Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 January 1912 — In Pink and Blue [ARTICLE]

In Pink and Blue

By MARIAN L. WATSON

(Copfright, ibii. by Associated literary Preta)

“It’s a wicked shame—now you ican't go to prayer meeting!” Louise exploded, tossing the pink gown spitefully onto the bed. Mrs. Gleves laughed softly. “Why, fit's all in the day’s work, child*" she said. "I did think I’d like to hear iDady Cane pray one more time. ’He’s such a saint, and so old, each iprayer may be the last—"but Milly didn’t know—and her heart is so set on wearing pink tomorrow night—” “When she has twenty other frocks to wear,” Louise interrupted rebelllously. “In fact she has everything in the world a girl can want. I have —-liothing." “Sure?” Mrs. Gleves asked, with a keen glance at her helper. Louise was so pretty it was Joy to contemplate her, even without the contrast of poor, dumpy, kipdly JMilly Dunham. Milly, indeed, had everything'but beauty and charm — the beauty and charm that were Louise’s birthright. She liked the little sewing girl, and tried hard to be kind to her, but Louise made it difficult—she was bo proud, so resentful of patronage, and, since truth must be spoken, so envious. “I, wonder what it is like —to be fine from top to toe—and feel It doesn’t matter if you ruin everything,” she said at last, looking up from the machine. . She sat sewing ruffles upon a Bilk foundation—a sort .of fairy underrobe for the filmy pink gown. Milly, the gown’s owner, had suddenly decided it needed a finer slip. The ruffles were scant—hardly more than a veiling for . the shlmmery silk, Louise admitted to herself spitefully they would add something to the lacy pink chiffon. The slip had to be made at once—Milly was coming f in the morning to try it on and have the frocks adjusted to the lines of it “And she’ll look like a frump—for all you fit so beautifully,” Louise said spitefully as she laid down the slip. All the rest was hand-work —Mrs. Cloves would trust that to nobody but herself. Otherwise, Louise, in a moment of exaltation, would have volunteered to do the and so give time from prayer meeting. She was a generous creature, if she did hard a temper. Though she had regular hours, she never complained of working beyond them. Indeed, Mrs. Gleves had sometimes to make her put up her thimble and go out for a bit of Air. "It fa a pity. Milly would be right nice looking if she didn’t always dress so fine,” Mrs. Gleves admitted. “But the poor thing doesn’t know that. Besides, her mother lives for clothes. Every crow, you know, thinks its own white. So I reckon Milly looks pretty and stylißh to Mrs. Dunham. The judge is "a fond father, but I can see plain he is mlghtly disappointed not to have his only child a beauty.” “He ought to adopt me,” Louise said recklessly. Mrs. Gleves pursed her lips, but' murmured indulgently: “Vain thing!” and went on sewing. She was Sympathetic enough—-had not she herself been poor and pretty, and thereby denied her rightful chance? But she was not going to encourage wild notions in Louise—an orphen with no nearer counsellor, than the good dressmaker. “Think of a masked party! Hovf I’d love to see it!” Louise muttered* after a bit, looking out the fading light. It was just sunset Mrs. Gleves also looked out “Do you mind running oyer to the Canby’s for some new-laid eggs?” she asked. “I can telephone, if you do —but there may be nobody to fetch them.” “I’ll fetch them—gladly," Louise said, darting away. She did not stop to change her blue chambray working frock, nor to snatch a hat In the briefest space she was at the Canby house; a little later she ran down through the side gate with a bag of eggs clutched in both hands. Dusk was falling; moreover she was dreaming when® she should have been looking. Between all, she ran plump into a passer-by, a tall young fellow, immaculate in white flannels, with a gayly banded straw hat held at his side. He was (striding forward at a great rate, and what, with his own 'impetus and Louise’s quick motion, the eggs had no chance. They squashed—the bag broke —white and yolk overflowed him To save Louise from'falling he had <aught her close, and her blue gown was nearly as much a sight as his white attire. .’ , Notwithstanding, both of them laughed long and heartily. “I never dreamed an egg had such possibilities, —or that there could be so many in the world.” the 'stranger said, checking himself after a little. Louise answered with a sidelong glance. "Between us, we owe Mrs. Gleves Just a dozen. Butt’ll pay the Sdebt Ton had better rim away to hunt soap and water.” v To thinking—if only we had milk and a baker we might make custard ple,"~ the young fellow hazarded. “With eggs ready broken and you to (furnish ’Sugar and spioe and everything nloe’ »—-**• ” - f i “Don’t talk so—we are. messy enough already." Louise said severely. turning to go.. He followed her saying, eagerly. *1 jam' Kenneth Gray— shan’t I see you > ‘ - •

