El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-07-11
The HeraId's
Daily Short Story

the afternoon 1 collected my clothes
from the cloak room of the railway
station-I had been cautious i'll the
first stage of my frenzy-and when
sailed forth to town 1 was for once
perfectly dressed.
When l looked in my landlady's long
mirror l nearly cried for joy. A jul
dicious touch Of rouge and lip-salve
and eyebrow pencil had restored to Inc
my fading youth, and only the woman
OF nearly 80 can appreciate this mo-
ment at its true worth.
had afternoon tea in the midst of the
Smart Set at a fashionable cafe, and
the men looked cOvertly at me and the
women openly stared. 1 was content
Then 1 strolled round to the first in
surance office where Roland slaves on
modest salary that prevents me from
falling in love with him.
What can L do for you, mad" he
began politely, and then he gasped-
"YOu-your'
Don't disarrange my hair" I said.
I've come into a little legacy, Roland,
and Pm making a splash. Yes, old boy,
know it's foolish, but these clothes
make me feel-well feminine again"
Roland didn't ask announcement ques-
tons; but even had he done so 1 had an
answer ready for him or any possible
one.
1 told him he was to come to the
races with me tomorrow, and to the
theater in the evening. One must have
a man in attendance at that sort of
thing, and Roland is the most present
\able man of my acquaintance Besides.
he has the necessary clothes.
L looked we'll at the races When we
We're powdering our noses in the dress
ing room 1 heard someone say: Who
ic no nd a
me my name, and scribled a lengthy
description OF my frock
In the evening I put on the white
frock and helitrOpe et cetras. 1 looked
is and wore a naiyeIy innocent air, that
befitted the frOck. Roland proposed to
me again in the cab. 1 told him not to
be silly; and then, as he was crumpling
my skirt, I asked him to let il wait
until next week I hate unpropitious
proposals.
We dined in style with an obsequious
waiter bowling attendance on US.
l was too excited to eat. l merely
toyed with everything and drank a
glass of wine, which deepened the color
of my cheeks
Beside US in the dress circle sat my
employer and the wife and daughter
a plain, dOwdy girl with gooseberry
eyes For moment my sang froid de-
serted me- linen L reflected that an old
specialized man would never recognize
in this blushing innocent the flannel
bloused. pallid girl with a respectable
linen collar and scraped-up hair who
toiled in his emporium.
We supped on oysters, and then I
cabbed home to my lodging
L was supremely tired and supremelv
happy.
The charge was obtaining goods under
false pretenses. The verdict was restf- #,
tuition or payment. and release under
the First Offenders Act The masis-
trate was fatherly old man, and he
shook his head sadly over the unfor-
tunate lapse of one who had hitherto
been prs-eminently respectable
The reporters looked at me svm-
pathetically, and their papers described
me as "A Sad Case"
There are heaps Of things in my room
lingerie and belts and dainty trifles
that I have rot worn, only fingered
ovingly, 1 suppose they will take them
Ill.
As for paying for that hat and Gown.
have just s. in the whole wide world. |
Roland has come and he says he will
pay. He is coming again this afternoon
20 see me.
And the end of this story has vet /
o be written