Catoctin clarion., 1918-02-07
8ze
Wedding Dress
By Florence Lillian Henderson
Icopyright, 1917. Western Newspaper Unio


money to do it with, and plenty of it.
So novel was the situation that the
very opulence Of his pride required
definite plan as to how he should get
rid of 1t. Novelty, anticipation, u
new experience in freedom from care
zest and pleasure.
"Thc five thousand dollars my broth
er Unexpectedly willed to me-" ruml-
mated Martin, "seems to me like an un-
ending fortune"
He did not proceed to squander it.
Martin did not know how. Years of
economy, thrift, perfect cOntentment
with the ordinary necessaries Of life
had trained him to be not only self
denying but conservative.
II will buy q real good suit of
Clothes" decided Martin, and he look.
ed immensely the better for it, ~ had
just vegetated all these years, I'll
do u little waking up. Then I'll try and
find some nice, lazy, quiet little bust.
ness to go into"
u button gone from his new coat. 1t
put him in mind of Mrs. Wilton at
once. His landlady had few weeks
previous directed his attention to Mrs.
Wilton, Il gentle, patient-fuced old lady
who had seen better days, and, with
her unmarried daughter, Madge, was
reduced to living In one room. Madge
worked ut Il dreSsmaking establish
ment. Her mother had indicated to
the landlady that she would be glad to
take IN light sewing and meRding, SO
Martin had sent some OF his belong
ings to Mrs, Wilton for repairs.
Then, one evening us 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 most pleasant hour In the
company of the widow and her daugh-
ter, the latter tall graceful girl
whose sweet beauty was marred only
by traces Of Overwork and the anXi-
ETY. of getting along.
"rve come to trouble you about
wayward overcoat button," reported
Martin, and Mrs. Wilton proceeded to
sew 1t on. Martin glanced about the
apartment. realizing sense of order
and coziness His breath came quick
~ as daring suggestion entered his
mind.
"By the way Mrs. Wilton" he STAN
mered. "I-that is--Tm having va
cation"
81 hope you will enjoy It," said the
widow brightly.
"rm afraid l don't know how to-"
half laughed Martin in an emhar-
rassed way. ~ 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 supper aft
erwards. Mr. Wade, you have given
me the pleasantest evening of my life"
said Mrs. Wilton when they reached
home, and Madge looked her thanks
with grateful eyes.
"They are fine people" communed
Martin with himself. "Wish | had
met them-that is Miss Witon-br-
fore | got so far along in life" He
was not yet thirty, and tried to be-
ieve he was sedate and dull MS ar
old man of sixty,
Martin r0nmed about all kinds of
odd places to put in the time, One
day he Glanced to come upon sale
of unclaimed express packages In an
auction ROOM A momentary invest
mcnt fever led him to bid for little
wooden box and long pasteboard
one. When he got them home he open
ed the wooden box first 1t con-
tained n broken mechanism, apparent
" the invention of some poor genius.
and the sight of 1t saddened Martin.
Then surprise ensued, for opening the
pastebOard box he brought to light
dainty silk wedding dress. AS he
swung the filmy robe about II caught
on a bureau handle, and tore half way
down Il seam.
"What am ] ever going to do with
it?" cogitated Martin. "What non
sense have I indulged in? oh, well,
I'll get it mended and put ii away.
Maybe some day-some day l may
find someone to wear It,"
II shall have to leave mending such
delicate stuff to Madge" said Mrs.
Wilton, when Martin the next day took
her the torn wedding dress and OK
planned its possession as if it were
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 ajar. 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 lovely" cried Martin, i'm
petuously, and Madge turned, blushing
like peony.
II was trying it on TOTO see If the
mending showed" she explained con-
fusedly.
"You must keep it, Miss Wilton"
foundered Martin. what use have l
for 1t? It becomes you so. and some
time-some time"
And there Martin Wade took cour-
age. nMiss Wilton-Madge," he said
huskily, "rve got to say 1t, Keep it
and wear it-for me. I'm going to ask
you to marry me, for love you" And
the frank, plain confession was so sim
cere that Madge knew that she could
trust this man Of sterling worth with
her happiness.
Remove Smoke Stains.