Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-14


down the aisle and he had nudged Adele
TO look at her hat. a gorgeous affair of
royal blue piumes that hung to her blue
velvet covered shoulders. Adele. mis-
"rably conscious of the brown dnginess
testing In her lap. had managed to smile
adInirinB!y-had managed to join natural
- in JiIn's enthusiasm. But she had not
heard a word of the first act. And
The way home. when he told her of this
box party to which his friend had asked
them. he had remarked: The girl Tom
-ill bring IS a sumner. Her father owns
i've grocery stores. Ard does she dress!"
Jim whistled the enthusiasm which words
could not effect. "Whew, Well you can
bet she does. II was then that Adele
decided to have Influenza Saturday night.
Afterward she changed her mind. She
vas wild to see the play. hat or no hat.
But now she YEARLY fell back on the in
fuenza. Jim would be ashamed. Oh, he
would! He couldn't help it,
Charge and send. said the blonde.
oh. don't fancy IT. to friend. but
I only want IL for a little hack hat to
wear mornings And then she rustled
out. and Adeies eyes grew sulien Her
lips no longer quivered. They made
hard. straigh, line. She wished that she
really could have inftuenza-and die! 1T
wasn't fair She rnuttered it bitterly
At $50 the fiorid. overdressed customer
came for the hat trimmed with the ve.-
vet orchids. With her was cookbook
ing. well dressed man about the same age.
But. being Il man, he looked ten years
Younger. And there was i mean express
sion on his thin. handsome face. The hat
was not quite finished. They had to wait
I've minutes. 81 hope you'n like it, me
woman said twice. II got as near like
that mauve hat I had once before that
rou liked so. Do you remember
He yawned No irritably II do not
remember. How in thunder could / re-
member hat that YOU wore fifteen years
ago."
rNo -ro,,,,,, ~, 10, L. .rs ;,,., .l..,.
an errand girl from the trimming room
handed the hat to Adele Both the wom-
an and Adele drew IA long involuntary
rreath of admiration. The lovely puppies
and lavenders of the orchids, with an oc
casio!.al petal OF pale pink. blended eN-
nuisitey with the delicate Inauye OF the
velvat brim. And the dull orange ribbon
drawn through, Just showing here and
was like blotch of orange light against
a purple sunset. The woman pulled her
hs, of hastily. Her eyes g!owed. She
put the other on and turned to the man.
her husband And he laughed. Good
Srac;ousr' he cried. You look like an
overgrown poster. Why. you're q freak
Don't you like the hst?" she faltered.
The hat? Yes he sna pped. On 4
rirl-a young woman! Button YOU He
aughed again. lord Women never
know when they get old.
Tire woman hastily unpinned the hat
tdes saw that her hands were trembling
ana hel eyes were tuI or tears. she al
,aost pushed il al Adeies outstretched
hands. The man turned away in bored
"a sh Oh There was charge for trim
ming which must be paid whether she
accepted the hat not. Adele had TO
call a head saleswoman to arrange the
affair The man frowned angrily' over the
delay. And then tn. woman went away
with him. Her ford. middie-aged face
quivered. She was finding it hard work
70 keep back the tears The hands that
held the expensive rings were cienched.
Tho head saleslady laughed at the look
On Adele's young face. I've seen lots
Ike her, she laughed. And lots like
him We ean't all be Young and pretty