Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-10-24
"ONCE MADE UP"
BY ELFlREDA M. WHITNEY
- - - /. = . q - = u
60 by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.)


latter class. 1t was her favorite re-
mark that Once make up my mind
about a thing, l never change it
neveri"
She stood on the veranda now, com
handing the situation and the family,
the latter consisting of the unimpor
tant personages OF one husband and
one daughter, Margaret. These two
were surprisingly alike in their meek
air Of unquestioned obedience, but as
different in appearance as an ancient
wilted cabbage is from full blown,
golden rose
Mrs. Warren addressed her husband
first
Alfred, bring the car at once. have
decided to go shopping this afternoon"
Margaret was on her feet at once.
"Oh, mother, are you planning on
getting those clothes for me that you
spoke about yesterday?'
Eyes, you really do need some more"
The girls disdainful glance at her
+! faded Bingham dress showed what her
thoughts We're in the matter.
please, mother, can't l have one Of
those satin-faced crepes like all the
girls are wearing Marion Naborly has
| one, and"
Nov, Margaret" interrupted her
| mother, with an even more determined
| air than usual, there's not a bit of
| use telling me about those Naborlys
| again, and how they waste their money
! dressing up that Marion. Why, we can
| buy and sell them, but if I'd frittered
/ away money like they do, we never
| could have, So"
But, mother"
1--WE made up my mind about that
and once made up, l never change it
| never Your ta1feta is just as good as
| new-yOu've worn it only three years.
You do need another gingnam. Pm go
| ing to get that because they're having
a sale on them today"
81 don't want another of those hate
full, cheap things" Margaret hared, the
| tears beginning to come. 81 want
sweater and sport skirt"
Mrs Warren reduced her to silence
with glance, and calmly continued:
"As for the satin-faced crepe and
| Marion Naborly-hump! What good
| has it done for them to dress her up,
| I'd like to know? Does she have the
| best young man in town coming to see
| her regularly, like you do? Guess
clothes don't make any difference with
Henry. And you know she'd give her
eyes to get him"
The lady's head lifted with pardon
able pride, for, in spite Of her outward
acidity, she was a mother, which
means that her own offspring was the
| best and dearest of her kind, even
| though she never expressed such feel
| ings to the girl herself. The same
proud smile fingered as she went down
the steps to the waiting car
When she returned an hour or so
later, Margaret was still sitting in the
hammock, but her face was buried in
her arms Mrs. Warren came up the
steps in triumph.
"Well, I'm glad 1 went. Such bar
gains l got some more Of that gng-
ham, it wore so well, and they had
made up my mind that it wouldn't
matter if it was little out of style
why what's the matter? And where's
Henry? He's usually here by this
time, isn't heT
The girl raised her tear-stained face
The agony of first love in her eyes
caught at her mothers heart.
"He's-he's over at the Naborlys
Marion called him up on his way here
saw her And he hasn't left yet
She's all dolled up in her new Dress
The words came punctuated with
sobs, then her head dropped back on
the pillow.
For moment the woman gazed, then
the mother was all action.
"Alfred bring that car back. Nabor
ly's-huh! I'll show those persons a
thing or two"
In half an hour she came up the
stairs again, painting and gaspipg.
"There! l guess that'll fix those Ma
borlys. Here's a new blue crepe de
chine for you to wear-oh, common
you know. (That fatty Naborly could
not wear that style). It's the newest
thing they have, too, And here's some
new matelasse satin that cost So
yard-that Marion's got only cost 1898.
The dressmaker told me. She's coming
tomorrow, SOS to get it done for the
dance. And here's a new sweater and
one of those sport skirts"
Margaret could only stare at her
mother, who gasped madly for breath
once more, then continued:
II stopped into Naborlys' to get her
recipe for doughnuts Her recipe
humph But had to have some eXcuse).
Henry was trying to get away, so l
told him l hoped he'd have time to
fix that meat chopper for me--he was
so clever about those things. Heavens!
Here he is now. Quick Go in and fix
your hair and put on that crepe de
china drocc Como RIGHT I'M and elf