Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-01
The Daily
Short Story
THE WEDDING DRESS.
BY Florence Lillian Hendersoa

For the first time in ten years MAJ.
tin Wade was taking a vacation. n,
the first time In his life he had =.
money to do it with. and plenty a 3
So novel was the situation that -.
very opulence Of his pride requires
definite plan as to how he should -
rid of it. Novelty, anticipated :
new experience in freedom from 49,
gave to the experience the keene:
zest and pleasure.
THE five thousand dollars my brnA.
er Unexpectedly willed to me-. mn
mated Martin, seems to me like An n
ending fortune"
He did not propose to squandee =
Martin did not know how. Year. =
economy. thrift, perfect conteptmsss
with the ordinary necessaries Of M
had trained him to be not only ~.
denying but conservative.
Il will buy real good suit a
Clothes" decided Martin, and he Iool.
ed immensely the better for II. ~
just vegetated all these years. mi A
little waking up. Then I'll try ~
find some nice, lazy, quiet ittlo -.
ness to go into"
He went out for a walk, to discovs,
a button gone from his new coat n
put him in mind of Mrs. Wilton =
once. His landlady had few weefs
previous directed his attention to Nh
Wilton, gentle. patient-faced old lalv
who had seen better days, and. mn
her unmarried daughter, Madge, m
reduced to living in one room. MaAse
worked at dressmaking estshllaS.
ment. Her mother had indicated IA
the landlady that she would b slad
to take in light sewing and mendIne.
So Martin had sent some Of his b.
longings to Mrs. Wilton for repairs,
Then, one evening, as he called far
his bundle on the floor two flights m.
the Wiltons were having tea. Mr..
tin must take a cup Of tea, and h
passed a most pleasant hour In III
company of the widow and her daush.
ter, the latter tall, graceful iii
whose sweet beauty was marred only
by traces Of overwork and the and.
ETY. of getting along.
"I've come to trouble you about 1
hayward overcoat button" reported
Martin and Mrs. Wilton proceeded %
sew it on. Martin glanced about tie
apartment, realizing sense Of order
and coziness. His breath came quick.
ly as a daring suggestion entered bic
mind.
by the way, Mrs. Wilton" he STAN.
mered, "I-that is-Im having vaca-
ton"
II hope you will enjoy it," said the
widow brightly.
I'm afraid I don't know how TO-
half laughed Martin in an embar-
raised way. Il feel sort of lonesome,
away from the office. Would you.
that is, do you think you would enjoy
going to the theatre with me-you and
Miss Wilton?"
| They went. They made the trip IN
a taxi cab. There was a supper after
wards. Mr. Wade, you have given
me the pleasantest evening Of my lie,
said Mrs. Wilton when they reached
home, and Madge looked her thanks
with grateful eyes.
'They are fine people," communcd
Martin with himself. Wish l had
met them-that is. Miss Wilton-be-
fore | got so far along in life HI
was not yet 30. and tried to believe b
was sedate and dull as an old man d
60.
Martin roamed about all kinds d
odd places to put in the time. On(
day he CHANGED to come upon sall
of unclaimed express packages u O
auction ROOM A momentary iuveG
ment fever led him to bid for lttilt
wooden box and a. long pastehoart
one. When he got them home he open
ed the wood box first. 1t Con-
itained a broken mechanism. apparent
ly the invention of some poor genius
and the sight of it saddened Martin
Then surprise ensued, for opening ~
Dashboard box he brought to light {
dainty silk wedding dress. Az y
swung the filmy robe about, 1t caus1'
on bureau handle, and tore hall VI!
down a seam.
What am l ever going to do wa
IT." cogitated Martin. What n@'
sense have l INDUCED in? Oh. well
Nh have it mended and put 1t away
Maybe some day-some day l M!
find someone to wear It,"
II shall have to leave mending suci
delicate stuff to Madge," said Nh
Wilston, when Martin the next dal
took her the torn wedding dress on
explained its possession as II 1t va
a huge Joke. He went up to see nov
the work was getting on the nea'
evening. The door of TIE Wilton apan
ment was ajar. Mrs. Wilton had eon'
out, but Madge stood before the mn
ror arrayed in the dress. She ouIs
upon his senses, a rare vision
beauty.
"Oh, how lovely" cried Martin. M
petuously, and Madge turned, oluso
ing like peony. 80.
Il was trying it on TOTO see ~
mending showed she explained GU
fusedly.
"You must keep 1t, Miss Whtou'
fioundered Martin. What use hae
for it? 1t becomes you so. and se@'
time-some time"
And there Martin Wade took cou.,
age. Miss Wilton-Madge, ne -
huskily, I've got to say 1t. keep
and wear it-for me- I'm going
you to marry me, for love you. - -
the frank, plain confession was 80 ~
cere that Madge knew that sne coss -
trust this man of sterling worm ~
her happiness.
GIRLS! HERE IS WAY