Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-22

GO, when Saturday night. came, l
found myself leaving Silberstein' S
with Adelaide Powell on our way to
the party in her nat TO which she had
asked me. Although Adelaide did not
particularly attract me, and l had &C
cepted her invitation without great en-
thusiasm, still, now that the time was
actually at hand. 1 was young enough
to look forward to the possible gayeties
with curiosity and pleasure.
What do you do at your parties,
Adelaide?" 1 asked as we made our way
uptown.
WELL" explained my new friend. "a
couple more girls come in after dinner,
and then the boys come, and usually we
play cards for while and then turn on
the graphophone and dance and get some
supper. Sometimes the boys ask US out
for supper"
play cards?" / repeated, my mind
catching at the part of her explanation
that afforded a new picture to me. Il
am not very fond of. cards; what do
you play?'
"Oh poker or bridge" said Adelaide
nonchalantly. But don't you be scared.
kid; you're not in with sharks. We
don't play high game"
You mean you play for money!" 1
asked in amaZement.
"Sure!" rejoined Adelaide. Its no
fun unless you do"
An uncomfortable sensation passed
over me as thought of the very small
sum in my purse which constituted my
ready capital.
Presently we arrived at Adelaide
home, which, as she had explained to
me, she shared with her sister Nell.
There was quite adifferent air about
these rooms compared to the small suite
my friend Lucy Ludlow occupied. Here
was some extravaganza and even eX-
pense, but the purchases had been made
with a quite different idea of beauty.
There was a great deal of green plush in
the room which Adelaide called the par
lor." And in the dining room cut glass
was in evidence. A slatternly maid of
sorts opened the door for US and then
shuffied back toward the kitchen while
l followed Adelaide into the green plush
room to be introduced to her sister.
Nor was the dinner daintily served as
it had been at Lucy's. The servant
dragging her feet in an effort to keep
her i'll fitting shoes in place, came back
and forth between the kitchen and din
ing room with large plates of food
which she placed upon the table with
little crash. Nell and Adelaide ate
heartily and noisily. 1 was glad when
dinner was over. Nell, an even more
buxom edition of my brunette friend,
jumped up from her place before she had
finished her coffee.
Come along. girls" she cried, I'VE
got to get dressed! The bOys'll be here
soon."
Were with your replied Adelaide
and arose also. Then she turned to me:
you didn't bring a change, did you?
Want me to lend you something?"
This iptiroatiOn I had
that my one, only, and best dress which
was wearing might be unsuitable to
the occasion.
I'm sorry" I said. flushing with
embarra ssment 81 don't think 1 would
care to borrow anything. 1 didn't know
1 ought to wear anything else"
"Oh, you look all right" Nell assured
me with rough good humor. I'VE pref
ty up a bit, but you'll do this time"
And, with a frank glance of admiration:
You don't need clothes to set you off.
Come on in and talk while we change"
Obediently 1 followed my new friends
into their bedroom; watched them ar
range their hair even more deliberately,
powder and rouge and darken their eye
lids, and then slip into gowns that to my
unsophisticated gaze seemed singularly
scant Inded. 1t was not without grave
misgivings that 1 realized that the gar
ment Nell was struggling to hook into
place was actually a gown and not some
sort of undergarment or slip. Her full
throat rose bravely from the all too
frank cut of her bodice, which was held
in place by frail straps over the Shout
ders. Her skirt chung to her until /
turned my gaze away. uncomfortable.
"All right?" asked Nell as she turned
for Adelaide's and my inspection.
"Stunning!" rejoined my friend, and
then, catching a glimpse of my face,