Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1921-08-17
False Colors
BY HELEN CARR
20, 1890, western Newspaper Union.

20, 1890, Western Newspaper union.)
Cecily smoothed the ruffies of her
white lawn collar and cuffs as she en-
tered the office. She hoped that this
touch of dainty fineness might relieve
the severity of the blue serge frock,
which she was obliged to wear both
in and out of season. New clothes and
laundry bills were both so high that
Cecily wondered wistfully if she
would ever be able to earn more than
living wage. Employment in tie
business world was new to the here
tofore sheltered country girl, and be-
cause of her shyness or her inability
to adopt each new mode as it came,
or perhaps because of Cecilys differ
ence altogether the girls of the of
flee, used to the great hurrying city
and its ways, made no offer of friend
illness to the one alone.
Ormond Wells held an important
position in the office, and Cecily's wide
eyes were not the only ones that
frightened at his approach. But
Cecily seemed to be the only one who
awakened no responsive CLEAN in his
own. His invitations given with the
air of favor conferred, never in
cluded herself.
Maize, the little pianist across the
clearinghouse hall, who, practiced
hours day in order to publicly per-
form at night-came to Cecily's aid.
Cecily was crying secretly when the
kind-hearted Maize happened to run
in with an extra box of candy some
one had given her.
TITS the same dress and that same
old hat" Maize remarked, "that's get
ting on your nerves.
"Wear my suit for few days, Cis-
sy, and my georgette waist and see
how different you'll feel"
Cecily, who few days before would
have firmly refused this generous Of
fer, now, to her own establishment,
yielded promptly.
The suit and the lovely waist were
transforming. Ormond Wells regard
ed her as though he had not seen her
before, and it was after his second
short visit beside her desk that he
asked with his usual smiling conf
dence, that she 60 with him to the
company's banquet next evening.
Cecily was delighted, triumph was
near.
"You'll have to wear evening dress"
he added casually
Ceeily accepted calmly.
Maize herself eagerly made the sug-
gestion, when Cecily confided to her
the wonder of her invitation, and
Cecily accepted the offer of a frock
as calmly as she had agreed to go to
the banquet. After the accomplish
ment of her triumph, she would settle
back again into the blue serge girl
but first she must ''show" them.
And she did Those who had Ig-
nored her could hardly recognize in
the radiant creature of tulle and gold
the small, meek person of the office.
Ormond Wells had never been more
courteously attentive. Cecily looking
up at him through her long lashes,
wondered If his interests never
reached beyond business or person
atty.
When the rest were dancing she
slipped un0bserved to quiet corner.
Realization of the part she was play
ing came to her poignantly. She was
parading under false colors-that was
the truth; and what had she gained
by the deception? If Ormond Wells
approval had been won by wearing
BORROWED plumes," she would but
have to confess to the borrowing.
"Beg pardon" pleasing voice re-
marked, 81 thought no one was here
and / wanted-to get away from all
that"
A young man stood before her mo-
tioning toward the dancing throng and
still fingered as though awaiting her
permission to stay. The young man
had a fine face and he wore a busi-
ness suit contrasting with the mems
dress suits beyond.
With quick sympathy Cecily under
stood. The young man, company
employee, no doubt had been obliged
to come to this party and had no
dress suit to wear.
Exactly" thought Cecily. 'He is
in the position ! should have been In,
without Mazie's kindness and Mazie's
dress"
And before she knew it, as they sat
behind the palms with the music com
ing to them distantly, the young man
was telling his difficulty and his en-
barrassment.
81 could not afford to bug dress
suit Just for this occasion" he confid-
ed. "and, of course, would not bor-
row."
1t is remarkable how friendly two
people heretofore unknown may be-
come when each has made confess
sion to the other After that last re-
mark of the young man Cecily found
1t necessary to confess concerning her
own borrowed finery.
st all came from my loneliness"
she excused II did so want-to be
included"
The young man nodded with the