The Detroit times., 1917-02-19

| shine" that Van Vert had admired
! on Der. She called In the village
I cressmaker. whom she thoroly
scandalized by having a dress made
with hardly any waist TO Il" a.
that good woman described H. And
when the dress was finished ard
tried on her heart sank little a.
the open disapprovRl IN Cousin
I fAcy's face.
Il Just think you're getting crazy
Mile Hardy" she said To think
OF putting on dress like tina,
when you've been decent and re
spectacle for 81 years"
Il suppose you ind II absolutely
necessary 20 your happiness 20 tell
everybody that I'm 81 Well.
don't care IL am. and ] don't care
II this dress isn't respectable in
this town But tell me. ia II
pretty"
You're too skinny 10 be pretty
In that. II might be pretty II you'd
put in a guimpe OF some kind TO
cover up your nakedneess
Mile BIT hard on her lip 10 keep
+ bark the tears OF vexa,ion and
vent 20 her mirror. She had never
thought much about her looks. She
was a trim. neat. wholesome young
spinster. with sweet kindly face
I and nice dark eyes. OF course. Jim
7 scott thought her the most beauti-
/ ful woman in the world. but his
honest admiration never had
turned her head She knew that
Jim would not admire her In that
gown She looked long at her re-
hection in the mirror she was
rather thin for extreme decollete
But she had read tha, slenderness
was much admired Anyway. Van
Vert. who "worshiped beauty" ad
mired her. 40 she must be beautiful
in the eyes OF those who knew
Jim tried several times 10 see her
hut sh. denied herself 20 him. On
The night besor. she went 20 New
York she received note from him
suggesting that be accompany her
"on a honeymoon trip" That only
/ anEered her and she tossed the note
disdhnfIDy aside az she packed
the yellow gown.
Arrived in New York. she went
TO The hotel at which she usually
stayed and mex, day presented her.
self a. the salesroom OF Quill. Buck.
ram a Company A very obsequI-
Gus sales manager received her and
dispatched page TO find Mr. Van
/ Vert.
Miss Hardy This n indeed a
/ pleasure" said that gentiertan
when he arrived. The pressure of
hi1 hand thrilled her thru and thru.
4 They talked together for a little
while. then for two wonderful hours
wandered thru salesrooms which
were a blooming forest Of millinery.
Freed from Dnoy's restraint. Mile
forgot all discretion In buying. and
not until she had returned 20 her
/ *NNTA wv SUI IFhiikf iuht Fue UhI
Invested twice the amount she had
Intended 20 put into stock.
But she did not repine or regret.
for Van Vert was coming that
night 10 take her TO tho theater and
afterward-oh. how delightfully."-
wicked he had looked "a he said
ito a little supper whore the
lights are bright"
She lay down 10 rest, but she
could not close her eyes for think
ting ~ him She dressed WITH care.
DOMINIC the yellow gown and a
topaz ornament she had bought
that day
~ Sis she put on her wraps and
went down 10 the rotunda for she
had promised 10 meet him At the
elevator entrance. Her watch
must have been fast As she looked
81 tho great clock over the desk she
saw that II lacked % minutes ~ g.
So she sank into one ~ the luEurl.
oEs sests and waited.
A group ~ men IN evening clothes
strolled by and paused near the
elevator We'll. lets go along
What's The matter. Bnl7 Aren't you
I