The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-06-08
WOMEN'S CLOTHES
BY ETHEL |. sTETsoN


baked cooking.
priscilla Bandi Where? How?'
demanded Anna.
Whereupon Priscilla spun about on
one toe and curtsied deeply.
you lovely, lovely thingp exclaimed
Anna.
Priscilla flushed with feminine pride.
Small wonder; it was the first time In
her life that she had been daintily
CARRIED.
"Yes, isn't it an adorable getup? But
listen"
And Priscilla pictured a situation
which Anna knew to be despicabie
one to her friend.
Caroline Band, Priscllla's mother,
was most penurious woman. The
loss of her husband gave her plausl-
bic excuse for unnecessary scrimping.
From babyhood Priscilla had been
made to feel that her existence was
unforgivable, because it necessitated
expenditure. The coarse, apron-like
dresses which Priscilla was forced to
ings so Inundated her that school
days were burdensome. Anna Burckett
was her closest friend. Gamma had diff
ficulties, too-several motherless broth
ers and sisters to care fOr.)
But when schooldays were over Pris-
ella fell into very lonely existence,
for her mother made it increasingly
difficult for her to call ut Annals home,
saying that 1t was profitless to foster
friendship with poor people. And, to
make the story sadder, Priscilla in the
meantime had fallen in love with
Annals brother. who did not reciprocate
her sentiment.
Mother took me to Rockton yester-
day and bought me these and other
things. Can't believe your eyes nor
ears, can you? Well, it's because John
Stockton's nephew is coming to town
for the community ball. He's very
wealthy. Now you see mothers scheme.
Isn't it horrible|
/ "Why so horrible? I'm sure Ralph
Stockton is awfully splendid, Pris.
Why, he's quite my ideal"
"O-oh-so? You see the trouble Is
he doesn't happen to be my ideal. But
I've got scheme. I'll run over again
while mothers out cleaning news
about young Stockton. Well talk it
over" t. ..-
A few evenings later Mrs. Caroline
Band, with great satisfaction, watched
her daughter depart for the ball.
II must say she does look smart and
pretty. Now I've told her how to ma
neuver, and If she attracts young
Stockton, who knows what may happen?
That dress cost more than four Of her
ordinary dresses, but 1 guess twill
pay"
At 1890 o'clock some one raped at
Caroline Bands door. 1t was Priscilla's
chaperon, Mrs. Elm.
II got so sleepy had to come away
It seemed foolish for me to stay. Not a
soul payin' any attention to me, and
Priscilla dancin' and dancin' with her
young man. Handsome couple! But
they didn't pay no attention to me-"
So Caroline Band was forced, for the
sake of propriety, to repair to the COM
nudity ball. She found a seat sur
rounded by greenery at some distance
from the dancers. A whole years cloth
ing allowance had been spent on one
frock for Priscilla, so Mrs. Band must
remain inconspicuous behind the palms.
However, though unseen, she could see,
and see she did. Her old withered
heart swelled with something like pride
and triumph at the sight Of pink
frock floating about in the arms Of
handsome young Stockton.
my, that pink dress is the prettiest
one in the room. And he dances with
her lot. Most every dance. M-m-m!"
Caroline Band mummed and chuckled
through dance after dance. Sometimes
she nodded off into dreams and then
awoke with start to follow with her
eyes the floating pinkness beyond the
palms. Finally the last waltz came,
with the lovely frock still in Stockton's
embrace.
But what Is that? A plain blue-and-
white checked frock, strangely famil-
lar apron-like frock is waltzing about,
not in the embrace of Ralph Stockton,
to be sure, but in taller, darker en-
brace. Caroline Band rubbed her eyes.
Was she mapping and this dream?
No. AS she stalked forth the music
ceased and right toward her came her
daughter, in checked blue Bingham,
leading tall, dark Frank Burckett with
her.
sand what may this mean, Priscilla
Band?" rr
"It means that Frank fell in love
with me on the day when he saw me in
his sisters kitchen dressed in some
decent clothes, and so that is settled"
"But who,, then, is wearing your pink
dress, the dress that cost me-? Who
is it that's been dancing all the eve
ming with Frank Stockholm
"As was about to say, mother, the