Show t J f N wr f f. f 5 V t i. i v v J M MILDRED ILDRED st stood od lik lika a statue statue statue-a tUe-n tUe a t trite figure Ufe of speech b but in this h L apt Pt one With tIle the white fc case case- an at n a a about out f her bare satin drape raP shoulders erg immobile in hei he cool and loveliness 0 cool tranquil loveliness she was teal like a statue and an admirable one The dressmaker knelt at her feet as 1 il it e an idol gathered d the gleaming mat mate mate- vial l n into folds s folds here and there and put I h hi pms pins Se serIous and happy in i aPPy this r. r c work She t r C admired Mildred immeasurably measurably W because l I Miss ss was polite and kind and b beautiful an and d did justice to a dress r makers maker s art i to Mildred was not look the first idol to be obliged e d stand still and look lovely while the keen c f I est anguish racked her Not b by the flick flicker r would of an eyelash would she betray T what SJ e suffered She e had read the letter calmly i she 2 e held It now in in fingers that trembled not t n no at all an Obediently she turned or lifted a an t. t arm and did everything necessary so BO th that thai the y a dress might be perfect din It Was her weddIng dress and her and her wedIng wed wed- x Ing had been announced for r the first da day y o of 01 June une and for the last fifteen m minutes she a had known that jad there would be then no wedding The dressmaker rose and sto stood d back a few a feet to lo look k at the taU tall straight straight- young young t. t creature with her proud little dark head hend so nobly set off by the lustrous satin My y l I said she You'll be a perfect VisIon ion Miss I 1 Mildred smiled smelled then somewhat faintly s She was ns ab able e even willing to endure the worst that fate could couI d inflict 1 upon her her- herbut but she sue very much wanted one hour alone to endure the first shock She did not want lInt to cry or even en to think all that she needed was was a little space of time to steady y an and d fortify y that pride so horribly shaken Pride was at once the girls girl's finest quality and her worst It was a splendid pride that that at had aad made her come out so BO bravely after her I fathers father's bankruptcy and death and after twenty years of easy and luxurious living ha had set to work to earn her bread as a t teacher in a private school r It was a pride ride dla diabolic that made her stand so aloof and nd refuse friendship because of her morbid orbid fear that some one might pity her You could read rend all alJ that in her face face- for lor li she had the profile the wide low brow and the fine grave eyes of Minerva there was that about her mouth and chin which was simply mulish obstinacy She never had listened she Rhe never would listen to any warning or advice Any number of of people had wanted to warn and advise her her about Will Mallet My dear sI s. s Mrs Te hune Terhune hune an old friend of her mothers mother's Will cant can't support support rt a wife Hes never tried answered Mildred Mildrrd Hes never had a wife But But Will is is- is Mrs T Terhune began 1 and had to stop Impossible to describe just what was wrong with Will Mallet He came of a good good family and though he hadn't a penny he had influential connections He wasn't lazy he hadn't a vice in the world he was intelligent almost scholarly and altogether a handsome and endearing boy Even the fact that at 24 he was still at loose ends and still looking for his appointed work Inthe in inthe inthe the the world couldn't justify what Mrs Terhune Ter- Ter bune hune said She declared that as a a husband Will was Impossible He couldn't be taken seriously It was nice to dance with him play tennis with him hear him recite his poems but poems but marry him 1 He He had seldom been seen in the little littletown littletown littletown town on the Hudson wh where re he had been born Now and then he came to visit ari an an indulgent relative and to get assistance J moral and material after which he would go off to t to try his luck once more Every Everyone one liked him an and no no one respected him ON N THIS last visit he had surprised them all by deciding to stay He said he intended to to open a florists florist's shop and greenhouses He had looked about for a likely site and had asked for advice which he got in generous generous measure His relations were pleased and rather touched by his venture which seemed at once practical practical and poetic and he had received more attention n and encouragement than was good for him but when his engagement to Mildred Mildred Mil Mil- dred was made known he lost all favor He was severely condemned and remonstrated remonstrated remonstrated remon remon- with and still further advised Will ViII was a young man of no great grent vanity self assurance He fatally inclined or was to agree with people ople He listened downcast downcast down down- cast c cast st and wretched to the admonitions of friends and relatives and hastened off to tell Mildred that he was vas no good and that she w would uld be better off without him She thought otherwise She had few illusions n- n il illusions about her Will but she thought that with with help and encouragement he might be he 1 1 improved ed She had for him a maternal tort sort of love Jove exacting and