United labor bulletin., 1913-09-13
|SHE LIKED GAY PLUMAGE|
BY JULIA MAXWELL.

new tOrk aunt, WuOm BIG "db SiSit
Ing, did not approve OF anything that
would attract attention. That was
why she objected to Essie's wearing a
brand-new bonnet with the dazzling
yellow feather.
I'D rather you wouldn't wear that
hat. Essie," said Aunt Linda Mallow.
1T looks FAST"
Essie bit her lip in disappointment.
put away the gorgeous thing Of shim-
mering yellow and donned plain
black-an-blue straw which her aunt
had selected for her on her last visit
to the city year before.
That looks more like you. my dear.
Young girls are apt to be mtsuhder-
hats"
But, Auntie. do love bright things.
Other girls wear them. and nice girls.
too. I'm sure"
Aunt Linda was not disposed to
argue the question. Besides. the cleo
trfc was waiting for them at the curb.
The last few days OF her New York
visit Essie spent with a girl friend
And when she passed through the gate
at the Grand Central station bound for
the train that was to take her to her
home In an upstate town, she was
wearing the hat with the inviting yel-
low feather. For Aunt Linda was not
along, and her chum. who came to the
station with her, adored the hat.
Essie was a gregarious young wom-
an. In the small town where she lived
1t was a habit for people TO be neigh
borly. So when the middle-aged man
In the parlor car seat across the aisle
offered her a magazine. she accepted 1t
with a smile and a nod Of the yellow
feather. When she entered the dining
car for luncheon and the dining car
conductor placed her opposite the
same man. she was not displeased. He
was a wellgroomed. interesting look
ing man. And Essie liked men. When
the stranger suggested that she order
lunch for both of them. Essie didn't
mind. Luncheon for one wes always
deadly stupid OF course. she realized
that Aunt Linda would be Mortified at
such a proceeding. but Aunt Linda was
old-fashioned. 1t was common talk In
the family that Linda was entirely too
difldent, too reserved. She was not
nearly so popular as her sisters. who
were OF more sociable mien. However.
never a breath Of scandal had attached
to Linda's name. and there were some
of the family that-well. that's quite
another matter.
Essie enjoyed the luncheon. and
though she endeavored In the usual
way to pay the check. her protesta-
lions were quickly swept away. As
the man piloted her back to her chair
In the parlor car. she was conscious o;
n certain guilty feeling, but she put It
from her. How could girl be expect,
ed to do anything else? She was only
human. and she liked to talk TO peo-
pie. She couldn't play any kind OF 3
game by herself There are many
young girls like Essie.
It was only twenty minutes until
Essie's home town would be reached
She was rather sorry. She was having
such a good time.
I'D like TO see you again." said the
man. meaningly.
''oh, thank you." laughed the girl
Two enjoyed meeting you"
But you don't live far from Buffalo
and haven't you some friends there
that you could tell your parents you
were going TO visit-while you really
came down to spend few days with
me? know a nice little place where
We could go and be undisturbed
Here's my card. That's my office ad
dress. Write me when you can ge,
away"
Essie was dumfounded. All tn,
color had gone out OF her face. She
felt sick to the very depths OF her
She simply couldn't speak The cart
dropped from her nerveless fingers.
But the stranger did not understand
His eyes glittered strangely. while the
mark OF the beast was In every line o.
his face. You're a great little kiddo,
he said. and there isn't anything
wouldn't do for you. Do you think yor
could come down to see me in a few
days?''
The girl found voice. but still 1t wa,
not her own voice. 1t was the voice o.
girl who has suddenly had ever,
Ideal and illusion knocked from under
her.
''Oh, oh. you horrible thing, you
t-I-you've made n mistake. Oh,
hate you. hate you, never want tt
see you again. never."
When calm came. Essie was In her
own room Mt home-alone She wa,
glad she was alone. All the joy hae
gone out of her vacation. She felt un
clean. tainted. as IL she had beer
walking through bogs Of mud ane
slime.
And. sobbing, the girl wondered, art
all men like that. or. was 1t the yellow
teather7 1t had net yet occurred &c
her that young girls who accept IN
vors of strange men on trains are YER,
apt to be misunderstood and-insulted
That WEI one thing that Aunt Lind,