The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-06-22
On Approval
By ROSA z. MARIONONI
g. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNu Service

| gowns which were to be delivered on ap-
proval had preceded her home; she
| hoped they had, and wished they had
| not.
AS Meredith walked along she felt
| conscious of two voices In her debat-
| her. One thin, care-free voice was
| saying. There Is no harm In your
| wearing the lace gown tonight. Moth
Ing will happen to it. Elmer will be
proud of you before his friends" And
another voice. worried little voice,
was saying. @What Il something should
happen to the gown while you wear ii
| tonight and Elmer shonId find out you
are wearing a dress which you do not
| intend buying2 He is so scrupulously
| honest, he would never forgive such an
underhanded action on your part"
Tonight was the first time since
their marriage that Elmer had dared
invite Mr.. Sanders to bis home. Mr..
| Sanders was the district manager of
the company which employed Elmer.
When she had told Elmer about her
ner, Elmer had quickly suggested that
she buy new one.
Il noticed In the paper that Lam
der's are having SALE" Meredith had
| said Dinner dresses priced at nine
teen ninety eight
| At this Elmer had smilingly written
a check for nineteen ninety-eight The
| writing Of the check had meant sac
rifice for Elmer, and Meredith had
| felt all the more grateful for the gift
| That very morning she had gone
| shopping ~and while trying on some
of the dinner dresses priced S19.98, the
saleswoman had been called away. As
| Meredith waited for her. she had no.
ticed an exquisite gown Of blue lace
over silver cloth hanging on wall
peg She had glanced at the size and
price tao. The gown was her size but
! 1t was marked fifty nine dollars. An
insidions thought had entered her mind.
Il could have this lace gown sent
home On approval, wear It tonight,
| then return II.
When that evening the clock struck
| six, Meredith stood before her bed
room mirror goWned In lace and sit
| yer. AS Elmer entered the room to
say that MIR Sanders had arrived, he
remained breathtessly looking ut her.
And he was afraid to kiss her, fearing
to runpie the lace and silver that
| made picture Of her.
| "You look marvelousI he told her.
When they entered the little drawing
room. Meredith's heart felt queerly
cool as Elmer said with high pride In
his voice, mir. Sanders, this Is my
| wife"
"How do you do" she smiled; and
thought, Il feel as II | were thief"
1t was about nine o'clock when Ell
mer suddenly said: Il think hear
the baby crying" and jovially, "Mr.
Sanders, you must see our baby You
must I" Then turning to- Meredith
go and bring In the little rascal, /
want to show him off" Meredith went
to the bedroom. The baby had stopped
| crying, she took him gently In her
arms, afraid he'd crush her dress.
Mr.. Sanders proved interesting TO
Bobby. for he had a gold watch chain
and sparkling spectacles. Elmer was
beaming. Mr. Sanders tried to be gra-
cIous. Suddenly the baby began to
| bob himself up and down In Mere
| diths arms. Mr.. Sanders spectacles
had attracted his attention, his chubby
hands reached toward MIR. Sanders
face, the gentleman slanted backward.
Better take the baby back to bed"
| suggested Elmer.
AS Meredith turned away, the baby
gave one high-pitched cry, the tiny fist
closed above the mothers lace bodice,
tearing. pulling.
Meredith ran into the bedroom, the
child In her arms.
Time passed, the baby fell asleep,
the young mother kept crying. When
Elmer tiptoed into his wifes bedroom
and gently touched her shoulder, she
looked up at him, her eyes brimmlng
with tears. her lips trembling, her face
swollen from crying.
what Is the matter2 You've been
weeping" exclaimed elmer.
"Oh. Elmer. look, the baby tore my
dressl"
Elmer sat beside his wife attempt.
Ing to console her but the more he
tried to pacIfy her, the more she clung
to him and wept. Suddenly, she sank
her head on his shoulder and told
him all, and when she had finished
she was only conscious Of Elmer kiss
Ing her and whispering, My poor little
GIRL" Elmer felt protective pity
toward his wife. He told her he
would fix matters. In the morning be
would 60 to the agent and try to have
his insurance payment postponed q
few months-Elmer was worried, but
he did not wish Meredith to know how
much.
Meredith rose to her feet, smiling
through the tears. opened the closet
door. "Look. here Is the other gown
the one | should have worm" she said
pointing to the marlgold satin dress
nd hattar-put II hack In itq hox hc-