The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-09-06
W0MEN'S CLOTHES
BY ETHEL !. sTETsoN

20. 1873. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate,
DRISCILLA tiptoed into Annals
Kitchen and startled that young
woman into dropping pan of freshly
baked cooking.
Priscilla Band Where? HowY"
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
garbed.
"Yes, isn't it an adorable getup? But
listen"
And Priscilla pictured situation
which Anna knew to be q despicable
one to her friend.
Caroline Band, Priscilla's mother,
was most penurious woman. The
loss Of her husband gave her a plausi-
bic excuse for unnecessary scrimping.
From babyhood Priscilla had been
made to feel that her existence was
unforgivable, because 1t necessitated
expenditure. The coarse, apron-like
dresses which Priscilla was forced to
wear. her ugly shoes and heavy stock
1ngs SO humiliated her that school
days were burdensome. Anna Burckett
was her closest friend. (Anna had diff
fculties, 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 1t increasingly
difficult for her to call at Annals home,
saying that it 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
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"
few evenings later Mrs. Caroline
Band, with great satisfaction, watched
her daughter depart for the ball.
Il 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 l guess twill
pay"
At 10 80 o'clock some one raped at
Caroline Bands door. 1t was Priscilla's
chaperon, Mrs Elm.
II got so sleepy had to come away.
1t seemed foolish for me to stay. Not
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-"
sake of propriety, to repair to the COM
munity ball. She found 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 that2 A plain bluean
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 a dream?
No. AS she stalked forth the music
ceased and right toward her came her
daughter, in checked blue gingham,
leading tall dark Frank Burckett with
her.
"And what may this mean, Priscilla
Band?"
"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 I was about to say, mother, the