Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-05
THE EVENING STORY.
Her Shabby Clothes.
Copyright. 1913. by ". Werner


Annette flung her chin high and put
the lace hat back in the wallcase. then
reached for the white malne toque.
Her face was crimson but she kept
silent. Tn ugh it necessitated biting her
under lip Very hard Madame who
owned the millinery parlors where An
nette waited upon customers never cared
VINO heard the reprimands. And more
often than not the censure was cruelty
UNJUST. as now. when she had called
annette an inbecile for not reaching the
particular white hat that she wanted
me girl who was buying-a pretty. vio-
let-eyed fashion plate-had the i'll breed
ing to laugh, which did not lessen An
nette's flush. But the young fellow who
accompanied her looked very soberly
hrst at madame, then at Annette The
pity In his gray eyes made Annette
more wrathful. For one blazing second
she was on the point of giving up her
position But she could not afford that.
foslt1ons were not plentiful at that time
of year. She handed madame the maline
toaue and stood by for further orders
demanded. shrilly such workshop
sided, of course, Miss Brent might
have known"
Again the censure was unjust An
hette had put the bandeau in according
TO madames own orders the day before
How does it look on me- Ward?"
asked the girl, carelessly. fitting her head
by which she sat.
Dandy. Helen" Ward returned.
Couldn't look BETTER
nou say that, no matter what | have
on" she pouted, coquettishly. But
believe # the bandeau were a trihe
As it should have been in the first
place said madame. taking the hat
from the pretty beringed fingers
Change it as quickly as possible. Miss
brent And try to get it right this
time.
Annette silently took the hat and went
10 the Workroom AS she left the girl
observed carelessly: What a shabby girl
madame. Would she be offended. do you
THINK. II | sent her some of my discard
ed clothes?"
Annette's cheeks We're red and she
knew that madame would be furious.
When she returned with the altered hat
and the girl had reluctantly pronounced
it satisfactory and left the shop madame
turned upon her Have YOU no better
clothes, Miss Brent? 1t is most unpleas-
ant to have customers remark concern
ing my clerks poverty-stricken appear
ance. You Will wear something different
tomorrow Her scornful glance swept
Annettes black taffeta waist, which had
an undeniable crack down one sleeve.
and the black serge skirt. which was
shiny at the seams and had large
grease spot on the front side breadth.
Without waiting for answer or excuse
madame swept into the small anteroom
that was office and reception room. An
nette returned to the Workroom In a
way she felt that her employers censure
was just. No one cares for unsghtly
saleswomen. And yet Annette wondered
if madame would be SO hard if she knew
how far she had to stretch the 50 every
week. Rent. groceries. car fare and
clothes for her mother and self and
a little put aside for the operation on her
mothers spine. which must be performed
very soon If her life We're to be saved.
But madame was not the kind you
tell troubles to. She was very busy,
very nervous woman, who had worked
up from cash girl in one of the citys
department stores to owner of the most
exclusive millinery shop on the fashion
able street. And in working up all kind
Illness seemed to have been dried until
her heart was merely a ball of tough
leather.
| So Annette did not explain that the
| grease spot was caused by a bit of
bacon dropped she hurredly got up
from the breakfast table that morning