“Not an out-and-out refusal yet.”
“Came mighty near not getting Miss Judith,” said Colonel Crutcher. “First she couldn’t leave her mother and then when we told her 128 Mrs. Buck was especially invited she put up a plea of not having the right kind of dress. Said she’d look like Cinderella after the clock struck twelve. But the Judge and I looked so miserable over it that the child finally said she’d come, but I reckon she’ll be wearing an old dress.”
“Looks like she’s got so many businesses she might buy herself a dress,” suggested one.
“Not her. She’s saving every cent to put guano on the land.”
“Well, beauty unadorned is adorned the most,” mused Major Fitch.
“Say, I got a idee,” put in Pete Barnes.
“Go to it, Pete! Your idees are something worth while here lately. What is it?”
“What’s the reason we can’t get little Judy a dress over to Louisville? Us old men can all chip in an’ it wouldn’t amount to mor’n a good nights losin’ at poker.”
“She’s right proud. Do you reckon she’d get her back up and decline to accept it?” asked Judge Middleton.
“Not Judith. She’s not the kind to be hunting slights, but suppose we send it to her anonymous like and pretend her fairy godmother had something to do with it,” suggested Pete. 129