New Britain herald., 1919-04-08

lahce but real good nature rising with alacrity and shaking out her fluff draperies. It's dull as ditch water. | never could bear that w. anyway Don't like his photograph. He looks too lade-da for anything. Come along, Madge, I'm dying to talk clothes. I haven't had anything new Tor ages, and I'm planning how to fix over my old ones. Maybe we can swap"
 The laughter of our men followed us up the stairs-when Mrs Durkee talks her childish nOIGense she is ir- resistible in her appeal to the risibles made my friend toss her head "a antly.
 A Potent Distraction.
 "Conceited things!" she nouttered. '"ThinlI their old authors and manu- scripts are the only things in the world. They'll chuc<le to themselves about our gabbling over dresses, yet how would they like it if WIG went around like old frumps? Just tell mo that!'
 wisely made no answer to this affecting to be busted with the lock Of my wardrobe door. And the next minute I began spreading over the bed my gowns of the vintage of two seasons back I knew that nothing would quickly make, Mrs. Durkee for get a real or a fancied grievance as the sight of dresses new or old.
 knew something else, also, some thing that made me welcome this op- portunity of showing her my ward robe The little woman has a rare taste and discrimination in dress, and a positive knack in designing and fixing over" things. That it would be only a matter of 8 week or two be- fore Dicky would wish me to accom- pany him to dinner and a play in town I was sure. And I had nothing modish to wear, for I had bought ; only the simplest, most necessary things during the war. My evening 1 and afternoon gowns had the unnii9- ta<ablc look of being out or uate' which, while it bothered me put llCtle' would, I knew, annoy my huspano fastidious taste.
 Mrs. Durkce promptly seized the prcttiest gown I had--one of ivory crepe embroidered in gold threads and held it up critically.
 You lucky girl,' she said. "There's so much stuff in this that we can take if out here, add to the length, hide the joining right under this embroid~ cred design, and swirl it tightly around your ankles in the most ap- proved style. Have you still got the adorable slippers and embroidered hose you used to wear with this? Look Herc." Almost as fresh as if they were new" I said. You know I had this made not very long before Dicky went away I've only worn it two or three i times"
 q remember" she returned absent l ly. Lets see the evening coat you l wore over this"
 l I brought out the darling of my l heart, blue velvet cloak with a deep ! fur collar. It was a coat of several l seasons use. and the collar was dis 1 tinctly shabby.
 l H-m," comm ented Mrs. Durllee
 "The velvet is still good in this-it 1 sure pays to buy good materials but it's rubbed all around the edges. ! You need new fur on the collar and l the edges of the sleeves, and a new l lining I can fix it up for you so you l won't know it.''
 '1But-" I stammered, 'that will l cost a good deal, I'm afraid for fur of the right kind. I ought not to
 spend so much on it. I can wear it
 the way it is this season.
 Look here!' Mrs. Durkee sat up
 and looked at mo witheringly. 'What
 are you going to do, sit back and twid-
 dle your fingers and let Edith Fairfax
 or somebody like her walk off with
 your husband?'