Mountain advocate., 1922-11-10
The Prize-Winnins
Dress
b JOHN PALMER



up to Mrs. Embridge's tonight; she
wants II for the ball tomorrow, and
I've promised her,
Emmy Firth folded the delicate fab
ric away In its cardboard box, wrapped
the tissue paper around II, and left the
shop. Her heart was burning. Two
hundred dollars for a ball dress, and
she was going to the Sons Of st. Pat
rick's dance that night In the cheap,
secondhand thing she had scrimped
and saved to purchase. And Pat
would be there.
What would Pat think of herf She
knew the dress looked ridiculous on
her, and-Pat had almost told her he
loved her.
On the way uptown an awful temp
tation assalled her. Mrs. Embridge
did not want her dress until the next
night. She could wear It herself--it
fitted her to perfection-and deliver 1t
early the following morning.
And she did so want to look well
at the dance, and to win Patrick's ad-
mirationl .,
Almost unconsciously her feet took
her out of the elevated at her own
station, instead Of staying on and walt
Ing till she reached Mrs. Embridge's
home. In another minute she was fly
Ing down the stairs and on her way
to her boarding house.
"pll do 1t 1t doesn't do any harm.
And I've a right to look decent for
once" she thought.
The Sous of st. Patrick's dance was
under the patronage Of a number OF
West side social leaders who were in
terested in civic reform. The Sons
were a new organization with an "up-
lift" tendency.
Emmy put on the dress and sur
veyed herself In the cracked mirror OF
her hall bedroom. She hardly knew
the radiant girl who looked back at
her. Originally she had wavered be-
tween wearing the dress and just put
ting it on, but there was no irresolu-
ton now,
Hastily slipping her old coat over
it, she went out and took the car
downtown.
The dance hall was crowded. Upon
a sort Of dais at the end, near the
musicians, the society leaders were con-
gregated, Emmy saw Pat in a mo-
ment. He stared at her in amazed
admiration. N Ola O
EMMY" he muttered, drawing her
arm through his. "Say, Wen take the
prize for the best fox-trotters for
sure"
"Are there prizes, Pat?' gulped
Emmy.
"Sure. Fifty berries for you and
me. Come in handy, won't 1t, little
grip
Emmy could hardly believe Pat had
said that. He explained a few min
utes later.
"Ive got my eye on the finest little
three-room apartment downtown, EN-
N.Y." he said. $50, as soon as you'll
say the word-what's it to be?"
"Oh, yes suppose. Pat" Emmy
quavered.
"And we'd best win that nifty, SAID
Pat. "That1l come In handy for a
nice little nest egg. Why, Emmy,
there amt girl in the rooms patch
on you for looks. Come on!"
They circled the dance hall, watched
by she judges. 1t was as Pat had said;
not ody looked like Emmy, and GER
taluly no one danced like Pat. At the
int srval the prize winners names were
read out. PAT had entered Emmy,
and they won not the first, but the
second prize, OF twenty-five.
When they went up to the dais to
receive it, Emiay nearly tainted with
horror. There, delivering the prizes,
as large as life, stood Mrs. Embridge.
Ard Mrs. Embc ridge was staring, first
at the girls face and then at her gown,
and then at Der face again. Emmy
nearly sank through the floor.
What's the matter, darlintT" asked
Pat, as he sar her nome. 'Too hot
for you In there?"
IL guess that must be it, Pat. 1
feel out of sorts like" said Emmy.
That night he awful vision of ar
rest passed before ber eyes. The del
iclte, pearl-gray dress was quite pn-
n.istakable. She cried into her pillow
bitterly. She would lose Pat now, go
to jail, unless-unless she could in
ouce Mrs. Enibridge to forgive her.
At half-past eight she rang the bell
and timicly asked If she could see
Mrs. Embridge. A moment later that
lady swept into the hall.
"Please, madam, it's your dress from
Madame Staal's," fAltered Emmy,
"why, you're the girl that won the
prize last night" exclaimed the other.
MADAM, III want TO beg"
"YOr tell Madame Stahl I've decided
10 take the other dress and I'll be
obliged If shs'll send 1t up by twelve
o'clock" said Mrs. Embridge. "She
told me this was an exclusive model,