like chill
dren.
you're Andy and you're always
late" she said.
You know, Nancy" Mrs. Raleigh
said a few hours later, when it was
all over and Marjorie started on the
crest of matrimony's tide, you looked
very winsome and sweet and acted
very nicely. I was glad you didn't
make yourself conspicuous at ALL"
"Yes'm," said Nancy demurely. And
then, oddly enough, she went up to
the little hall room, She the last Of
the Raleigh daughters, and just
jumped into the cushions on the win.
dow seat. crying because Andy Kin.
caid had called her the littlest brides.
maid. The hair done high and the
slippers and grown-up dress had not
deceived him. He had smiled at hel
amusedly and had been nice just to
please her in her masquerade, Thai
was all. And yet she was really go
ing on eighteen.
1t was nearly dusk when the cal
stopped outside.
Nancy looked out the window, try
ing to distinguish the two figures One
was surely her father and the Other
the dilatory Andy And they came
up the broad veranda steps like
couple of pals together. Nancy stooC
in the little room. her heart beatin:
fast like q captured bird, listening
Then came her fathers step on tn,
stairs, and she ran to meet him.
: go down and welcome Andy, Nan
he said, cheerily. Hes going t,
spend a week with us. His dad an,
5 | We're Chums through college. Ant
listen, Mamie as she started down
I'll tell your mother why he's her,
/ myself, see?"
Nan caught at the big, strong hant
!. on the bannisters, and pressed it t
I her lips, then went softly, shyly dowl
). TO the big, shadowy living room wher
he stood waiting.
Il never dreamed you-you'd b
back so soon" she faltere6.
II couldn't wait for you to gro1
T up, dear. And when Mr.. RaIeig
asked me there at the station if
wasn't Tad Morrison's boy, l kne1
/ the trail led back to your feet S
hnt I l.