Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-09-03
Marfa's Wedding
Gown
By MARTHA MAcWILLIAMS.

s. 1921, by Mcclure Newspaper syndlcatep
Marta held to religion Of hate
against huu>cwork A vain piece she,
proud of her soft hands with taper
fingers aud filbert shaped nails. Her
dream was to SIT In airy fury gar.
mcnts in softly lighted spaces evolv-
ing beauty from gny-colored woods and
rich silks or turning lace aud linen
into garments fine enough for II prin-
cess. She loved rich and fine textures
and had an artists senslblity to col
or SILK especially fascinated her;
she gloated over her scant store az II
with an approach TO miser JOY. In
way that was lucky ali around
Her parents were just people Of the
old fashion. and somewhat narrow.
When she was done with school aud
restless In too-abundant leisure, they
had settled her problem by offering
her wages to stay and help her moth
rr. who was In Vigorous middle age.
Ncighbors had laughed at first
Maria had a soft snap. Mrs. Lane
would do all the hard things and her
daughter get tidy sum for stand
Ing by. There they reckoEed with
out either mother or daughter Shirk
ing was impossible 10 them-MHrfa
did her full share. But not for love
of those needing II instead. for 'cve
Of silk.
She put by her money TO buy her
fill Of II. permitting her parents to
clothe her in things fit for a working
girl. So the savings mounted steadily.
albeit now and then Maria was
tempted by II scarf. length Of rare
weave fascinating in color and texture,
biz Of satin or brocnde truly royal.
Nobody sought to hinder such spend
lngs: an only daughter, even II rebel
louS against environment. Is too
precious Ia be crossed needlesSly Be-
sides the elders were sympathetic to-
ward Marfas longings. She came by
them honestly. They themselves were
+ plain folk. but Grandma Marklen had
been Just the same. She had craved
saved and boarded and nj last died
Of shock and grief when her trunk
fulS Of finery were burned uninsured
cynthy, eldest daughter. sole inheritOr
In her generation OF grandma's pas
sion, was thought by the two younger
girls to have borrowed several espe-
! cialy gorgeous things Just before the
fire
But she denied having them--so
/ there the matter rested. The deny
ing had made GOODNESS between the
sisters. but Cynthy. in her city home
cared little for that
She had married well; widower
twice her age, with nm overgrown son
and bad case of crouch. Dying II
4 few years after. h.. had left her a life
estate that assured her II handsome
income. hut nothing In fe,-everything
reverted 10 the son who had grown
out of his bulkineSS but kept his
resentment 10 Cyuthy So when Joe
Lane went to work in the city. Cynthy
otherwise Mrs Jabcz Clifford had
sought him ont, made ~ free of her
home handsome apartment and IN
troduccd him to her friends
He had done her much credit among
them being clean. minded straight
tall ana supple. frcSh-colored and
easy iu manner with the ease that
comes from very Kind heart. Yet
she ala not encourage him 10 speak ~
/ home nor home affairs II want YOU
all mine while YOU are with me" she
/ had said in the beginning Hence his
letters had not dweIt upon her kind
ness
He was glad they had not when
the trouble camc-the home people
might feel that he could appeal To her
for help. That was. on the face OF
things. impossible: yet when She some
how senScd his deep disquiet. and
Cross-examined him clcvcrly. he ended
by showing her his fathers letter.
son, don't leopard your own future, p"
/ IL ran. hut II you can lend me u
thousand dollars or SO What let
you have when You left US was a
Gift outright; am not asking penny
Of II back. You know why. think
So the land might 20 free and clear
10 your sister She may love 1t not
better than you do but II can't die
nor run away. and can be so left 10
her as TO make il certain she has
comfort And II uSureS Us old folk
q good living a. long ~ we have no
debts 10 pay.
Now there ISM the scratch ~ a
pen against me-. huI with the fruit all
killed. the garden-iruck more than
half ruined and wheat so hurt by last
weeks frost the income In sight will
barely pay taxes. and insurance and
no matter how you save. saving isn't
possible when you haven't ans money.
"a thousand will tide us over beau
tifnlly-could yet II on mortgage easy.
hut want 10 die as I've lived. mort
gage free You viii. know, be glad
to help me II you can with justice 10
yourself That you must decide-if
you are likely Ia hurt yourself In