Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-25

held Rita Deanes eyes O. course
purchase vas out Of the question
Since earliest remembrance her father
had drummed into her pretty head that
personal vanity was the deadliest of
sins. a heather soul might be saved
from hell with the money those
slippers or that ribbon would cost.
And. hcsides-Mrs. Sharpe. the Rev.
Deane's housekecper. held tightly 10
her arm.
Surreptt,iously, Rita fumbled the
money in her purse. Yes. she had
enough-just enough. She looked
again into tho window and hot re-
bellion seized her.
She lifted her eyes 10 another win
dow on the seventh floor of the great
office building across the street, where
James White. her fance. transacted
the affairs OF his huge estate. She
could see him dimly, pacing UP and
down In his office. now and then glanc-
ing at n letter in his hand-a letter
from her father forbidding him the
house.
Again she turned to The window.
Some sudden impulse of Instruction
frothed within her soul. something
which seemed apart from her real sub
merged self, yet something which
delighted her.
Look Look" she cried, excitedly.
pointing toward the end Of the line Of
blocked traffic.
Curiosity won. AS Mrs Sharpe's
Iron fingers relaxed upon their grip.
Rita Deane's feet glided swiftly inside
the doors of tho shop. 1t was a full
five minutes before she returned. limo
Gently assuming an air of injury at the
hF, L.
appearance. She had not thought OF
causing any worry. She was merely
looking in the windows TO pass away
the time. Lie upon lie she put upon
her soul. unashamcd OF the deception.
delighted at the Eullibility of Mrs
sharpe. The slippers and the ribbon
hidden beneath her little jacket more
than made UP for any punishment that
could ever be hers
Once In her own room she studied
her reflection in the mirror. surprised
TO find that the sins had left no mark
upon her pretty face. She had really
expected TO find some marked change,
to be able TO trace there bold, des-
perate lines OF wickedness
Cautiously. bit fca fully. she loosed
tho masses OF her hair from their
tight braids. binding them with the
splendid ribbon. revellng in the eff
feet Its contrast worked in her appear
ance. the way 1t set off the beautiful
oval of her face, instead OF broadening
it. the toning down of the high color
which youth and health had painted
upon her checks. And then she slipped
her feet into the dainty slippers
Carried away with her delight with
this new sensation. this realization of
fepf--fhnca
shod feet-began to perform strange
capers, began 10 steal away her sense
of caution. They moved in gay,
spirited steps. faster. ever faster. until
tho dancing girl seemed more like
festive wood sprite prisoned in this
house OF gloom. than the daughter OF
clergyman. Round and round she
whrled. pivoted. poised. touching the
dingy carpetns disdainfully, as
though the air itself might prove sub
stantial enough to support one so light
and graceful And always, always
were her eyes upon the slippered feet.
feasting themselves there, furnishing
gluttonous quantity of pabulum 10
her vanity-starved little heart And
then-then a hand fell upon her
shoulder.
The hand left her shoulder. She
dared not 10 meet the look She knew
was upon her fathers face. She re-
called sermon he had preached only
the week before upon vanity and the
evils to which 1t led. She remembered
the terrible expression upon his face,
the fanatical CLEAN In his eyes as he
fastened them upon his congregation.
transfixing individual members. his
glance picking out accusngly every
bit of adornment they wore. scorning
them, condemninR them.
Continued To-Morrow)