Show r I OLD CLOTHES I By ELIZABETH REYNOLDS h Copyright ht 1918 by the McClure Newspaper per Syndicate Yes she has on the old blue velveteen velveteen velvet velvet- een dress that Avis Kenmore brought back with with her from Chicago that winter winter winter win win- ter she gave her big party for those New York bankers that came out West Jim Kenmore made good with then therM they say and now she leads In InthIs Inthis inthis this town all right right Mrs James Kenmore Ken- Ken more as more as she has on her visiting cards Yes She's stylish enough but If It I was her Id I'd not let my husbands husband's sister wear old clothes Why that hat she has on was Avis' Avis last win win- ter You dont don't say so l Well some folks is mean I have heard that Jim Kenmore's mother was an invalid for forten forten forten ten years or more and that this sister sister sister sis sis- sis sis- ter Agatha Kenmore tended her Gave up all her youth to her her Ive Ive I've heard tell Now her brother gives give's her a ahome ahome ahome home In their handsome house and she does doe look nice always I must say even If she does wear vear her in sister Uw's liw's old clothes An angry flame burned in the cheeks of an unwilling listener to the above that took place on an interurban Interurban interurban In- In train as It sped through green Kreen reen country fields toward a flourishIng flourishing flourish flourish- Ing town where what were once farm acres now throve a prosperous busl- busl Ing city Mrs Kenmore tor Kenmore tor the unwilling listener was she waited she waited a little behind behind behind be be- hind so that her neighbors might not notee not see ee her She caught a glimpse of her sister laws pleasant smile smite and bow to the erstwhile gossips Agatha was always so courteous as was James Kenmore enmore also Things had prospered with them and Avis took credit to herself that I she had in many shrewd ways helped I her husband to his success For one thing she was when there was occasion for It both saving and and a good manager Now there was no anxiety anxiety am- am lety as to money matters but still the habit of thrift as some of her neighbors neighbors neighbors neigh neigh- bors called It was strong upon h her hr r. r And when Agatha came to live with them first it was a handsome set of furs that passed over to her sister in law with law with excuses until excuses until it had become be be- come comen a habit to say stay Agatha that suit or suit or hat or whatever it might beIs be beIs beis Is Is almost as good as new But ut you know I am getting larger all the time and Its It's a little tight for me Cant Can't you fix It up for yourself Her ambition In her youth before the pressing cares came that took all aU her energies was to become a writer She still nursed her dream As she was preparing to walk from the station to her brothers brother's home her sister laws voice called Agatha the auto is here to meet us We will ride home Oh responded d A Agatha I had not thought of it it Then Then for for she had the keenest of Intuitions I Intuitions I did not know you were on the train sister I do not mind walking you know Avis' Avis only answer was I Agatha In future I shall be very much hurt If you do not use the he car and everything that Is 1 your brothers brother's Just exactly as asIf asIf asif If It were your own own own-as as I 1 do When they reached home dinner was about ready and It was only at bedtime bedtime bedtime bed bed- time that Avis knocked at her sister sister- laws law's door doo and on being told to come In she walked over to the big closet and said If you dont don't mind Agatha I want to took rook over your wardrobe wardrobe ward Yard robe No iNo No Indeed that's all right replied replied re re- re- re plied pled Agatha You see I fixed up that pr pretty tty mauve chiffon you gave me Isn't It pretty A Avis Avis' vis' vis reply was to t tale take ke down from Its hanger the dress In question and putting It carelessly over her arm she said Aratha Agatha where Is that old green cloth coat I handed to you several several several sev sev- eral days ago Hanging there In the back hack of the closet Agatha said by this this this' time somewhat mystified That too was pulled from its hanger hang hang- er and thrown over a chair hatbox hat hatbox box was opened and several hats huts joined the other articles of clothing that had once had fOltmer ownership It was a flaming cheeked woman who throwing her arms around her astonished sister sister- law in-law said Agatha can you forgive me f for r my selfish rudeness I h Idea what Why ve no you mean sister was the response What Is the matter Has someone someone told you I did not like your pretty things No responded Avis somewhat grimly you jou 3 OU have not told me mCI but I 1 Isee Isee see with the eyes ees of ot others some others some times In future Agatha when I 1 go goIn goIn goIn In to town to to shop for myself you are areto areto areto to come with me and whatever I get you are arc to have its equivalent In I value I I. I am deeply ashamed that I ever seemed to think otherwise Protests were of no avail and so a happier order of ot things s was wag instituted But ut pretty mY your pretty things 1 l said sald Agatha well we'll In tomorrow and andgE Oh Oil go o t town tn n gE get t everything new I exclaimed Avis But But but Agatha hesitated I ha time for or much shopping 1 I time repeated her sister- sister law in why of course you have time What else have nv we to do Then Agatha Kenmore told her her- great secret secret saying saying with some some confusion Well sister Brother James knows that ten years ago I was about to marry Professor Caldwell Our mother moth moth- er ere needed me and I deci decided ed not to marry but today when I was coming out of the newspaper office I met the professor and and ond-and- and fin finished finished shed for her And Avis youre you are re going to marry him of course Is I s |