her Stark, with decision. "I will go
right down to Mann Brothers' store now and get them."

"Then I will make the bows, and sew them on," replied Grandmother
Wheeler, happily.

It thus happened that little Amelia Wheeler was possessed of three
beautiful dresses, although she did not know it.

For a long time neither of the two conspiring grandmothers dared divulge
the secret. Mrs. Diantha was a very determined woman, and even her own
mother stood somewhat in awe of her. Therefore, little Amelia went to
school during the spring term soberly clad as ever, and even on the
festive last day wore nothing better than a new blue gingham, made
too long, to allow for shrinkage, and new blue hair-ribbons. The two
grandmothers almost wept in secret conclave over the lovely frocks which
were not worn.

"I respect Diantha," said Grandmother Wheeler. "You know that. She is
one woman in a thousand, but I do hate to have that poor child go to
school to-day with so many to look at her, and she dressed so unlike all
the other little girls."

"Diantha has got so much sense, it makes her blind and deaf," declared
Grandmother Stark. "I call it a shame, if she is my daughter."

"Then you don't venture--"

Grandmother Stark reddened. She did not like to own to awe of her
daughter. "I VENTURE, if that is all," said she, tartly. "You don't
suppose I am afraid of Diantha?--but she would not let Amelia wear one
of the dresses, anyway, and I don't want the child made any unhappier
than she is."

"Well, I will admit," replied Grandmother Wheeler, "if poor Amelia knew
she had these beautiful dresses and could not wear them she might feel
worse about wearing that homely gingham."

"Gingham!" fairly snorted Grandmother Stark. "I cannot see why Diantha
thinks so much of gingham. It shrinks, anyway."

Poor little Amelia did undoubtedly suffer on that last day, when she sat
among the others gaily clad, and looked down at her own common little
skirts. She was very glad, however, that she had not been chosen to do
any of the special things which would have necessitated her appearance
upon the little flower-decorated platform. She did not know of the
conversation between Madame and her two assistants.

"I would have Amelia recite a little verse or two," said Madame, "but
how can I?" Madame adored dress, and had a lovely new one of sheer
dull-blue stuff, with touches of silver, for the last day.

"Yes," agreed Miss Parmalee, "that poor child is