The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-17
EDening Story
Nancy,s Pride.
BY KATE EDMONDS.

Mother, would rather remain at
home than go to the dance in that old
blue gown" cried Nancy Deering. Il
know perfectly well that every one
there has seen it dozens of times, and
of course I cannot have a new one
now am not complaining would
really rather not go at all"
"Fm rather tired of the old crowd
1 her mother saw the red lips culver and
| she knew it was because Carolyn
| Wright would be there with a group
of young girls and men from the city,
and that Paul Mason might be among
them. Paul had been very devoted to
| Nancy the winter before and people
| had expected them to marry, but the
| last dancing party had come and gone
and no word had been asked and he
had gone back to the city and Nancy
| had fortified herself behind a little
wall of pride and gone everywhere,
but her observant mother had noticed
| that she did not wear the rose-colored
dress again. 1t was charming dress
| of soft rose satin and Nancy had look
| ed like a rose herself as she danced
| the evening thru. Almost any man
would have capitulated to its allure
ment, but Paul must have been made
of sterner stuff for he rode away and
| Nancy was still free, and there was
cloud in her eyes which had not been
there before.
'FWhy don't you wear the rose satin,
Nancy?" asked her mother.
Nancy paled and for moment she
| hid her face in her mothers lap. Il
cannot, mother dear: it is such
| happy dress" she whispered.
Mrs. Deering bent and kissed the
brown head. Wearing a happy dress
might bring happiness back to you,
to Nancy's heart OF course Pau
would never come back again. but
wearing it would. help her to fo&get
him, forget his fickleness. She mad
learned to love the big shy fellow. and
she believed that that last night at
the club dance, when she had worn
the rose satin dress, he would nave
said something about his love, but he
had gone sober1y away.
So she did not wear the blue dress,
but came running down in the rose
colored satin looking like her old self.
Her mother admired her from the
crown of her bronze hair to the little
trim ankles and silver shoes. Mrs:
Wright said Paul was coming"
thought Mrs. Deering, land perhaps
my girl will be happy after all!'
Nancy went away in her happiness
dress and mingled with the youth and
beauty on the clubroom floor Her
card was nearly full when a big form
blocked off other partners and
familiar voice caused her heart to
throb madly. i
How do you do, Nancy? Have you
any dances Ieft?" It was Paul Mason,
looking thinner and graver, but his
smile was the same and the wistful
look in his brown eyes brought the
color flying to her cheeks. !
"You are wearing the same little
Dress" he said after awhile
'sThis-rose dress ?'' Nancy won
dered how he could remember
i'Yes-you had it on the last time 1
danced with you"
Nancy did not tell him this was the
first time she had worn it since that
unhappy night, which had begun so
full of promise and ended, in tears for
her. 81 call it my happiness dress
she said. determined that he should
not guess that she had grieved for
him.
'.And you have been happy in it?"
he asked.
Her eyes flashed him an affirmative,
and he looked down at her pink cheeks
and the dark lashes that lay thickly
against their roundness.
Afterward when he was leaning
against the wall, watching Nancy
dance with Marty Wright, two girls
began to speak of the rose dress Nancy
wore.
"she hasn't worn it in ages" said
II thought it was a new one said
the other. "She's been wearing blue
silk and white one-I never saw this
one before"
at was new last winter for the club
dance remember she wore it once
and hasn't had it sheets L dar-
ling, isn't it ?" she cried enthusiastic
cally.
Paul had the next dance with Nancy
and he led her straight away out of
the house to the pergolas which over
looked the water. Nancy. are you
happy in your dress % he asked.
"Why not?'' she asked co1diy-
IT must know!" he declared pas
sionately.
She turned her Lead away and he
saw tears on the thick lashes. Tell
me, dear" he insisted. Il am asking
because
Nancy cried softly.
Presently she lifted her head and
smiled at him. 81 am so foolish to
cry when have my happiness dress
| on" she said, but isn't that just like
woman?"
He caught her hand and held it.
Nancy. did you read my note -
what note?'
when you wore this dress before
1 put note in th;. little lacy pocket
| in the SASH was sure you'd find it
-ah, beloved, it is here, sealed and
you have never known how 1 love you
| Il wanted you to answer and tell me
| if you cared-I was scared stiff in
those days-but now my tongue is
| loosed. If you hadn't worn this dress
tonight I would not have dared hope
-"
my happiness dress a1ways!" cried
| Nancy tearfully. AID then Paul kissed
away her tears so it was a happiness
| face too that was lifted to his.
! Copyright, 1921, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
|