The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-04-06
The Party
Dress
By Florence L. Henderson


"Was there ever anything so beau
tiful?" exclaimed Mrs. Wilder, lost in
profound admiration.
"Oh mother, l am so happy could
cry" voiced pretty Winifred, her
daughter.
"Huh, uncle spread himself sure,
this timer chirped in her brother,
Ronald.
"And all l 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 1t, and you deserve to
be-" said her older sister Madge, with
real emotion and not one bit of envy.
at is simply-peeress."
Mrs. Wilder was a widow and poor.
True, her husband had left his family
house and ten acres Of land and it
was clear of encumbrance, but Ron
aid was too young to work. Madge
received 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
bewildering gift from Mrs. Wilder's
half brother Winifred had ever been
his favorite and once year he made
a flying visit to these relatives. Al
ways after his departure there came
Il package from the village. Two years
previous it had been a pretty toilet
set. His next visit he had sent a neat
little watch. Now
1t was certainly a beautiful dress,
and arrayed in it's full magniflcence
Winifred was more lovely than ever.
1t had come in box from the vii
iage emporium. 1t fitted exquisitely.
"Unce Bryce must have heard us
talking Of the Durham party" sug
gested Madge. "What taste for an old
bachelor, and what munificence, for
fancy that uncle is not over blessed
with this worlds goods"
For two days Winifred was in
flutter 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
tastefulness that made of 1t positive
creation Of art.
There was not 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 princess, sis"
approved her escort, Ronald, who saw
left her there. II suppose somebody
will fetch you back"
II can come in the company of the
Websters," reminded Winifred. She
had never known beau and did not
count on any break in the usual rou-
tine.
Winifred was radiant, and everybody
at the function seemed pleased to
note the fact and emphasize it with
admiring 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 Winifred. She was proud bu!
f1uttered at this partially. She was
still more pleased, but embarrassed
when he insisted on escorting hel
home. 1t was the great event in he1
life. She thought of him longngly
as she left him at the gate and she
wondered If she were really pretty
and attractive, as she glanced in hel
mirror later. flushed and excited.
ut won't do, but I've met my fate =
murmured Walton Bell, as he wendet
his way to the home Of his friend
mo, it would not do at all" and h
set his lips. and the beauty Of the eve
ming seemed spoiled by the memory
of what had brought him to Ridge
ton, for 1t was to call upon Miss Nor
ma Elsler the next day who, accord
ing to his fond mother and the maneu
vering mother of Miss Elsler, he was
to wed In due time.
They had been engaged since child
hood. He had seen Norma only twice
one Ildu dppeuTeu wen tHoubh, Du
now love, real love had sprung up II
his heart and he baked
"What is that?" inquired Winifred
coming into the house from neigh
boris the next afternoon and glancin;
at box on the table.
''It's the dress Uncle Bryce reall!
bought for you" explained her mother
''There has been a dreadful mistake
and the delivery man left you thu
wrong bundle. l returned 1t. This Il
what really belongs to you"
Winifred neither pouted nor abused
Uncle Bryce as she opened the box
A neat house dress was revealed. Sh'
could not repress a sigh at the vivi'
contrast, the more so when sh
thought Of the party-and Walton
Bell
Walton quickened his steps late
that same afternoon as he caugh
sight of reemingly familiar figure OF