Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-27

ing. At last she said slowly: We'll. go
get your dress. Only, don't pay too
much for 1t. dear"
II won't Dorothy promised. She was
all sunshine and roses again. She kissed
her mother in a rapture. Well lunch
together today and talk 1t over, she
cried.
At noon as Celia in her shabby. neat
| black emerged from the store she found
Dorothy waiting before the window
seriously studying display of frocks.
II got one like that" she said point
ing 1T was SIT. ] presume that was
! more than you intended I should pay.
but. mother. it was so pretty and shall
| only be young once. as Miss ormond
said" she laughed merrily.
Miss Ormond was clever salesW oman
in the costume department Wen. Doro-
thy was not to blame. though SIT had
been altogether too much to pay. Be-
Sides it was true she would only once In
a long lifetime be young and so lovely
Yet there were reasons why the pur-
chasing of the gown created a burden.
Celia earned only 50 a week OF course,
that was not all she had to live on.
There had been her husbands life insur-
ance and something besides But she
had to be very economical. And she
was. as far as her own expenditures We're
concerned 1t was Dorothy who exceed
ed their income Dorothy was young and
gay. She had many friends like her
self She went about and had good
times. This meant that she must be
dressed appropriately. This new frock
was SIT, with the rent raised 81 and
every thing just as high as 1t could be!
Celia felt troubled.
She was brought to herself by Dorothy
pulling at her arm. Martin S. mother!
She understood. Martins was the high
est priced restaurant in the town. She
had heard Dorothy tell about it. but she
had never been there. She made Gus
tom of slipping into the Palatlal. where
one could have sandwiches and tea for 10
Gets. Il think not, dear. Let's try the
Palatal." she suggested.
Dorothy flushed. "Oh, mother dear!
It's SO cheap and so common. Pm sure
they have nothing fit to eat"
Celia flushed. well then, well go to
Martins" she consented.
At the square table she peeped into her
purse under the cover of the tablecloth's
edge 1t contained lone two-dollar bill.
Now we must not order anything eN
pensive. DEAR she began bravely, I'm
really not hungry"
"Oh, no." said Dorothy. She was eye
ing the menu
At that moment man approached the
table and glanced at them. He had sill
very hair and a clean. brown face At
the sight of Celia his expression changed.
She looked up and their eyes met.
Celia!
"Mahlon"
Their hands clasped.
why, Celia! 1t has been ten years
since I've seen you"
More than ten years, Mahlon. Doro-
thy was only nine.'
Dorothy? Your daughter! Is this
Mr.. Page, dear"
Dorothy held out her hand with
charming good will.
I'm so glad to meet you again-after
ten years Mr.. Page she declared mis-
chievously. Have I changed much?"
Considerably"
And mother?"
well, not so much
''Oh. Mahlon, my hair
Your hat conceals 1t. Celia. Other
wise you are not day older
Celia smiled family. 1t was good to
| hear that even when one knew better.
lShe and Mahlon Page had been brought
| up in the same village. They had had
| the same friends. Once just before her
husband died he had come to see them.
That was, as she said, more than ten
years ago. She had not seen him
. since, but she had heard things con-
jcerning him-that he remained unmar-
RED that he was making great deal
of money.
May sit here with your he asked
you have not ordered your luncheon?
Let me have the pleasure then of or
dering 1t for you"
It was a delicious meal Celia, used
J to the delicatessen shop and her own