The Washington herald., 1917-08-06
Economy.

just sit here a while. Oh. wouldn't
after a black taffeta gown weighted
down by q kolinsky scarf.
Huh. any woman who'd wear furs
q night like this ought to be examined
for her sanity"
1t was the typical, cosmopolitan
crowd of smart" hotel. a continu-
Gus stream passing back and forth,
A party Of four Just arriving, hur-
ried up to the desk, followed by two
bell boys burS Led with golf stocks
and foreign-labeled bags.
A well-set-up youth in a lieuten-
ants uniform strolled by with a girl
rigged out in da. -after-tomorrow's
style. A swarthy. white-spatted Span
lard staggered past. A messenger
boy with a handful OF kilograms
scudded over the marble floor.
by George, can that be Willard
Chapman" Warren leaned forward
with sudden interest.
Where, dear, where?' anxiously.
knowing Mr.. Chapman was one Of his
wsalthiest clients. ,-.-
"Over there by the newsstand. Can't
tell till he turns around. Then heart
lily. That's Just who 1t is-and that's
Mrs. Chapman with him.
A swift glance at the exquisitely,
expensively gowned Mrs. Chapman,
and Helen drew back with a nervous,
"Oh, ! don't want to meet themi
ItlI only be awkward. And I'm not
dressed-I look horrid."
Beat IL then-here's the key" toss
ing into her lap the jangling tag. Then
in a growing undertone, TOO late!
They've spotted US"
The next moment Helen was being
introduced to Mr.. and Mrs. Chapman,
Yes, We stopped on here on our
way up to Maine" In answer TO War
ren's inquiry We're motoring
through
Helen was taking in the delicate
freshness Of Mrs. Chapman's gown.
II only she could have escaped! Self
conscious and Disconnected over her
own appearance. she hardly heard
Mrs. chapman's polite. casual re-
marks.
It's so very warm today-so very
oppressive" she murmured tritely,
feeling that she must say some-
thing.
"We'Il go down to the grill" pro-
posed Mr., Chapman, Have a cool
ing drinE-and watch the dancing.
'T-rin afraid you'll have to ex-
cuse me-" stammered Helen. 81 was
just going up-Pve such a head
ache from the heat" Then ner-
vously to Warren, But you needn't
come. dear. I'll be quite all right"
There was an awkward moment
in which they expressed their polite
regrets, and with flushed confusion
a. ha Al
tors.
Upstairs, alone in their sitting
room. she anguished over the !nci-
dent. The breaking away had been
painfully awkward. Just what had
she said? Would Mrs. Chapman
think her discourteous? Should she
have gone with them-regardles
of her dress?
Meeting any of Warren's wealthy
clients was always an ordeal. She
was always afraid she would say
or do something wrong. Her face
burned as she recalled the readi-
ness with which he had flung her
the key, and his curt, Beat 1t
them"
He had not wanted her to meet
them! In spite of his apparent in
difference to her dress, he had
realized that she would not appear
well beside Mrs. Chapman. His
surly. It's too late" proved that
he had wanted to get her away
before they saw her.
Was 1t only because she was not
we'll dressed-or because he knew
she would be awkward and self
conscious? Mrs. Chairman was M
doubt a clever conversationalist,
Perhaps this very moment Warren
was drawing unflattering compari-
sons.
She never could scintillate, but there
was no excuse for her not being
well-gowned. 1t was her economy
her hateful, insistent economy-that
had kept her from wearing the white
Georsette. She was always keeping
her things for another time" She