Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-05

NF course, with the morning after
my birthday party came my time
u reckoning. 1 had deliberately
( ,...-~I Il gown and wrap which did nOS
belong 10 me, but to my employers.
had SeCIcted ii in Il dress suit case,
brought il nome and worn it to the func-
ton which Howard Boyd had given IN
my honor. during the party L had been
too delighted with the success L had
made. dressed as L was in my borrowed
plumage, TO think much about the diff
culties of returning it. Indeed, such
had been my triumph that June" White,
Howard's best friend, had gone out and
bought huge bunch OF roses, among the
stems of which he had secreted a hftv
dollar bill.
This was the largest sum of money l
ever had owned. Puzzled about the
ethics Of accepting it, L had for the
moment avoided the question by pre-
tending l did not know the money was
among the flowers. Once + got home
with the golden bill still in my posses
sion l knew 1 should never have the
courage 20 give it back. However, the
manner of thanking June" was some
thing to be decided later. For the mo-
ment l faced the situation of having to
return the gown and wrap l had worn
without having it found out that L had
taken them. | had told myself that |
would arise very early the morning after
the party, get to Silberstein's before the
other girls, and thus save myself the
possibility of having to take the things
had borrowed out of my suitcase when
any one was present.
But when morning came was 81
sleepy l felt as though l could not arise
AS matter of fact, had got in so late
the night before that l only had a few
hours sleep. In consequence | was
later at Silberstein's than usual. Whether
it was this, or whether somebody had
suspected what | had done, or how i
was found out 1 do not know, 1 can
only tell that late in the afternoon, long
after l had returned the things to their
places, and Just when / was beginning
to breathe freely again, Miss Berger, the
head of the department, called me to her.
Diana" she said there is no use IN
beating about the bush. l think I've
found out that you took one of our
evening gowns last night and wore it 70
a party. / don't want to question you
myself ! don't want to be hard on you.
But 1 felt it was my duty to tell Mr..
Levy, and you had better go into his
Office now and see what he has to say
to you"
I am sure my face went white. My
.
FLevy was the man who engaged and dis
missed the girls in Silberstein's. 1t was
he who had given me my position. In
this particular case I had not the faint
lest idea whether or not what 1 had done
constitute crime. / told myself it was
very possible I could be arrested for it.
The party over and the natural depres-
sion upon me which follows revelry. I
wished now from the bottom of my heart
never had gone to it at all. I Won
dered what had possessed me to think
of taking the gown and wrap as I had.
dared not look Miss Berger in the face.
turned away and with my heart pound
ing in my throat I made my way to Mr..
Levy's office. He told me to come in
CURLY, in answer to my knock. I stood
before him, | am sure, very guilty
looking young woman.
well, Diana?" he began, what's this
we hear about you? You took one of
our dresses and wraps and wore them
to some party last night?''
I took long breath. I was very
inexperienced. I had no idea to guide
me in my present difficulties. I could
not even think of some likely falsehood
or some circumstances that would
make my crime seem less black. I
opened my mouth to speak and suddenly,
probably Just az much to Mr.. Levy's
surprise as my OWN the truth came out
yes" I said 'T took them. But I
don't think hurt them any. They are
back where they belong"
But you took them Mr.. Levy
asked
yes" I said again.