Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 March 1917 — The Party Dress [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Party Dress

By Florence L. Henderson

(Copyright, 1917, by W. G. Chapman.) “Was there ever anything so beautiful?" exclaimed Mrs. Wilder, lost in profound admiration. “Oh, mother, lam -so happy I could cry,” voiced pretty Winifred, her daughter. “Huh, uncle spread himself, sure, .this time!” chirped in her brother, Ronald. “And all I expected was some modest house dresS," murmured Winifred. “Dear old Uncle Bryce I and my first party dress. Oh, mother, I am so happy.” “You look it, and you deserve to be,” said her older sister Madge, with real emotion and not one bit of envy. “It is simply—peerless.” Mrs. Wilder was a widow and poor. True, her husband had left his family a house and ten acres of land and it was clear of encumbrance, but Ronald was too young to work, Madge received a very small stipend as teacher at the district school. Mrs. Wilder was a partial invalid. Only for Winifred’s constant care of the little truck garden and her economical household management, they would never have been able to make ends meet. And now the sweet surprise, the bewildering gift from Mrs. Wilder’s half brother. Winifred had ever been his favorite, and once a year he made a flying visit to these relatives. Always after his departure there came a package from the village. Two years previous it had been a pretty toilet set. His next visit he had sent a neat little watch. Now —

ITS let ;at

It> was certainly a beautiful dress, and arrayed in its full magnificence Winifred was more lovely than ever. It had come in a boxfrom the village emporium. It fitted exquisitely. “Uncle Bryce must have heard us talking of the Durham partyJl suggested Madge. “What taste for an old bachelor, and what munificence, for I fancy that uncle is not over blessed with this world’s goods.” For two days Winifred was in a flutter of rare delight and anticipation. She was not proud of show, nor vain, but in every girl’s heart there is a longing for the possession of the dainty and elegant. The party dress was a delicate blue with lace accompiiniments that gave to it a gossamer tastefulness that made of it a positive creation of art. There was not a speck of mud in the country paths, yet Winifred guarded her treasured dress from contact with brush and ear th as though she were going to some coronation. “You look just like a princess, sis,” approved her escort, Ronald, who saw her as far as the Durham home and left her there. “I suppose somebody will fetch you back.” “I can come in the company of the Websters,” reminded Winifred. She .had never known a beau and did not count on any break in the usual routine. Winifred was radiant, and everybody at the function seemed jflfiased to note the fact and emphasize it with admiring <compliments. There -was a y%ng man present, a stranger to all. He came with a friend, Harry Lane, and was introduced as Walton Bell. From the first his attentions were confined to Wini fred. She was proud but fluttered at this partiality. She was still more pleased, but embarrassed, when he insisted on escorting her home. It was the great event in her life. She thought of him longingly as she left him at the gate and she wondered if she were really pretty and attractive, as she glanced in her mirror later, flushed and excited. “It won’t do, but I’ve met my fate!” murmured Walton Bell, as he wended his way to the home of. his friend. it would not do at. all —” and he set his lips, and the beauty of the evenihg seemed spolled by the memory of what had brought him to Ridgeton, for it was to call upon Miss Norma Elsler the next day who, according to his fond mother and the maneuvering mother of Miss Elsler, he was to wed in due time.

They had been engaged since childhood. He had seen Norma only twice.’ She had appeared “well enough,” but now love, real love had sprung up in his heart and he balked! “What is that?" inquired Winifred, coining into the house from a neighbor's the next afternoon and glancing at a box on the table. “It’s the dress Uncle Bryce really bought for you,” explained her mother. “There has been a dreadful mistake, and the delivery man lejft you the wrong bundle. I returned It. This is what really belongs to you.” Winifred neither pouted nor abused Uncle Bryce as she opened the box. A neat house dress was revealed. She could not repress a sigh at the vivid contrast, the more so when she thought of the party —and Walton Bell. Walton quickened his steps later that same afternoon as he caught sight of a seemingly familiar figure on the strfeeL That pretty blue dress concealed by ah opera cloalk was in t vlew. He looked blank as he reached the side of its wearer, its real owner, Miss Elsler. He was wholly surprised and showed it, and disappointed, and showed that, too.

Miss Elsler was civil, but lather cool and repelling in her manner. Walton walked on with her towards n house where she was to* engage in a social function with a friend recently married. Turning a cortier Norina flushed hotly as they passed a young man who spoke to her, and in his eye had ah expression that told of deep interest and emotion. She, Too, was perturbed. However, she concealed her feelings, and when WaitorNleft her was her old' self—haughty and unmoved. • There came a shock for Walton Bell the next day when he called at the Elsler home. It was to be met by Norma’s mother in tears, and, presenting a letter found in the untenanted room of Norma that morning. “It will break your heart as it has mine,” she wailed. “Norma has eloped with Cecil Raybourne.” “What a hypocrite I am,” soliloquized Walton as he left the house. His face was grave, in consonance with the occasion, but his heart was , welling with a secret joy. “Norma’s act has set me free and has set me aside to follow the dictates of her love. Why not I?” • It was in the descending dusk of eventide that he ventured to the vicinity of Winifred’s home. His capitulation was complete as he came across her in the little garden. If Winifred had charmed him in that pretty party dress, in the sweet simplicity of the real attire Uncle Bryce had sent her she w® to his devouring eyes, simply exquisite. It w-as during that next precious hour that the story of the party dress came out. There was a coincidental fatefulness about the incident that pre-

saged encouragement and hope for Walton, really free, the very first time in love. As to Winifred, she felt like hiding her blushing face even from the twinlyling stars’ when he went away, for he spoke words that opened up to her innocent soul a prospect of radiant happiness. Norma came back and was forgiven. She was piqued when Walton met her lame explanation and apologies with a shining face. She had expected reproaches, condemnation from a brokenhearted, discarded lover. He eased her mind by telling her of Wintfred. Andthcn’hewentto■ Winifred and told of Norma. And finally, ail loose Issues of the fateful complication explained, he told his Iqve to her, and joy reigned supreme.

Winifred Was More Lovely Than Ever.