The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-10
EVENING STORY
No Exchanges.
By IZoLA FORREsTER.

/
| make the exchange. Evelyn reasoned
to herself, before the bill went in to
| Laurie. The lawn party was the 18th,
and she could take the gown back and
make the change the following week.
He would be away until the 2Sth, any,
way, SO there wasn't a ghost of a
chance he would ever find it out.
Yet, she hesitated. and went back to
| look at the temptation several times.
1t hung on a model in the showrooms
upstairs at Allaire's, the sheerest,
daintiest hand maze lingerie gown in
peach blow tint with a crush girdle of
! deep-toned velvet and undersiip Of
/ satin.
She knew she could take her black
chiffon hat and make it look right,
and there would be a saving, for she
had planned on a hat. too, besides a
cheap little dress that would get by
at the lawn party.
And then had come the Vain
wright's invitation to spend the week
] knew she must dress right. If only
Laurie could be made, to see things
the way she did, that it really was
necessary for them to keep up the
pace II they lived in town like Rad
ley Heightsi
The idea of the exchange had come
like a blessing. They had an account
stepped or presumed on, 1t had been
SO precious in times of need. By TAX
ing the peach-blow gown she could
wear it for two days, just to the lawn
party and for tea on the Wainwright
| terrace Sunday afternoon. Then on
Monday she could go back to the store
and could exchange 1t for a sensible
blue serge suit that Laurie would ap-
prove of. and this would tide FER over
for early fall besides.
There were no alterations. She had
made sure of that, and she ordered the
gown sent home over the telephone
bravely. 1t came Just before dinner.
Hugging the long white box, she ran
upstairs to try 1t on and was just
pluming herself before the mirror
when there came the sound of wheels
outside on the graveled drive
She held her breath for fear it
might be Laurie, but instead there
came a full-toned genial voice that
sent the color back to her cheeks. 1t
was Laurie's Uncle Sandy, the sole
hope he possessed in the line of in
heritance.
Slipping out of the gown. she put
on a plain linen dress and hurried to
greet him.
Never mind II he is away" Sandy
said when he heard of Laurie's abb
sence. I'm going to stay couple
of weeks with you. The air up here
always does me good, and I like your
cooking, Evelyn. Don't notice me a
bit. I'm going to get an axe and cut
some wood for you to tone myself up
Bit
All during the evening Evelyn cogi-
tated how she was to smuggle herself
out of sight in the peachblow gown.
Economy was Uncle Sandy'S one prize
virtue, and she knew that any display
of extravaganza on her part would put
~
was bent on taking a health cure.
That meant going to bed at and
rising at 5. And he took the news of
her Weekend engagement placidly.
run along and be neighborly,
child" he said. II can keep house by
myself"
1t had been her very first social in
diligence since their honeymoon, and
every minute at the lawn party seemed
happier than the last. She knew peo-
pie were looking at her and asking
about her who had never been aware
Mrs. Wainwright complimented her
as they sat over their coffee after
dinner.
You always seemed like such a lit
tie brown wren" she laughed II did
MT know you cared for pretty things
Alice returned home Sunday night,
and Monday morning, while Uncle
Sandy was safely out OF earshot, she
called up Allaires, and asked them
kindly to call for the gown, as she had
decided to exchange it for a suit
mo exchanges on that, Mrs. Buell."
said the clerk. I'm sorry. 1t was
special model"
She hung up the receiver in a daze
of CONSERVATION. No exchanges, and
she had $65 charge, with only a little
perishable lingerie gown to show for 1t.
Before she knew, it she had laid her
=. - l. etc n
was sobbing miserably. 1t had been SO
perfectly senseless and reckless of
her, just a piece OF childish vanity to
appear in the gown when she knew
she couldn't afford it. And she did
need the suit badly. So did Laurie
need a new suit, and there was the
interest to meet and taxes. She heard
Uncle Sandy's cough before she knew
he was standing staring at her.
We'll. girl. did you get bad news2"
like that Is it anything happened
to Laurie?"
Uncle Sandy" she said desperately.
I've done something terrible, and I'm
afraid Laurie won't forgive me-"
Brokenly she went on explaining while
keen and humorous. You see, it is
the deceit That he will despise me for"
she cried. And I deserve it, too, for
being so silly"
so you do" he agreed. But It
was a mighty neat-looking frock. I
thought 80 myself when I saw you
walk out in il, and I was proud of
you. and Laurie would have been, too"
But we can't possibly afford it,
Uncle Sandy"
NO. you can't. but you'll have to-"
he said firmly. I'm not going to give
you a check, either, to help you out.
Observation-Disclosures,