Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-16
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
RUTHS WEDDING DRESS
By Josephine Murphy

D U'TH was making her wedding dress /;
~ dainty gown of fine sheer white
organdy and cobweb lace. just such a
dress as she had dreamed of having ever
since the day Alan White had put lit
tie ring, with its three blue turquoises.
on her slender brown finger.
Isn't it pretty?" she said wistfully.
I'm real glad we made out to manage
It. Your father thought at first that
It was foolish to spend money on h
white dress when you needed so many
other things. But insisted. l remem-
bered when l was married. I wanted a
white dress. too, but they all said 1t was
such foolishness that | gave up the ide,,
and was married in my brown silk But
as / have ever since wanted one | was
determined you should have yours.
Dear me; There's Miss Helen COM
ing across the field :"
Irene, who had entered a few minutes
before, ran and opened the door for
her, while Ruth hurredly gathered up
her ruffles. Mother. help me get these
out OF sight, Miss Helen mustn't see
this dress She's such an old gossip"
Although the dress and ruffies were
safely tucked away before Helen came
in, her sharp eyes did not fail to notice
piece OF lace on the carpet, and a
white rhread clinging to Ruth's skirt,
She had a feeling something unusual
was taking place. but said nothing about
| IT. although she prolonged her visit, and
| talked until Ruth almost lost her pa
| tience.
So Helen went home without having
been taken into Ruths confidence
! Neither Miss Helen nor any one else in
Westwood was destined to see that
dress of Ruths.
Irene who was inclined to be absent
minded, entered the room shortly after
to curl ner hair. She lit the lamp. gave
a little 'pouf" at the match and tossed
II carelessly away, In another minute
Ruth's dress lay heap of charred rags
When Ruth came in and beheld the
remains of the gown she had made
with such pride and delight a flood OF
tears streamed down her pale cheeks
She would now have to wear her dark
blue silk, and it wouldn't seem like a
| wedding at all
After tea Mrs. Mills went over to Miss
Helen and poured out the dismal story
| This young lady listened intently, and
for once was not forward with COM
| ment.
After Mrs, Mills had left to go uptown
! shoulders and wended her way across
the meadow to the Mills's homestead.
She found Ruth curled up on the sofa,
her head buried in pillow. She sat
down beside her.. putting her arms
aNsa arHHpd the little figure she pressed pre- !,
about it. dear" she whispered, "and I'm
so sorry. Don't cry any more. Come
over to my house, I've something to
| show you"
Having reached Miss Helens house
they went upstairs to the second floor
on which were four rooms. Pausins
before the door of one, she turned tc
Ruth and said tremulously: I've never
taken any one in here before, This was
my room long ago, when / was young
girl. I've never used 1t since-since
put girlhood behind me forever"
Opening the door, she went to ;
chintz-coSered chest near the window
and opened 1t. A sweet, faint spicines
fioated up into the room as she liftel
lin, ivory tinted, from its long seclu
sion.
This, Ruth, was to have been m!
wedding dress" said Helen softly. "Lonl
ago | was engaged to a young sea cap
tain. When he left to go on his las
voyage ! promised to marry him whel
he returned, but his ship was lost, wit
all on board, during terrific storm. NJ
youth and happiness died then; No"
Ruth, I want you to take 1t to be mar
ried in"
"Oh, dear Miss Helen!" cried Rut
tenderly, II couldn't; why, II woul
SEEM"
Wait dear" interrupted Helen. .
don't want you to think l am maxim
any sacrifice in giving you this dress
I've always wanted to see II worn
a bride that is what 1t was made for'
Thank you" said Ruth. "oh, dea
Miss Helen, thank you"
No bride could have looked sweete
and fairer than Ruth on her weddin
day, and Miss Helen wept tears OF 10!
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