The Washington herald., 1916-07-02
COLOR.

Every evening she watched for three
feet of sunset
The deep cash between two tene-
ments on which her window faced was
turned toward the west at an angle
that gave her an outlook about as
wide as ffty-nine-cent shsntung silk.
Every evening IL was different Often
it was as hard and gray as the taf-
feta she sold to old ladies. Sometimes
| II was quivering blue that made her
! heart hurt. a happy sort of pain more
= satisfying than the waves of Joy that
\ came when sweeps of rose and gold
and violet made her dizzy with beauty.
She hoped, when she became more ex-
perienced. to sell on the third floor
instead OF in a bargain basement but
she sometimes doubted II handling
evening cloaks and party dresses OF
silk and silver and velvet would ever
mean as much TO her as the wonder
ful tints that were spread free for
| everybody to see-way over there be-
hind New Jersey.
| There was a time when her craving
for color had been denied even strip
| of sky. That was when they lived in
\ Grand street, on the first floor facing
an inner court Everything in that
neighborhood was dull-gray. brown
or black that had withered into green.
There were spots of color in the head
'kerchiefs and shawls OF the old wom-
en- and in spring the push carts ped
died geraniums. pansies and sickly
strings of ivy. She had never owned
! anything bright except some red hair
! ribbons and an imitation coral neck
lace. The geranium she bought with
1 painfully saved pennies had died. At
school, Delena had to wear the faded.
discarded clothes of older sisters who
were wage earners, and when she
grew old enough to go to work the
management of the department store
ruled that she must always wear
black.
Because she listened to the advice OF
the stores welfare woman. Delena never
made the mistake of her older sisters who
vented their suppressed love OF color in
Sunday clothes OF cheap satin. In a lit
! tie talk on taste, the woman had re-
| marked that no real lady ever INDUCED
In anything that was loud or shoddy, and
| the little Italian from the department
store basement needed because she liked
the welfare woman for not using what
| she had come to call a settlement
| house voice" The woman scolded her
charges. advised them. instructed them.
but no one had ever heard her patron
ize even a little cash girl.
Mrs. Henry's going to have a new Of
| flee Delena overheard one morning.
The old man is going to let her pick
out anything she wants TO furnish It No
| limit. / bet 1t will be elegant. Mrs Henry
acts like a real swell and knows a lot
of them. I'll bet that the way she fixes
up that new office will be somethin' Just
grand"
| Delena made an excuse to visit the new
Office. She wanted TO feast her eyes on
the sort OF grandeur that the welfare
woman would approve. On the threshold
she paused. while her look Of beaming
anticipation was changed to one OF dis
appointment and grief
why. they said the old man was go
| ing to do things just handsome. Tor you
Mis- Henry. Amt he the ole skinflint.
! Why. you oughta have the best office in
I the place"
| Mrs Henry looked puzzled
! Don't you think il is? she asked.
Delena shook her head at the gray
walls and floors and dull blue wash
| hangings. Even the wooden and wicker
furniture was gray. There was very lit
tie of It Except for the amber shades
on the lights and at the windows and a
few joinQuils stuck upright in a fiat dish
that cost no more than thirty-nine cents
there was not a bit OF brightness in the
place
! It's so bare-these Jap rugs when yol
might have had a real plushlike carpet
And a lot OF things to make it lool
brighter and real elegant"
Mrs. Henry might have laughed snC
changed the subject. but something in til,
girls brooding face made her ask:
! Don't you think the room looks Coof>'
Yes" admitted the young critic.
Having plain furniture and neutra
tints makes II look larger and-fresheI
and restful l spent a whole day lookinE
for the right shade Of blue to go with
the French gray" explained the welfare
woman tactfully.
/ Delena nodded unconvinced.
"But-everything dull!' she cried
Outside it has gotta be. But here-ycl
could do so different Oh. I get so tired
] Of seeing things look so all alike. streets