at the masquerade? Do tell me your name!” £§e§£S , “Sewing girls don’t go to masquerades—not private ones,” Louise said bitterly. Young Gray caught her arm. "I beg your pardon—l mean no impertinence—but would you like to be there?" ' “Of course not. I’m nineteen, and love dancing better than my soul. And I’m not bad looking-'‘besides I really have got a frock to %ear. But I shall never wear it —became I won’t have a chance ” Loulfe begun. her voioe tensely bitter. Kenneth Gray took both her hands. “You shall have the chance,” he said. “I will see to It Be ready at 9 o’clock. ITI make It my business to And out where you are—and whom I shall ask for.” “You don’t nqean a word of that — but I'm game for anything,” Louise cried, breaking from his grasp. “I’m Louise Ware, and I live with Mrs. Cleves.” This aloud- —to herself she added: “You deserve something—you are the fellow Milly Dunham is so deeply In love with. You may marry—her money—but for this one night you shall know the difference.” At eleven next night she stood breathing quickly, and leaning upon Gray’s arm rather heavily, what time, through her mask, she surveyed the vivid scene. They had just finished a rapid two-step—she danced like thistledown, her soul ail in her tripping feet, her shining eyes. There would be an hour more of it-c-she meant not to miss a number. Unmasking came with the stroke of twelve —she would steal away just before it —Kenneth should not affront 'with her, openly, his world. He had been the prince of gallants, danclag With her much more than half the time, and providing partners so she had never been still. Once* be had hurdled through a waltz with heavyfooted Milly. Milly had on the pink frock, but Louise no longer envied her. Her own white fashioned from an ancestral shawl, and - rich with heavy embroidery, held its own with the finest. She had been masked when he came for her —she would go away, letting him have no more than a glimpse of her face as she said goodby the cab door. She meant he should leave her tlutee, and go back to finish thq eveningwtaleasure. “You are giving me wnnething to remember always,” she said to him In the little lull of the music dances. V ‘ "I am giving you my whole heart," Kenneth whispered. The music struck up—they whirled joyfully away to It. But before they had made the floor’s round there came h wild cry of fire! Jhe ballroom was on the third floor, and the stairs to It, though broad, were neither straight nor fireproof. \ Chaos followed the cry. Kenneth caught Louise tight In his arms and ran to the west window. The stairs were already choked. Still holding her, he clambered out on a narrow ledgy stone coping, shutting the sash behind him. There was a chance of rescue, also a chanec of salvation. A big oak stood a little way off, the branches of it almost touching the ledge. ' - \ Kenneth measured the distance; could he leap it safely, carrying his precious burden? As he hesitated the window was raised—Milly Dun ham thrust through it. crying dryly: "Kenneth! Save me! I love you! Love you so!” It was Louise who drew her out .to them on the ledge that had barely room for two. “Jump!” she cried to Kenneth, nodding toward the tree. As he obeyed, she steadied herself, drew Milly past her flattened self, crying In a half whisper: “Catch.” At the same time she swung the girl within reach of his arms. Milly *was half fainting—Kenneth could not let go of her. Yet he called “Come!” and Louise launched herself toward him. He braced himself, and tried to catch her with his free arm, but missed her fluttering hands by an inch—and shut his eyes, his heart stopping as be heard her brash through the oaken twigs. A shoot made him open them —it was not the shout of horror. Looking down he saw Louise lying spent but safe, in a big robe, snatched from a waiting carriage, and held by four good men and true. Mrs. Dunham. Insisted upon giving Louise not only a trousseau but a dowry. And Milly, happy in a new sweetheart, wore blue. not. pink, as bridesmaid, and looked almost pretty. Upsetting an Old/Tradition. Confronted by a stern and menacing footpad, the belated citizen turnSff his pockets inside out and produced a received gas bill. “That won’t do," the highwayman said; “the gas company*didn’t get ait your money. When a man pays Us gas bill nowadays be does It to get a tea or a twenty changed. Stand still or I*ll bore a Urge hole through yoti\ Instituting a thorough search, he finally found sl3 concealed inside the lifting of his vtettm’s hatband.