Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-01

get the satin out to show to her, and
when she grew older her mother
promised that it should be hers for a
wedding dress. When Barbara was in
her teens, a slim shy girl with smooth
brown hair and bright cheeks, she used
to steal to the highboy and look at the
satin. stroking its folds and seing Wis
ions. Once she even took it out and
draped it about her shoulders before
the mirror. but she never told anyone
Of that
Aunt Roberta who had sent this rich
gift to the little gray farmhouse. had
been a very beautiful and wonderful
person. She had not stayed at home
and married one Of the village boys or
a neighboring farmer. but she had gone
away to the city. There she had worked
at something until her prince cane
along, and after that. rumor had it
rage. She had sent back money, too.
and bits Of castoff finery. But Aunt
Roberta was dead now that Barbara
was grown, and the white satin was her
most tangible monument to tho girl.
barbara never looked at It without be-
ing reminded Of her annt.s romance,
and wondering whether she, too. would
one day meet a prince. But the years
went on until she was tventy-eight
ana inc WHO osAA WILL Aey ga 40 PAo00
Of honor.
'Barbara don't seem to get much no.
tice from the boys, does she" remarked
Aunt Amelia to Barbara's mother dur
ing the course Of an afternoon visit.
Mrs. Gilman bridled little. Such re-
marks put mothers on the defensive.
.Oh. I don't know" she said. BAR
bAra's mighty particular. She hasn't
cared for anyone since Morgan Burns
went away. l guess she could have had
him, if she'd chosen"
well, he's a fine young fellow. met
Mrs. Burns only yesterday and she said
Centennial. I didn't ask II he was mar
ried, but suppose he Is. Morgan must
be thirty one or two by now"
Barbara was IN the next room sew
ing. She had not meant to listen, but
she could not help hearing Morgan
Burns name. Morgan Burns! She had
tried not to think Of him for such q
long. long time: To hear h',f mother
speak Of him in such a way sent a
swift wave OF color to the girls cheeks;
she laid down her work and stole out
to the shady orchard to be alone. Five
years before she had meant to marry
Morgan Burns. but there had been :
misunderstanding between them and
he had gone to the city shortly after.
It was Morgan she had been thinking
Of the day she draped the white satin
about her shoulders: she had dreamed
Of him the times when she reverenti.'
stroked its folds. But that was an over
now-she would never wear tnat oress
for any prince. she suodenly resented
the fact that 1t should Ire there, warning
for something that would never come.
L believe, she resolved as sne say
alone in the orchard. that III make
that dress UP to wear at the Centen-
NAL
The celebration Of hhords Centen-
NAL was to be an elaborate one. All the
wanderers who could DO so were 10
come home, and there wore to De
pageant, an evening with pfoer1m,
and dance IN the town naul. Barr =.
was going to s1ng at the program. Sfe
Was generally accounted the pest 30
prano in the v1llage. and had sung IN
the church choir for years. 1t Wa
necessary tha1 she should nave souse
sort on new gown ior the occasion, aho
she had very ht1So money. why NOV
use the white satin! That vosHd eno
the matter. once ana Tor al.
HAVING oeco0d, bafDsaka Toceeo~
to pat her plan into action Her motn :
er and HORNED Aunt An,es1a FOUND nes
pinn1ng pattern ON the satin an hou.
or 80 later. indeed, sne nsao even Cut
into IT.
You're not going to use it," Aun'
Amelia exclaimed. Not to wear! why
Barbara, always thought il you d6dn'i