The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1917-03-30
The Party
Dress
By Florence L. Henderson


"Was there ever anything so beau
tiful?" exclaimed Mrs. Wilder, lost in
profound admiration.
ooh, mother, l am so happy I could
cry" voiced pretty Wlnifred, her
daughter.
'Huh, uncle spread himself, sure,
this time!" chlrped in her brother,
Ronald.
"And all I expected was some mod
est house Dress" murmured Winifred.
"Dear old Uncle Bryce! and my first
party dress. Oh, mother, 1 am so
happy"
"You look it, and you deserve to
be-" said her older sister Madge, with
real emotion and not one bit Of envy.
ut is simply-peerless."
Mrs. Wilder was Il widow and poor.
True, her husband had left his family
a house and ten acres of land and it
was clear of encumbrance, but Ron
aid was too young to work. Madge
received a very small stipend as teach
err at the district school. Mrs. Wilder
was a partial invalid. Only for Wini-
fred's constant care of the little truck
garden and her economical household
management, they would never have
been able to make ends meet.
And now the sweet surprise, the
b%ewilderlng gift from Mrs. Wilder's
half brother. Winlfred had ever been
his favorite, and once a year he made
a flying visit TO these relatives. AL
ways after his departure there came
a package from the village. Two years
previous It had been n pretty toilet
set. His next visit he had sent a neat
little watch. Now
1t was certainly a beautiful dress,
and arrayed in its full magnifcence
Winifred was more lovely than ever.
1t had come in a box from the viii
lage emporium. 1t fitted exQuisitely.
"Uncle Bryce must have heard us
talking of the Durham party sug-
gested Madge. what taste for an old
bachelor, and what munifcence, for l
fancy that uncle is not over blessed
with this worlds goods"
For two days Winifred was in a
lutter of rare delight and anticipation.
She was not proud of show, nor vain,
but in every girls heart there is a
longing for the possession of the dainty
and elegant. The party dress was a
delicate blue with lace accompani-
ments that gave to it a gossamer
t%astefulneSs that made of it a positive
creation Of art.
There was not a speck of mud in the
country paths, yet Winifred guarded
her treasured dress from contact with
brush and earth as though she were
going to some coronation.
"You look just like a princess, sis"
approved her escort, Ronald, who saw
her as far us the Durham home and
: left her there. 81 suppose somebody
will fetch you back"
81 can come in the company of the
d, Websters," reminded Winifred. She
had never known a beau and did not
count on any break in the usual rou-
tine.
Winifred was radiant, and everybody
mt the function seemed pleased tC
= note the fact and emphasize 1t with
admlring compliments. There was q
young man present, a stranger to all
He came with a friend, Harry Lane
and was introduced as Walton Bell
= From the first his attentions were con
fined to Wlnifred. She was proud but
fluttered at this Partially. She was
still more pleased, but embarrassed
s when he insisted on escorting heI
u home. 1t was the great event in heI
life. She thought of him %longingl!
: as she left him at the gate and sh'
n wondered If she were really prett.
and attractive, as she glanced in he
mirror later, flushed and excited.
{ at won't do, but I've met my fate
/. murmured Walton Bell, as he wendet
his way to the home Of his friend
mo, 1t would not do at all" aud h
Il set his lips, and the beauty of the eve
e ming seemed spoiled by the memoir,
of what had brought him to Ridge
ton, for It was to call upon Miss Nor
ma Elsler the next day who, accord
a ing to his fond mother and the maneu
vering mother Of Miss Elsler, he wa
to wed In due time.
" They had been engaged since child
a hood. BE had seen Norma only twice
She had appeared "well enough" bu
now love. real love had sprung up 1
= his heart and he balkedl
y "What is that?" inquired WinifreC
coming into the house from a nelgl
! boris the next afternoon and glancln
y at a box on the table.
n "It's the dress Uncle Bryce reall
h bought for you" explained her mothe'
/. "There has been a dreadful mistake
: and the delivery mar left you tn
wrong bundle. l returned 1t. This
what really belongs to you"
Wlnlfred neither pouted nor abuse
y Uncle Bryce as she opened the bo,
A neat house dress was revealed. Sh
It could not repress a sigh at the yivl
= contrast, the more so when st
thought OF the party-and Walto
mn