Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-27
AOuestion of Color
by IIII.DA MORALS,

The first night that little Mrs. Cor
man appeared on the hotel veranda.
Of her girl friends. TheNlittlc old lady
took seat noar them and. after ar
ranging her filmy draperies of bright
rose pink began to cool herself with
u gently -swaying fan OF royal blue. She
wore white kid shoes with high heels.
and her gray hair was chrled and ar,
with teweled pins. Altogether, she was
very gorgeous apparitlon.
:, Ghristime GRAY IN the seat next
And Sally West made a most express
sive srimace as she cxch;inged Slances
With Molly andrews. They were silent
by the splendor OF the old lady's APP
parcl.
prue smiled. too: she couldn't help it.
There was something so utterly absurd
about the bent, little figure clad 80
glrlishiy: and yet after ft al, II, was
again. 1t. half embarrassed her.
Mrs. German, however. was utterly
unconseio9s Of the sensation that she
group Of pretty girls admiringly and :.
daughter like that! It was. after all.
by herself: However. she thought hap
PLY that before many days She should
make friends with some or these girls.
However. the days went by Mrs.
German found that II was not so easy
to make friends. Their mothers were
nice TO her, few Of them. but as for
the girls themselves they passed her
by without so much as a smile. In
Mrs. German was especially fond OF
young girls. She wondered what the
matter could be-
II was only week or so after her
arrival that she discovered the reason
why people avoided her. She had walk
cd tosa shady spot on the edge of the
secluded corner with her book. Pres
emily she became aware OF the sound
OF voices near by. The speakers were
quite hidden by. the trees. but she
recognized them as the giriish voices
Of some Of the hotel guests.
Wasn't 1t awful. that pink dress she
young enough for you or me, And this
morning she has on skybluc bingham
made like little girls frock. l never
II my 1as saw anTy,hn sns SO absurd
she had eloped with her grand daugh-
tcr's wardrobe.
she certainly does" agreed another
I don't know who she is or where She
row she'll Appear in emerald green"
Old Mrs. German felt the blood rush
were talking of her. OF course! How
foolish she had been to indulge her
love Of bright colors That was why
everyone avoided her. she should have
guessed.
The merry. departing voices OF the
girls recalled her.
Aren't you coming. Pruc?"
NO, I'm going to stay here and read
awhile I'll be back in time for our
swim"
And only a minute later Prudence
Wilton. seeking a auieter spot. came
face to face with poor little Mrs. Cor
man!
For a minute the two stared at each
Ing blush Of embarrassment. prue was
the first to break the silence.
oh, l didn't know you were here!
Yes" said tho old lady. little trem-
ulously. I'm afraid you did. You
see I couldn't help overhearing you
You were speaking Of me. you and
Prue nodded. miserably The old lady
did not in the least look angry. only
hurt. rrue wished she were a thou
Will you sit down n minute. my
dear" Mrs; German vas saying. Il
want to talk TO you. After all IL was
probably good thing for me TO over
hear that conversation of yours You
have told me what needed to know
like that. /, would rather laugh"
Prue sat down and waited, queer
tight feeling in her throat
You see when was girl my father
and I had no money at ali for gay
clothes. Ny wardrobe consisted Of ser
yiceable grays and browns made over
from my older sisters things. And |
did so long for bright colors: | loved
outdoor colors were all l ever had Of
them. but made myself promise
that II ever had chance should
frocks that money could buy. But my
husband was poor too. and | had no
few years ago. when | was already a
white haired old woman. used to
look at the beautiful bright garments
long for a daughter. so that / would
have some excuse for buying them.
used TO buy ,9bsurdly nice things TO
have them about me where could see
and live with them. And then one
day ] saw woman about my own age
me. j went straight downtown and
bought pink frock. And after that II
just seemed natural to keep on buying
gay things. forge, to think whether
ply enjoyed having them. I'm glad
my dear. that,i have learned the truth
AT last: ] won't wear them any more
-Prue pressed the old lady's hand and
they talked for a while. the girls eyes
wet with sympathy. She felt almost
wa liked back to the hotel, bur when q
girl Is expecting her lover. her soldiel
lover. for the first visit in weeks she
cannot be too sad over other peoples
est white frock and stood at her win.
dow, looking forthe stage that was tc
niQn0IfFnN M n3In