Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1918-02-19
DE
Wedding Dress
By Forcnes Lillian fisnd-rsoa

Nh Nuut WIS tuhius vacation. TO
the first time In his life he had th
money TO do Il with. and plenty of II
So novel was the situation that IN,
very opulence Of his pride required ,
definite plan as to how he should &c
' lid Of IL. Novelty, anticipation, I
new experience In freedom from car.
gave TO the experience the kecnesi
zest and pleasure.
The Ave thousand dollars my broth
er unexpectedly willed 70 me-" ruml
mated Martin. "sevtus to me like an un.
ending fortune"
He did not proceed 10 squnnder Il.
Martin did not know how. Years of
economy, thrift. perfect contentment
with the ordinary necessaries OF life
had trained him 30 be not only self
denying but conservative.
Il Will buy real good suit Of
Clothes" decided Martin, and he look
ed Immensely the better for IL. Il had
just vegetated all these years. I'll
do little waking up. Then I'll try and
find some nice. lazy. quiet little bust
hCSc W 10 INTO.
He went out for n walk. TO discover
a button gone from his new coat. II
put him In mind Of Mrs. Wilton at
once. His landlady had a few weeks
previous directed his attention to Mrs.
Wilton, a gentle. patient-faced old lady
who had seen better days. and. with
her unmarried daughter. Madgc, was
reduced to living In one room. Madge
worked at a dressmaklng establish
ment Her mother had indicated to
the landlady that she would be glaze to
take In light sewing and mendIng. SO
Martin had sent some of his belong
ings 20 Mrs. Wilton for repairs.
Then. one evening as he called for
his bundle on the floor two flights up,
the Wlltons were having tea. Mar
tin must take n cup OF tea, and he
passed.a most pleasant hour In the
company Of the widO~ and her daugh-
ter, the latter a tall, graceful girl
whose sweet beauty was married only
by traces Of overwtiN and the anxi-
ETY. Of getting along.
'Tve come 20 trouble you about a
hayward Overcoat button" reported
Martin, and Mrs. Wilton proceeded to
sew II on. Martin glanced about the
apartment. realizing n sense Of order
and coziness. His breath came quick
iy ms n daring suggestion entered his
mind.
by the way, Mrs. Wilton" he STAN
mered, "I-that is-rm having a va.
cation"
II hope You will enjoy IT," said the
widow brightly.
"rm afraid I don't know how to-"
half laughed Martin In ON embar-
raised way. 81 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 wlltonT'
They went. They made the trip In
a 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. "wish I had
met thcm--that is, Miss wIlton-be-
fore ! got so Ear along In life" He
was not yet thirty, and tried to be-
licve he was sednte and dull as an
old man OF sixty.
Martin roamed about all kinds OF
odd places TO put In the time. One
day he CHANGED 10 come upon sale
Of unclaimed express packages In an
auction room. A momentary invest
ment fever led him TO bid for little
wooden box and a long pasteboard
one. When he got them home he open =,
ed the wooden box first. II con-
talned a broken mechanism. apparent
Iy the invention OF some poor genius,
md the sight OF II saddened Martin.
Then surprise ensued. for opening the J,
pasteboard box he brought to light a
dainty silk wedding dress. AS he
swung the filmy robe about, II caught
on n bureau handle, and tore half way
down u seam.
"Whnt am. ever going 10 do with
~" cogltated Martin. "What non
sense have INDUCED int Oh, wen.
I'll get II mended and put II away.
Maybe some day-some day l may |
find someone 20 wear H."
81 shall have TO leave mending such !
delicate stun 20 Madge." said Mrs. :
Wilton, when Martin the next day took
her the torn wedding dress and ex-
planned Its possession as II II were a
huge Joke. He went up to see how
the work was getting on the next eve
ming. The door OF the Wilton apart
ment was niar. Mrs. Wilton had gone
out, but Madge stood before the mir
ror arrayed In the dress. She burst
upon his senses, rare vision OF
beauty.
"Oh, how loyelyr' cried Martin, Inn