Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-08-23
= CUPID IN RAGS
By CARRIE M. PALMER.
. by Mcclure Newspaper syndica,e.)

tion, then red with joy when the post
mistress, instead of the usual sympa-
thetic and apologize, Nothing today,
Miss Ann" smilinsly 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 inquisitiveness
and the recipients incOherent replies
to her ncighbOrly chatter added ftel 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 a 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, "pleasure-marriaGe-
her ewes missed several lines, while
the world seemed slipping away, their
daughter" The world came back.
elaine" brought back polgnantly with
a little shiver of humiliation, Of which
she was ashamed, but which she could
not suppress, the day when Philip mad
brought his aristOcratic mother ana
sister to call, and dear old Aunt Mar
tha's invitation to stay to supper, eat
en- in the spOtl9ss little kitchen.
Well, she didn't have to bother about
thinking Of going to the wedding, any,
way, that was out of the question. Phll
had only sent the invitation to be po-
lite. He knew she couldn't afford TO
60 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 vacuum which
nothing could fill.
But a wedding present-she simply
must send wedding present, ana the
thought presented a serious problem.
AIMS soul carried weighty secret,
one which she couldn't share with lov-
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 Il few vague IDEAS
about trusting maidenS and men VINO
loved and rode away, and her loyal
heart deeply resented Philip Cartarets S
cavalier behavior, but she respected
AIMS reticencc and his name was
never mentioned between them.
Ann had subscribed to number OF
New York papers since Philip had
left, terrible extravaganza, and every
morning when the mail came In she
| hastened to the leafy retreat which
she and Phil had discovered and made
theh own, and with beating heart Gag
ery scanned the news Of the great
CITY. which was only name to her, as
1t 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 I'm
gers tore and braided and sewcd. Aunt
Martha grumbled cheerfully over the
| dainty cOOrs which Ann insisted
should 90 in, her proSaic soul craving
serviceabe colors, but the rug that
! grew under the nimble fingers OF the
girl who was weaving all the beauty or
her own love drama into the reality OF
another's was fairy rug of dainty
blue and pink and white, with daring
daShcS of black, and as a piece de re-
sistance, the center was made from
! the odds and ends of the materlnr~iett
from the very same sprigged muslin
which Philip had so loved to see his
Dream Girl wear.
At last iG was done and dispatched,
| the rosy cloud in which Ann had been
living mySteriouSly disappeared ana
! life became once more dull gray and
! the days empty.
A few days before the wedding the
! paper contained an account Of the cclh-
ing ceremony, 4 list of the fashionable
! bridesmaids and of the beautiful, cost
] ly gifts which had been sent The pros
pective bride. AS she read, Ann face
burned with shame. All ut once her
| gift, into which she had woven so
much love, seemed ridiculous, and her
very soul seemed To shrink from hu-
initiation. Even the eagerly waited
for acknowledge pn,, # only q f0rmal