South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-04-07
HOW MRS. STOCKBRIDGE &C
CFPTED THE STTCATION.


Mrs. Stockbridges mouth flew
opened in uncomfortable amazement
as she looked past Miss Holcombe
10 me.
"why-why," she stammered.
You're surely not going 10 wear
that spoiled dress!"
Who said anything about
spoiled Dress demanded Miss Hol-
cOmbe. Please revolve for the lady,
Mrs. Graham"
/ turned slowly around. giving my
hostess complete view Of the re-
furnished gown.
"a was sure that stuff wouldn't
CO - or" she blurted, and then
stopped short, flushing hotly at her
inadyertent admission.
1t didn't" Miss Holcombe retort-
ed dryly.
Then how?" She choked a bit on
the question. l saw that she was
raging with baffled malice, and won
dered whether Alice Holcombe was
wise TO tease her in the way she
was doing. l think the same thought
came TO my friend. for she dropped
her drawing. provocative tone,
spoke briefly and TO the point.
Real ScIf-ControI.
Why, you see, Mrs. Graham hap
pened to have a piece OF the goods
in her opera bag. but it wasn't un-
til she had tried on your dress-in-
deed had started 10 fix it--that We
happened TO discover the fact that
only one panel drapery Of her white
gown was touched by the calcimine.
IL was really no task at all TO re-
place IL with the new goods Don't
you think We did a good jOb?'
1 believe there were many emo
tons battling for utterance in Milly
Stockbridges soul Of which the
strongest was probably keen regret
that she had not done a more COM
plete job i'm the "calcimining' of my
gown. But TO the credit OF the self
control. which rumOr attributed 10
her recent sanatorium sojourn, she
crushed them all down. forced ner
lips 10 a smile and her voice TO
courtesy, although both smile and
voice were decidedly acid.
Indeed, you have succeeded ad-
mirably." she said, then with
touch of stiffness: Did you get very
far with the alteration of my gown
before you found out Mrs. Graham 3
could be fixed?"
Nothing that cannot be put back
easily" Alice Holcombe replied
Simply a couple OF seams ripped
I'll run over tomorrow anG put
them back"
You needn't trouble" Mrs.
Stockbridge retorted quickly, then
Stlny to me. Shall We go down.
stairs now?"
The voice of the maid, Christine,
interrupted.
IF you please, ma'am. these just
came. 1t. Graham says they're with
his compliments"
\ Happy Transition.
She was laden with three florists
boxes. In her surprise Mrs. Stock
bridge stepped backward, and l sig
nailed 10 the girl TO lay her bur
den upon the bed. 1 knew that
Dicky had intended providing flow
ers for his hostess, Miss Holcombe
and myself, but in the excitement
over my gown had completely for
promptly seized the opportunity to
obliterate the incident of the gown.
Three, count 'em. threel" she eX-
claimed. BY the pricking Of my
thumbs l feel one must be for me.
But what have / done to deserve
it?"
Yet. unworthy as you are,
Knocked. zone is certainly for you.
Come, let's open them"
! opened my opera bag, took out
a pair Of scissors, shipped the cords
from all three boxes and handed
the ones marked for the other wom-
en- 70 them. In another moment the
room was full of the fragrance of
roses, also of EXPLANATIONS OF plea
sure from all of US. Even Milly
Stockbridge's dark, spiteful face was
lighted at the glowing crimson roses
which were in her box, while Alice
Holcombe's eyes as she lifted the
deep. creamy blossoms with the
golden hearts from their tissue