Graham guardian., 1918-10-04
T5e
Wedding Dress.
B, Flo'snes Lillian Hsadepc.

the first time In. his Life be had the
money to do II with, and plenty Of II,
So novel was the situation that tlie
very opulence of his pride required a.
definite plan as, to how he, should get
rid of it.i Novelty, anticipation, a
new experience in freedom from care
gave to the experience the keenest
zest and pleasure. ~.
"The five thousand dollars my broth.
er Unexpectedly willed to me-" rufni-
mated Martin, seems to me nike an uha
ending fortune" u
He did not proceed to sQuander It.
Martin did not know how. Years Of
economy, thrift. perfect contentment
with the ,ordlnary necessaries of life
had trained him to be not only self
denying but conservative.
II will buy a real good suit Of
Clothes" decided Martin. and he look
ed immensely the better for 1t. Il had
just yegetated all these years. I'll
do O little waking up. Then Ill try and
find some nice. lazy, quiet little busi-
ness to 60 into"
u
a button gone from his new coat. Il
put him in mind of Mrs. Wilton at
once. His landlady had few weeks
previous directed his attention to Mrs.
Wilton. a gentle, patient-faccd old lady
who had seen better days, and. with
her unmarried daughter, Madge. was
reduced to living In one room. Madge
worked at a dressmaking establish
ment.' Her mother had indicated to
the landlady that she would be glad to
| take In light sewing and mending. So
Martin had sent some of his belong
ings to Mrs. Wilton for repairs.
| Then, one evening as he called for
his bundle on the floor two flights up.
the Wiltons were having tea. Mar
| tin must take cup of tea. and he
| passed a most pleasant hour In the
i company of the widow and her daugh-
ter, the latter q, tall. graceful girl
| whose sweet beauty was marred only
by traces of overwork and the anxi-
ETY. Of getting along.
Tive come to trouble you about q
wayward overcoat button" reported
Martin, and Mrs. Wilton proceeded to
sew 1t on. Martin glanced about the
apartment, realizing sense Of order
and cozlness. His breath came quick
ly as daring suggestion entered his
mind.
| by the way, Mrs. Wilton" he stam-
mered, "I-that is-rm having q va
cation"
II hope you will enjoy It," said the
widow brightly.
| "rm afraid I don't know how to-"
half laughed Martin in an embar-
rassed way. II feel sort Of lonesome,
away from the Office. Would you
that is, do you think you would enjoy
going to the theater with me-you and
Miss Wilton?"
They went. They made the trip In
taxi cab. There was a supper aft
erwards. Mr.. Wade, you have given
me the pleasantest evening Of my llfe,"
said Mrs. Wilton when they reached
home, and Madge looked her thanks
with grateful eyes.
"They are fine people" communed
Martin with himself. swish l had
met them-that is, Miss wilton-be-
| fore / got so far along In life." He
was not yet thirty. and tried to be-
lieve he was sedate and duh as an
| old man Of sixty.
Martin roamed about all kinds Of
odd. places to put In the time. One
day he chanced to come upon d sale
Of unclaimed express packages In sn
auction room. A momentary intest-
ment fever led him to. bid for httle
wooden box and lsng pas teboard
one. When he got them ,home'lle open
ed the wooden box first. II con-
tained a broken mechanism, apparent
ly the invention Of some poor genius.
and the sight Of 10 saddened Martin.
Then surprise ensued, Cor opening the
pasteboard box he brought to light .
dainty silk wedding dress. As he
swung the filmy robe about, II caught
on bureau handle. and tore half way
down seam. =
Il "what am ever going to do with
itf" cogitated Martin. ''what non.
sense have I indulged inf Oh. well.
I'll get 1t mended md put It away.
Maybe some datlnsoufe day I may
find someone to,wear'lt.r'
II 81 shall have to, leave mehding such
delicate. sfdit to Madge,", said Mrs.
Wilton, when Martin the pext dag. took
her the. .tsfn wedding dress and ex,
plainedtits possession as II II were q
huge Joke. He went up to see, pow
the work was getting on the next eve
ming. The door Of the witttn apart
ment was ajar. Mrs. Wilton had gone
out. but, Mqdge stood before the mir
ror arrayed IN the dress She burst
upon his senses. a rafs Vision OF
: beauty. - n,
"oh. how lovely n, cried Martin, i'm
, petuously, and Madse turned, .blushins
like peony. ~ d" ),
"T was trying 1t oh toto see n the
mendlng showed" she exraainedi con.
fusedly. +" - :.
you must keep It, Miss Wilton"
fioundered Martin. "what use have
for TT IT becomes yoii ~, and some
time-some time"
And there Martin Wade took coyr.
age. fn'Miss wilton-+Madge," he said
huskty. "rve got' 10 SAY It. Keep Il
aud wear it7-for me. I'm going to ask
You to marry me, fof I love you." Aid
the frank, plain confession was SO sim
cafe that MatiUe kufew that she co,fli