The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-26
EVENING STORY
Blue Chiffon.
(By Hilda Morris

(By Hilda Motifs
Ellen Emery. on the train going to |
visit her cousin in the city, was wor-
| rying about her clothes She had not /
\ great many, and her dresses were |
very simple. They were in good taste !
| she felt sure that no one could tlnd
fault with her dark blue silk or her
white evening frock on the ground or
taste-but they lacked in style. that
| indefinabie quality which seemed
| fairly to ooze from the garments worn
| by her city-bred cousins. She did not
! wish them to be ashamed of her, nor
did she wish to be pitied, put she
simply could not afford to buy more
dresses
Il hope there won't be many par
ties she told herself as the train
pulled into the station. And | do
| hope they won't notice my things
much. What is there about the city
that always makes one think clothes?
I'm glad 1 live in the country"
The cousins met her with their car
two tall, fashionably attired young
girls, with white furs and very cor
rect-looking hair and compilations.
| Ellen was not unaware that their
quick eyes swept over her plain
''ready-made" suit and hat apprais-
ingly, or that they exchanged mean
ing glances over her shoulder. How
\ ever, they greeted hSf very kindly
They meant well, and Ellen climbed
\ into the car beside them, resolving
ilOl " .Sl IlOLilSS SpOlI noT, even IL
she could not help thinking about
them.
You're just in time for a dance"
said Dorothy, as they spun along,
There's to be an awfuHy nice one
at the club tonight. Rob will take
you, and you're sure to meet some
awfully nice men,"
That's pleasant" said Ellen, but
her heart sank a little. Not that she
did not love to dance but IAN awfully
nice dance sounded a little fearsome
Her white frock would make little i'm
3 preston in gathering of real evening
: gowns However-and she squared
: her shoulders bravely-she resolved
joying the dance.
5 AS 1t turned out. however, Dorothy
and Louise had already planned what
she was to wear.
We've got present for you" Lou
$ Use said as she helped Ellen unpack
f her steamer trunk "A perfectly stun
ming gown; wait, I'll get it. You see,
Y we just happened to see this frock at
a bargain, and it was too small for
/, either one of US, so we thought of you
J, right away. 1t was so lovely we Just
2 had to buy it.
> Louise danced away to get the dress
l and Ellen felt tears of modification
r come to her eyes. OF course they
had known she would come without
S proper clothes, they knew she was a
+ country cousin" anG they had bought
her a dress to wear, so that they need
t not feel ashamed of her However
d they meant to be kind, and she could
a not refuse.
Indeed, the gown was so lovely that
it would have taken a Spartan mind
to refuse it. OF blue chiffon, with
\ flowers of pink and mauve and yellow
it was irresistibly charming, with
Ellen's golden hair and delicate color
ing. The girls blue eyes grew starry
with delight as she looked at herself
in the mirror. After all, she was
Chic and far prettier than either
n Dorothy or Louise. She had never in
: her life looked SO we'll before. She
p let Dorothy arrange her hair in a very
modish fashion, and consented to Dor
3 row a necklace of Louise's, so that
: when she was dressed she looked like
: a different person from plain little
Ellen Emery of Weedport
There's a perfectly wonderful new
man coming to this dance" remarked
Dorothy. "All the girls are crazy
n about him, and if they aren't careful
g you'll cut them out. His name is
= Murray Andrews, and he is an artist
: or illustrator or something; awfully
I. handsome. Be sure to make Bob in
troduce him."
: Ellen dropped the brooch she was
q pinning into her dress
n Murray Andrews" she repeated.
f And she looked at herself in the glass
n again, her color rising. She was glad,
n glad, that Murray Andrews would see
: her this way-among these gay, So
n phisticated people. He had been in
e Oldport the summer before, on a
= | sketching trip, and they had become
: very good friends. Only he had gone
n away without saying anything. Ellen
s had imagined that there must be
= another girl in the city. She had
y long ago resolved to forget him.
g Her cousin Rob opened his eyes
wide when he saw Ellen, and when
| they were arrived at the club he act
!, ed the part of a very gallant and
t | proud escort. 1t was new to Ellen.
q this feeling that people were proud of
e her, but it gave her unaccustomed
;. courage and ease of manner Dor
r othy and Louise smiled at her when
: they passed in the dance, Rob picked
| her the very incest partners. and saw
. | more than one young man looking
! at her with a glance that was I'M
Il | mista ka bly, admiring Indeed she
: was the prettiest girl in the room,
e and quite the belle of the occasion.
Murray Andrews was presented aft
4 er a while; he was to- have a waltz
I with her. He looked very different
young artist of the summer before
Thy waltzed for a while in silence
and then he spoke abruptly.
2 Let's go and sit in the conserva-
: tory" he suggested. we ought to
u be talking together-not dancing"
They found secluded spot, and he
e at once began to ask her about her
self
How, did you come here, you little
e wildflower2 l never could have i'm
S agined you in such society"
2 why" she asked. little piqued
E You're too good for it, too fragile
] and unspoiled. However, | can't say
D that you do not grace the room better
r than any other girl on the floor.
suppose you'll get to be like all the
| rest in time
e "Of course" she agreed. and laugh
\ ed again
! They talked for a while about
: things that did not matter and then
t another partner came to bear her off.
5 Ellen was conscious of feeling OF