Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-03
Around the CITY

She was a small, old lady. and her black
silk dress, made with fine disregard to
present-day scantiness, was completed by
a widows bonnet that framed her gray
hair and sweetly placid face. The old
time ruche at her neck was fastened by a
school medal, a large maltese cross Of
yellowest gold with script lettering across
it's shining face. 1t was this unusual
touch to the old lady's attire that caused
another woman at the same cafe table to
remark, after they had established
amenities:
II think you must be a Georgetown
Convent graduate. l recognize your
medal"
The old lady flushed and her voice fairly
quivered with eagerness as she exclaimed:
I'm so glad to meet you! Are you a
Georgetown girl?
The other woman explained that she had
had an elder sister who was a George
town Convent graduate OF many years
ago, and that she had always treasured
her medal as representing the enc great
triumph of her life.
And does she wear i'll: asked the little
old lady.
"She is wearing a crown now. an
swered the other woman.
The old lady reached across the little
table and patted the others hand. The
touch was like the soft fluttering of an
autumn leaf.
"Ah. my child, the crown is best. if we
could only realize it. I've worn my medal
ever since President Buchanan put il
around my neck in 1857. Sometimes,
suppose, it has opened me to ridicule but
often 1t has given me keenest pleasure,
for I've come across pleasant recognition
like yours all over Europe and this coun-
try. There are no medals today like those
the honor girls used to get at the dear Old
convent and never put it on. even after
this lifetime of years, that it doesn't come
back to me-the old convent hall, full of
white-robed girls: the platform with the
President and other distinguished men,
and back of them the nuns, and at the
other end the great golden harp that
played, and there were my dear parents
and the ride home with hack full of
premiums and another to hold my paint
ings and fancy work. All, that was
great-day-my dear
The little old lady paused to steady her
voice.
The other woman looked her sympathy
in so beautiful old memory. though
she did not. some way. seem to see a
strange little old lady across the table
1t was the face of that other who was
wearing a crown.
Two women were looking at hats in
shop window. One Of them was a
skinny person, with the lone, lorn eX
preston that distinguished the renowned
Mrs. Gummidge, the other was stout
and pink with a satisfied smile and
wealth Of chin.
81 don't care for one in the whole lot,
announced the stout woman. after a sur
vey of the autumn styles on display. TOO
many feathers and the feathers too gay.
l wouldn't mind havin that brown one
if they'd rip off them cochy quilts and
red roses"
Don't you like red?" the skinny wom
an interrupted, in voice as lone and
lorn as her looks. why, | was just
wishin' l was young enough for that
scarlet velvet with the plumes to match.
I'd a gone my death for a hat like that
when I was girl. | ulster have my
heart set on a red merino and a string
Of coral beads. but I never got neither.
Seems like I'll keep'on wantin' somethin'
red till l die.
That's because your longin' wasn't sat
istied at the right time. My mother ulster
be great hand to buy us children ~.
the tomfoolery we harkered after--in rea-
son. of course-and l do the same by my
own. AS mother ulster say, let girls have