Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1920-05-14
NO EXCHANGES
BY IZoLA FORESTER.
D. lg2O. by MeClure Newgpaper syndicate:


make the change the following week.
He would be away until the 2Sth, any
way, so there wasn't n ghost of a
chance he would ever find it out.
Yet she hesitated and went back to
look al the temptation several times
| 1t hung on model i'm the showro0mS
upstairs at AlIaire's, the sheeresty
daintiest handmade lingerie gown In
peach-b!ow tint with crush girdle OF
deep-toned velvet and underslip Of
satin.
She knew she could take her black
| chiffon hat and make it look right
and there would be Il saving, for she
had planned on q hat, too, besides Il
cheap little dress that would "get by
at the lawn party.
The idea of the exchange had come
like blessing. They had an account
at Allaire's, one she had never over
stepped or presumed on, it 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's
terrace Sunday afternoon. Then on
Monday she could go back to the store
and could exchange it for sensible
blue serge suit that Laurie would ap-
prove of, and this would tide her over
for early fall besides.
There were no alterations. She had
made sure of that, and she ordered
the gown sent home over the tele-'
phone bravely. 1t came just before
dinner. Hugging the long white box
she ran upstairs to try it on and was
just pluming herself before the mir
ror 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 full-toned genial voice that
sent the color back to her cheeks. 1t
was Lauric's Uncle Sandy, the sole
hope she possessed in the line Of in
hcritance.
Slipping out of the gown, she put
on plain linen dress and hurried
to greet him.
"Never mind if he is away" Sandy
said when lie heard Of Laurie'S alb
Sence. "I'm going to stay couple Of
weeks with you. The air up here al
ways does me good, and / like your
cooking, Evelyn. Don't notice me
bit. Im going to get an axe and cut
some wood for YOU to tone myself up
a bit"
1t had Eccn her very first social in
diligence since their honeymoon, and
every minute at the lawn party
seemed happier than the last. She
knew pe0pic were looking at her and
asking about her who had never been
aware Gf her existence before, and
later Oh Mrs. Wainwright compliment
ed her ~ :hey sat over their coffee
after dinner
you always seemed like such lit
tie brown wren," she laughed. "I
didn't 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 AlIaire's, anf asked them
kindly. to call for the gown, as she
had decided to exchange it for a suit.
= "No 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 $G5 charge, with only lit
tie perishable lingerie gown to show
for it. Before she knew 1t she had
laid her head on the mahogony hall
stand and WAS sobbing miserably. 1t
had been so perfectly senseless and
reckless Of her, just piece of child
ish vanity to appear in the gown when
she knew she couldn't afford it. And
she did need suit badly. SO did
Laurie need Il 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.
"Well girl. did you get bad news?"
he asked cheerily. Mustn't take or
like that? Is 1t anything happened to
Laurie:"
Uncle Sandy" she said desperately,
""Tve done something terrible, and I'm
afraid Laurie won't forgive me-"
BroLenly she went on explaining while
the old Scotchman listened, his eyes
keen and humorous. "You see, it is
the deceit that he will despise me for"
she cried. "And l deserve it, too, for
beng so silly"
$50 you do he agreed. "But it was
a mighty neat-lOoking frock. thought
so myself when l saw you walk out in
it, and 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. "Tm not going to give
you a check, either, to help. you out
You'd best wear it and do without the
suit, but I'll help Laurie so he doesn't
feel the loss Of it,"
"And / will have to tell him?"
Evelyn begged. 1T might break down
all the love and faith between us
Tel him." he said kindly. He'll
love and trust you the more for it."
He wrote the check slowly, and then
patted her shoulder as the tears rolled
down her. cheeks.
''Twas a b0nny frock," he said