South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-06-10
Their Married
Life.
TIE THIRD YEAR.

saleswoman, as she carelessly threw
a hlmy chiffon evening gown on a.
chair with half dozen others. we
can't show them 10 a string OF GUS
toners every day and keep them
fresh"
this one" protested Helen, picking up
a pearl bead from the floor.
That's why it's reduced 50 much.
That was one OF our best French
models" gIancing at the ticket. It's
been marked down from 1855 10 SIS
This ones in better condition." pull
ing out one from underneath, but OF
course il hasn't been cut so much
SIS from $40.
Yes. but that pink's too deep and
the trimming too heavy" criticized
Helen. Il like this much better"
taking up the pale pink. hardly more
than fesh-cOlored chiffon.
Suppose we take some OF these in
the fitting room and try them on"
suggested Helen.
Helen hesitated She always felt
that If she tried on a thing she was in
way under obligation TO buy it, She
had no sympathy with women who. re-
gardless Of the time of the clerk and
the wear on gowns themselves. would
try on half a dozen models and then
calmly walk off, complaining that
none Of them was quite what was
wanted"
Trying on the Gowns.
But the saleswOman had already
thrown the gowns over her arm and
now led the way TO a fitting room
nearby. Helen followed reluctantly.
Wen try this one first" briskly,
holding up the gown Helen had favor
ed. Yes. you'd better take off your
waist, too. You can't tell anything
about il unless you do"
As the saleswoman hooked up the
gown Helen gazed in the long mirror
with thrilled surprise. She could
hardly realize that the vision reflected
there was really herself The gown
was exquisitely beautiful and the pale
pink chiffon and pearl beads brought
out all the satiny fairness Of her bare
neck and arms.
But she had never before paid as
much as SIS for an evening gown, and
20 pay that for one in this condition!
II was undoubtedly soiled and many
OF the beads were off. Besides, il
was too large the whole dress would
have 70 be altered.
I'VE can easily alter that to fit you"
declared the saleslady as Helen took
up both sides Of the waist to show it's
lOOseness. And that delicate color
suits you perfectly"
What would you charge for the
alterations"
Il can't tell you exactly-the filter
That would make the dress $50!
Helen was thinking fast. Could she
pay that much? What would Warren
say?''
and would need very little Alternating"
folding W the gown Of deeper pink.
"Oh. no; / don't care for that at
all" for 10 Helen il looked almost
cheap and gaudy beside the pale del
icateness Of the one she had on.
"You could alter that yourself" sug-
gested the sa1eswOman. I'LL have one
of the filters come in and pin it up on
you. And those beads" as she saw
Helen examining a place where a
whole strand was off. I'm sure you
can match those down stairs"
Helen Decides.
Very well-I'll take it," said Helen
finally with a sort of desperation, for
all winter she had waited 10 get an
evening gown at this January stock
taking sale. IF you'll have it pinned
UP. I'll try to alter il myself"
IN a few moments the Saleswoman
returned with a filter
I'm afraid I'll have to rip that skirt
off, 7na'am, To pin 1t up right. You
see. it's much too long wasted"
With practiced fingers she ripped
off the skirt, took up the seams of
the waist and shoulders. pinned back
the skirt at a higher waist line, TAX
ing in the darts around the hips TO tit
Helen's slenderness.
For almost an hour Helen stood
while the clever little Frenchwoman
practically made over the dress on her
and all with pins"
Now. you'll have TO be very care
full" she warned. so that the pins
won't come out before you can get it
seWed Let me help you take il off
IL may be pinned through"
Helen. who could hardly wait TO get
20 work on the dress. decided TO take
81 home with her instead of having it
sent AS it was very. soft and sheer,
IL was easily packed in a small box.
and in less than hour she had il
home and spread out on the bed.
IL was fairly bristling with pins.
some OF which she had 10 take out TO
get at those underneath Others had
fallen out and many had slipped and
were merely hanging by the point. so
she could not tell how much she had
taken in. Many OF the beads, too,
came off as she worked.
She realized that the dress was in
far worse condition than she had
thought and that even If she could
get il 10 fit her. the material was too
delicate 10 ever give much service.
HeIen's Difficult Task.
When she finally spread a sheet be-
fore her dresser and tried IL to
see the effect OF her Work, she tounO
that the whole waist was askew. The
Ioosened pins had not been good
guides. She took il of and ripped out
most OF what she had done Then
che found she would have 20 take the
skirt entirely of and alter the waist
alone before she put IL back.
or course, she did not speak 10
Warren about the dress that evening
for ne would have wanted 20 see II.
and there would have been little 10
show for her seventy-five dollars. For
a gown. however exquisite when II Is
ripped up looks most unimpressive,
and in its Sdisjointed stage the soiled
chiffon and the frayed beads were
much more conspicuous.
That night Helen slept very little,
FOR she was in the throes OF regret
that she bought the gown, an anguish
that at some time every woman knows.
She had visions Of ali the other gowns