yet very tender The bell rang for lunch and Mildred had difficulty in suppressing a a sob of relief The dressmaker had the pleasure or ot going downstairs and eating at the same table with her idol She looked about the dismal r r. dining room of the boarding house bouse with a L happy happy smile c Well ell you wont won't be here much longer Miss sue she said snide f. f l' l Mildred agreed with that She knew what she could endure an and she knew also what would be too much for her She could n not t endure to re remain ain there among those friendly interested interested peo people people not not lc not t aft after r this 1 11 TERHUNE read ead the letter letter read it MRS MUS again with a distressed frown and passed it to her husband r I IDear Dear Mrs Terhune Please believe that I am very sorry togo to togo go IO away without seeing you and th thanking thank thank- ing lag you for all y your ur many many many k kind kind- nd- nd messes Will wm and I 1 have been obliged to change our plans however and to postpone postpone post post- pone our wedding for a time so in order to avoid all nIl the awkward nn and tiresome ex explaining explaining ex ex- and so BO on I thought though it be better ter togo to togo togo go for a visit to some old friends 10 in the country until our arrangements were complete Of course I 1 shall let you know all about it at the earliest possible mo mo- ment Please dear Mrs Irs Ter Terhune une d don dont don't on t t. t lacking in affection affee think me ungrateful or tion for running off this way As you morbid horror o of almost know I 1 have an gossip and I couldn't bear to stay and explain a hundred times tims t that at the the wedding was was postponed until Will had improved d hise his e j i. i J i f S 'S i Y r rr r f 1 1 WEDDING I t S S B Elizabeth 9 r Y t. t t 1 r 1 C i I I d 1 I D t 1 n au Ir- Ir w P PJ J a J l I P fl y M f 1 14 L ell l' l Go vay a she Why do you come here P sr position He is inclined to be far too sensitive about his earning powers but I am sur sure you agree with me that a aman aman a aman man is not to be judged by his financial success I have l perfect faith i in 1 Will I Mr Terhune shook his gray head Too To bad he said Well Im I'm not surprised As a result the gossip about her had a decidedly malicious flavor or Any number of people were d delighted lighted at being able to laugh at perfection tion brought low All All' the malice was toward Mildred none Mildred none for Will Perhaps if she had stayed for pity she would have been pitied but in running away she forfeited all claim to generosity So that when Robert Dacier arrived a few months later he heard Mildred spoken of as a jilted spinster who had vanished in order to hide her hideous disappoint disappoint- ment He heard that she had been a school teacher school teacher that she had been dignified tied fled and fastidious This Thi conveyed t this to his mind the picture of a s severe and unpleasant un un- pleasant female of 40 who had bad got what she deserved Not that Dacier gave much much time to thinking think think- thinking ing a about out Mildred for he was not at all an alla ana a thoughtful young man He was a cheerful cheerful cheer cheer- ful careless looking good fellow who was wasa a nephew of Mrs Terhune That lady re refused refused refused re- re fused to admit that of all all her nephews and nieces he was her favorite because she prided herself upon being a just and sensible sensible sensible ble woman far too reasonable to be be beguiled beguiled beguiled be- be by the lads lad's curly head and debonair good humor Not Kot that he didn't have solid and excellent excellent excellent excel excel- lent qualities He was doing very well as asan asan asan an architect and was making a creditable Certainly he spent it all but he spent it in a nice gentlemanly way He earned less in a year than his uncle spent in a month jet yet when the fellow cameon came cameon on a visit to the there was not a a. a trace of poor relation about him lIe He had excellent cigars to offer his uncle and he showed his aunt all sorts of little attentions that touched and delighted her beyond measure She had never had children of her own and I dont don't believe she had ever felt much happier than she felt when making a round of calls caUs with that engaging and delightful nephew showing him off with naive complacency and fairly basking in his affection Naturally she talked to him about Mildred Mildred Mil Mil- dred because b the affair had upset and troubled her He listened good- good not in the least interested but buthe buthe he be was destined to be plunged into that affair head bead over heels and it was Mrs Terhune Terhune Ter Ter- hune who was to push him into it It happened simply enough nough II i iI I heard about a new tea room up near Beacon he said to hi his aunt one afternoon Lets run up there Aunt Kate J You dont don't want to go with your old aunt said she beaming with delight At your jour our age you want the society of young people I He lIe answered ex exactly as she wanted hIm himy to answer She dressed herself in her best est and most imposing style and off they went I suddenly cried Mrs Terhune Ter- Ter MEROY hune Can it be Johnson please stet the car cad This Johnson did and Mrs Terhune pointed to a field to the right of the