The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-01
E0ening Story
The Trousseau.
By CORONA REMINGTON.

BY CORONA REMINGTON.
81 could stand just being a poor
little steamstress. Spry. altho it is a
tumble for Colonel Taintor's daughter,
! II only 1 didn't have to sew on gor-
geous wedding gowns and dainty I'M
| derwear. 1t makes me SO lonesome
and blue and simply can't keep from
! thinking of JIM when I'm working on
| them. If his health hadn't broken
down and he hadn't gone away or If
would rather have married him sick
than not at ALL But what's the use
OF frettipg, Spry?" the girl broke off,
| Mother has to be kept in medicines
and comforts, and If it takes trous-
seaux to do it then, trousseaux III
=. make-that's ALL"
/ The collie lying at Evelyn Taiptor's
feet opened one brown eye lazily. gave
/ two feeble flops to his bushy tail and
closed his eye again. He was accus-
toned to hearing her talk to him and
| he knew that he would have no peace
until he showed some sign OF under
standing and sympathy. so he mad Ions
ago formed the habit of wagging his
tail in his sleep whenever he heard
his name mentioned.
The girl stitched away busily on the
tiny, handsome tucks and tried to
make herself believe that she enjoyed
the soft radiance on Miss Connor's
face when she came to be fitted.
when do I have to come back to
be tried on?" Miss Conner asked the
next time she came.
"It won't be necessary for week
or so. You see were practically the
same size-except for the best dresses
can get along pretty well without
you"
THAT'S a, fact, tho I never noticed
1t before" said Dorothy.
Evelyn worked early and late on the
-. ~cfV Vi
and with as much interest as IL they
were to be hers.
When at last the wedding dress was
finished Evelyn wrapped it tenderly in
tissue paper and put it in its box. 1t
was a wonderful thing of purest white
away she could not sleep for thinking
about it. In the dark she could see 1t
in front of her shimmering white
each fold in its place.
Give never tried 1t on. wonder
how I'd look in it, she said.
Without taking time to think she
leaped out of bed and flashed on the
light. For a long while she sat in
front of her mirror fixing her hair in
its softest, most girlish way. then she
out into the dark sewing room. At
every step she stopped to listen for
sound from her mothers room, but
she was still sleeping quietly.
The nextNm orning she rose early and
went to work on prosy underwear but
to Evelyn nothing was prosy any more.
Each garment seemed alive to her and
she worked with a feeling of love
toward them.
Her reflections were interrupted by
the tingling of the telephone at her
elbow.
Miss Taintor2" said a voice at the
other ends
yes"
This is Dorothy Conner. II just |
wanted to say that I Shan't need the |
Do anything you like with !
it-throw it away-give it |
away; I don't carez-I never want to |
the bill" a--1'fa-
with a sob Miss Common hung up |
the receiver and for moment Evelyn |
sat in her chair stunned. She went |
thru the DAYS work mechanically, |
scarcely reali ng what she was doing.
1t must have been year later that |
Evelyn read of Miss Connor's elope-
ment with Tom birmingham.
That cay she got out the almost for |
gotten trousseau and had another dress |
rehearsal.
81 felt bitter toward it for a while |
after she split up. but guess I love i
it again now and I'll keep tits |
MINE" she tofd herself.
81 really am so wonderful in this |
dress" she couldn't help eonfessing |
to herself as a few minutes later she |
stood once more in front of the long
The door bell rang sharply and |
Evelyn held up her hands in dismay.
What should she do? II it rang
again it would certainly wake her
mother who was just getting a little |
nap after a night of pain. She |
slipped down the hall and opening
the door crack put her head around
the corner.
'J-Jim! oh. Jim!" she said. rush
Good Lord. Evelyn!" he ex-
claimed staring at the gown. at
can't be SO. Don't-don't say this is
hoping you'd waited for me. I
dropped our correspondence because
my recovery was SO uncertain 1
didn't feel had the right to ask you
to wait"
Then she told him all about the
trodsseau.
and get married. he pleaded. Il
don't want any more scares like this
from you. You'll never know what
it's been like hoping and praying
and waiting and wondering and fight
ing all the time-fighting an almost |
hopeless fight
'Ive hoped and prayed and waited
and wondered too, but it's all been
SO very worth while,'- she sighed
happily as she crept a little closer
into his strong arms and let the tears
of joy fall UNDECIDED on his coat.
1921, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)
~ ~ r. IT