The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-06-03
CUPID IN RAGS
BY CARRIE M. PALMER.
(@ by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate)

Mary Ann Schuyler-how she hated
| the name, that is, the Mary Ann part.
for one must admit Schuyler did sound
rather nice-turned white with emo
ton, then red with joy, when the post
mistress, instead of the usual sympa-
thetic and apologize. Nothing today.
Miss Ann" smilingly reached into the
Schuyler box. The imposing envelope,
the size of WHICH had never before
been seen in rural Springdale, had ex-
cited the good lady's inquisitive2ess
and the recipients incoherent replies
to her neighborly chatter added fuel to
| the flame.
But the little trill of music that went
dancing up and down Mary AIMS heart
strings descended into bass when she
saw the unknown handwriting. To one
to whom letter was an event, such an
aristocratic envelope. to say the least,
should have been opened with anticipa-
tory curiosity, but Mary Ann seemed
alphabetically disinterested and plodded
wearily home, wondering why the sun
/ had gone down so early.
But when she came to her favorite
thinking place." so full of memories,
| she opened the letter. Mr.. and Mrs.
Stephen Cartaret." her heart skipped
several beats, 'pleasureTmarriage-"
her eyes missed several lines, while
the world seemed slipping away, "their
daughter" The world came back.
Elaine" brought back poignantly with
a little SILVER of humiliation. of which
| she was ashamed, but which she could
not suppress, the day when Philip had
/ brought his aristocratic mother and
sister to call, and dear old Aunt Mar
tha's invitation to stay to supper, eat
en- in the spotless little kitchen.
Well, she didn't have to bother about
| thinking Of going TO the wedding, any,
way, that was out Of the question. Phil
had only sent the invitation to be po-
| lite. He knew she couldn't afford to
go to New York, and didn't have any
clothes but the sprigged dimity which
she had worn on that never-to-be-for-
gotten night when she had met him.
And then he had gone back TO college
and suddenly his letters had ceased
and Ann was left with a vacuum which
nothing could fill.
/ But a wedding present-she simply
must send wedding present, and the
/ thought presented serious problem.
AIMS soul carried a weighty secret,
/ one which she couldn't share with low
| ing, misunderstanding Aunt Martha,
who couldn't see any difference be-
| tween her beloved niece with her
sweet, simple ways and sophisticated
Elaine Cartaret, unless, indeed, the
| difference was greatly in favor of Ann.
Aunt Martha had a few vague ideas
about trusting maidens and men who
loved and rode away. and her loyal
heart deeply resented Philip Cartaret's
cavalier behavior, but she respected
| AIMS reticence and his name was
never mentioned between them.
Ann had subscribed to a number of
| New York papers since Philip had
| left, terrible extravaganza, and every
morning when the mail came in she
/ FASTENED TO the leafy retreat which
/ she and Phil had discovered and made
/ their own, and with beating heart Gag
/ erly scanned the news of the great
| city, which was only a name to her, as
it seemed to bring Philip and his world
nearer. This morning she read the
pages mechanically, her subconscious
mind thinking wedding present.
Hand Made Rag Rugs for Sale"
| Rag rugs! She caught her breath.
Instantly her mind registered picture
of Elaine's spontaneous enthusiasm
over the beautifully braided rugs
which Ann herself had made from ne
cessity. And Elaine had said they
were all the rage in New York and
people were paying all kinds of prices
/ for them.
The next few days were busy ones
Aunt Martha dyed and AIMS busy fin
gers tore and braided and sewed. Aunt
Martha grumbled cheerfully over the
dainty colors which Ann insisted
should go in, her prosaic soul craving
serviceable colors, but the rug that
grew under the nimble fingers of the
girl who was weaving all the beauty Of
her own love drama into the reality Of
another's was fairy rug Of dainty
blue and pink and white, with daring
daShes of black, and as piece de re-
sistance, the center was made from
the odds and ends of the material left
from the very same sprigged muslin
which Philip had so loved to see his
Dream Girl wear.
AT last it was done and dispatched,
the rosy cloud in which Ann had been
living mysteriously disappeared and
life became once more dull gray and
the days empty.
A few days before the wedding the
paper contained an account of the COM
ing ceremony, list of the fashionable
bridesmaids and of the beautiful, cost
~ gifts which had been sent the pros
pective bride. AS she read, AIMS face
burned with shame. All at once her
gift, into which she had woven so
much love. seemed ridiculous, and her
very soul seemed to shrink from hui
initiation. Even the eagerly waited
for acknowledgment, if only formal
one. had not arrived
So deep was her depression that
even the cracking branches did not
break her reverie until deep, vibrant
voice startled her into almost unbeliev-
able ecstasy. She cared not one whit
for his explanations The past was
gone. the present was enough. But the
future: well. Elaine's wedding was
double enc and Philip always teasing
ly declared thar hoth brides vorp totaI-