r road ad across ss which a white figure was sauntering Robert she sue said to her nephew Im sure that's Mildred I 1 should know that figure figure- and that walk anywhere re Oh dear she's going through the fence 1 I cant can't lose her Do run after her and bring her back that's that's tt h dear boy 1 So off went young Dacier across the sunny field bareheaded and his aunt thought marvelously fleet and graceful The figure in white had gone through a agap agap agap gap in the fence and had bad turned up a as s shady ady little road but Dacier took a short shortcut shortcut shortcut cut leaped over o the fence ence and stood be before before before be- be fore her flushed and very hot Excuse me said he be but hut I thought you you were Mildred She was startled That is my name she said but but But Im I'm afraid youre you're not the right one not not Mrs Terhune's Mildred Mildred turned Mrs l Terhune had now I 4 il ni i C r I- I if r i t 1 e J rv f u h G e I. I got out out of the car and wa was sta standing ding beside it At that distance she seemed seemed a a small smaIl and shapeless creature creature- with veil and scarf fluttering and her hand waving in earnest welcome elcome Oh the dear thing said Mildred Her tone was so odd that Dacier Dacier- looked quickly a at t. t her and sn saw w her gray eyes filled with tears Why tears at the sight of Aunt Aurit Kate Rate I Im I'm sorry she went on I I cant can't see her just now v. I If you'll tell her her Mildred 1 turned away her face please face please tell her Iler Ill I'll write Please tell tier her Im I'm just as fo fond d of of her Thank Th you yori G Good by liy l lAfter After Atter a few steps she stopped again be because because because be- be cause Dacier was still beside her Thank you she repeated significantly with meaning MILDRED ILDRED lived in the most wonderful little cottage so tiny so neat like me the cottage of the three bears or the abode of the dwarfs The old woman who came to keep leep it so bl bright blight and nd spotless was exactly like a n witch too and Mildred l herself might well have been an enchanted princess princess princess-ex- ex except that she worked rather hard and Kept accounts account A small smaIl sign in the window read Miss l Mildred 1 piano piano lessons and all through the day confirmation of this floated out across the garden gardn and into the road stumbling road stumbling scales painful excursions excursions excursions in Czerny and then hen the masterly touch of the teacher herself showing what might be done v Tier Her pupils liked her because she was wa patient polite and always clear and nite She liked theta them because they were young and because they had such stubby little fingers such earnest scowls and md such jolly olly laughs On od this morning of pelting summer r rain in she had bad escorted one of them to the front door door door-a a rosy moonfaced little girl girl in spec spee spectacles and and was opening a minute umbrella that would shelter the little cropped head when she saw coming down the lane Inne the young man who had been Mrs l Tet-hune's Tet Terhune's emissary lIe He saw Mildred raised his hat and came splashing on through the mud with his coat collar turned up and his cap pulled down Ho lie Io entered the gate and reached the veranda steps just justas as as the little girl rl was coming down lIe He smiled down at nt the child and if you will believe it this youthful creature not more than ten years old hesitated and then came up the steps after him What is it dear asked Mildred 1 If hes he's going away soon said the little girl shant I wait and let him go under my umbrella Dacier kissed her ber Im very er much obliged he told her but Ive I've come for a music lesson so you you'd d better not wait They were both silent while the child went down the path r Really said Mildred I 14 cm am- am Of Of course its it's a subterfuge said he but even at that why wily shouldn't I have havea ave avea a music lesson Jesson It would be such a goodway goodway good goodway way for us to get acquainted I see tee no reason reason for our becoming 1 ac- ac acquainted ac acquainted ae- ae said Mildred Dacier looked into the distance Even that little girl he hc s said id could c ul read my face and see see the sort of fellow I Iam am am honest honest as daylight kind kind simple simple simple- Not Kot for the world would Mildred l smile I take only children as as' as pupils she remarked The sign doesn't say s sm Dacier pointed out I noticed that sign when I 1 was was' here before Legally Im I'm not so sure that you'd you'll be allowed to discriminate against any person of good character vho who who- Did Mrs Terhune send you No She didn't need to Then Im I'm sorry but Im I'm very busy Miss said Dacier firmly firmly- if Im I'm personally repulsive to tp yo you yon of course Ill I'll go at once but o otherwise why f f r y 1 i rj r J r J tr r crI cr I y 1 J G 0 cant can't I talk to you for u t a few minutes Im I'm ImIr Mrs Ir Terhune's nephew Robert Dacier I didn't bring a a certificate in my po pocket ket but hope i you'll believe belie m me without that Now Dacier was not personally repulsive to Mildred not Mildred not in the least She considered consid consid- ered ered him somewhat presumptuous and overconfident overconfident overconfident |