The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-09-21
Helen Attends a Recital, But Finds
That She Alone 10 In Evening Dress.

clothes closet in her room, ana mas
tily unpinned the sheet that covered
her best gowns.
Taking from it's hanger pale-blue
evening gown, she spread it out on the
bed. Against the white counterpane
it looked even more soiied than She
had feared oh. why had she put off
having it cleaned? She should have
known that something unexpected
would come up. and she would have
nothing to wear.
Since they had moved into their
new apartment, Helen had been SO
busy getting settled and then getting
ready for Christmas, that she hadn |
had time or thought for clothes. she
had needed a new evening gown SO
badly. but had wanted to wait until
the January clearance sales. hoping to
get something greatly reduced
Just that morning she had cut out
the advertisement of an exclusive shop
announcing their annual stock taxing
reductions. Evening and dinner gowns.
irnnorted models. at less than cost of
importation.
Pint even If she could find what
she wanted there would not be time
to have anything fitted and delivered
today. She again turned back TO the
gown on the bed. Perhaps at night 1t
would not look So soiled. Quickly she
drew down the blinds and switched on
the lights. then held the gown up be-
fore her and looked at 1t in the mir
ror.
Maggie" she called suddenly as
she heard her sweeping IN the man,
.'come here moment
Maggie came to the door, dust
cloth in her hand.
nCome look at this" demanded
Helen. DO you think it's too soiled
for me to wear tonight2 Yes, I~know
it's dreadful around the bottom as
Maggie stopped over and turned up the
skirt. but that won't show much. DO
YOU think the waist looks too soiied
Yes. miss" with blunt honesty, Il
think that looks right soiled. Ain
YOU got nothing else you can wear
NO. since ripped UP that lavender
silk. this is my only evening dress.
And Mr.. Curtis just 'phoned it's
dress affair."
cant YOU dip it in gasolne?" sus-
gested Maggie, that would freshen u
UP Bit
Yes, 1 thought of that for Helen
was an expert at gasoline cleaning.
"Hut there wouldn't be time now for
the odor to get out.
There's the dumb waiter man.. as
a distant bell rang family, and MAJ
sic hurried off.
It served her right, Helen had told
herself fiercely, for not always having
AT ,,as ST one dress ready for an enaac-
cency. II it was anything else. she
could make some excuse not to go
but this was the recital of MI Court
news daughter, who had Just returned
from Europe and was making her first
professional appearance.
Warren had Just telephoned. saying
that Mr. Courtney had evidently matt
ed him the tickets last week but that
he had Just found them on his desk
and that the recital was TO be to-
night
ITS a nuisance. of course, but well
have to GO" he grumbled. Courtney
has been pretty decent TO me in num-
her OF ways and / don't want TO OF
fend him. l suppose We'll have to
dress-it-s sure to he dress affair.
And then he had rung off before
Helen had time to protest that she
did not have thing to Wear.
For fully half an hour Helen an
guiahed over the soiled blue gown,
irving to think OF something She could
do that would make it presentable. II
was the chiffon which draped the
waist and formed the overskirt that
was the most soiled. And at last she
decided that there was but one thing
to do-to rip off all the chiffon and
wash II.
Helen Gets Busy.
1t would wash beautifully but