The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-03-24
Chapter 20.
THE GAY PARTY

3S--or whatever her real age might be.
She tried to count 1t up in her head
she. Myra, had been 10 when Cousin
Emily came to visit them; she was al
most 10 now, that made nine years.
Her mother had said then that their
cousin was IS or so-yes, that made
her about SO now.
Myra turned round again to look,
but Emily had f1uffed her hair before
q mirror. powdered her nose, and
turned about-no, was she in her thir-
ties? She did not look it! But the
strong light from the window showed
lines around her mouh-and lines, to
Myra. meant Age.
Come to your room," the woman
said. and led the way down the tinniest
of hall ways. That's how MyTa first
saw the room she tried to describe to
Ruth. She felt as though she we're
stepping into a lowered hat box, or
into a closet. Brought up where space
was cheap and big houses the fashion.
the girl had no idea a room could be
so tiny! ...-
Now, off with your things and be
comfortable. Do you want to wash?
Here's the bath"
The shining plumbing was a delight
In Myra. and the rows Of bottles paint
ed with gay flowers that lined the
glass shelves, fascinated her for
weeks. Emily had such variety Of
perfumes, powders, paints, rouge, lip
sticks, toilet vinegars, salts, anlmonias,
and, goodness knows what else!
breakfast" she heard in a clear
bright voice. So she went back to the
living room.
In some marvellous fashion, Emily
had slipped from her street dress into
a loose velvet and chiffon negligee,
and she was now curled up in corner
of her enormous sofa, with low tea
table before her. A waiter had brought
up breakfast and placed it ON this, with
the coffee bubbling in little copper
percolator and eggs in a hot plate
under Il silver cover.
Myra slid into low chair and ate
with relish. Her country appetite was
still with her-in fact, as she after
wards said, it never deserted her.
Now" Emily leaned back with
sigh of pure content. Tell me about
everything. Your mother said she was
sending letters with you
So one day began, and so all the
other days began
Myra slipped easily into this new
life. She stayed up gloriously late at
night, and when her healthful home
training made her sleepy at midnight,
she made herself coffee to keep awake.
She arose at 10 or even later, when
she heard Emily splashing i'll the bath
room-Emily took a cool shower
mornings, and in the late afternoon,
bath that rivaled the STORED ones of
ancient Rome for it's length and
righteousness. In her own simple
kimono Myra curled up on the other
end of the sofa and ate rolls and drank
far more coffee than was good for
her.
And then, perhaps at noon, perhaps
in the afternoon, the two set of for the
days rounds.
Wen shop today Emily would
say when nothing else was in prospect.
So they would go downtown on top
of bus-Myra always a bit surprised
that a river and trees and a park
should exist in this amazing city. They
would wander about the fashionable
Fifth Avenue shops, or sit in the
exquisite little salons OF the very select
places, while mannequins paraded be-
fore them, wearing dresses that daz-
zled the girl from Marketown.
Some afternoons there was matt
nee, or a movie, and often there were
trees dL Tile IlOHlCo vi . "oiAiN@A
friends - women like herself who
talked rapidly in language strange to
Myra. laughed shrilly, and wore anaz-
ing gowns.
But the evenings were the great
times!
From the time Emily curled up on
the sofa in the morning, it seemed to
her guest that the telephone began to
ring. engagements were made for the
day. or for the whole week. Emily
marking them down punctiliously in
her red leather-covered engagement
book.
For one always keeps an engage
ment," she warned Myra- I'm care
less and forgetful in most things, but
not i'll that
Usually, coming in tired about 6
o'clock from tea or the theatre or shop
ping, she would fling herself down on
the couch. throw out her hands. and
look up at Myra with comical smile.
"Oh. to be young and H.. she Woulo
cry. "Myra. you look like baby and
7 your grandmother. Darlin, run some
hot water into the tub, like an angel
while I get off these smotherlng
clothes. I'll take up the serious aues-
ton of this evening when I've had my
bath
A long time afterwards she would
emerge from the bathroom, as fresh
as child newly awakened from sleep
Nv this time Myra knew the long proc
ess of cold cream rubs, hot water with
salt in it, cool rinses. rub downs with
toilet vinegar. ice packs on the face,
and a final spraying with pertumed
toilet water and powder, that made
this woman of SO come forth ike
radiant young goddess of energy.
81 feel glorious she would call
over her shoulder To Myra. Lets
c.. H. pxoecr,ot,on