The Washington times., 1934-07-06

41hAI was duOAI1Su ny q C11dHICI
Of orange blossoms and round
her neck was q garland of
jasmine. She wore a garment
that any man, however much
of an ignoramus in the field
of feminine coStuming, could
not help but recognize instantly
as q brides dress. But no mod
ern coutourier could have cre-
0ted, devised, or then furnished
such q bridal dress as hers.
It was of very old Spanish
lace; not trimmed or bordered
or appliqued with this priceless
material but completely made
Of it.
This wondrous fabric entirely
clothed Linda, and at the same
time it unclothed her. The
lace wedding dress had been
made to wear over some other
garment, however light, and
not to be put on next to that
finest and loveliest of charm
containers, a flawless skin.
Linda's fresh coloring had
ripened to the rich old ivory
of the tropic zones but it was
perfectly evident that the lovely
old lace was spread directly
over lovely young skin. There
Is a luminosity about a fresh
.cutaneous surface, even when
Sundarkened. This slowed
through the open meshes of the
lace as rich old Amontillado
glows through the figured de-
sign Of rare cut glass.
But Jerome'S vision did not
at the moment detail the beauty
thrust upon it so startlingly. He
had grown accustomed to
Linda'S gracious natural love-
illness so that his first impress
sion was that it had been pro-
famed by this artificiality which
in its way embellished it. But
for the moment his mind fast
ened on the only possible source
of such an exquisite costume.
Linda =. you've been into
the chests. :"
Eyes, and if we hadn't been
80 dumb we'd have been into
them 10 days ago."
What else was there?"
Bridal Gown
'More clothes, and some love.
1y sheets and pillow slips and
gorgeous couvre-lit all hand en-
broidered." Her face turned
suddenly grave. Jerry, it was
. brides chest for her trous-
Seau."
Good Lord, Linda, you
shouldn't have rummaged it,"
II didn't realize it until I
found this exquisite lace gown.
Then I couldn't resist trying it
on. Just for you to see. I'll
put it back"
what about the other
Chests?"
Haven't opened them.
Thought I'd wait for you"
please take this off, Linda
and try to put everything
back just as it was. You're su-
,perb glorious but it
isn't right"
She said contritely: IT know
It, Jerry. Like rifling a tomb
or an altar. I just wanted you
to see .. to see me as a BRIDE"
well, I've seen and it
makes matters more difficult.
Please go take it off, Linda, and
put things back as they were."
"An right. 1t was so lovely
I thought I'd slip it on and give
you a surprise"
"You have. And it's pre1na-
ture."
Il admit that. But I'm not
apt to have a wedding dress
when we are wed, and certainly
nothing as gorgeous as this
wonderful lace. Even my elas-
tic scruples would balk at loot
ing it,
Heaven forbid. -" Jerome
muttered. THAT would be the
last straw. and we've already
loaded several bales of it."
eyes, and I've a notion that
this old camel's back is fairly
tender"
We've got a tough job ahead
and that's no working rig to
rassle a dory down over the
dam and coast her along the
slippery stones of the creek. Go
take off the dress and stow it
away just as you found it."
Lets get breakfast first. You
don't know how glorious it feels
to be so beautifully dressed af-
ter skipping round naked for
days on end"
"An the same it makes me
nervous. Too much like steal
ing the votive offerings from a
shrine"
II felt that. but I'm getting
over it. It was made for. who
could she have been? What has
happened to her?"
"HiS bride, of course. There
may be some awful tragedy for
all we know" He heSitated, then
said in q lower voice: Perhaps
It suggested that terrible story
OF Kipling's about Bimi, the
chimpanzee, that got jealous
and tore the naturalist's bride to
pieces"
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