The Washington herald., 1921-01-02
An 0. Henry Story
PURPLE DRESS.

churn dasher dabbing in buttermilk
And then Grace came down to hei
room crying with eyes as red a,
any dress.
she says I've got to get out"
said Grace. The old beast. Be-
cause / owe her 81. She's got my
trunk in the hall and locked the
door. / can't go anywhere else.
haven't got a cent Of money"
You had some yesterday" said
MAZDA.
"I paid it on my dress" said
Grace. Il thought shed wait till
next week for the rent"
Sniffle, sniffle, sob. sniffle.
Out came-out 1t had to come
Maida's 81.
You blessed darling" cried Grace,
now a rainbow instead OF sunset.
TIL pay the mean old thing and
then I'm going to try on my dress.
/ think it's heavenly. Come up
and look at II. Ill pay the money
back, 81 a week-honest 1 will"
Thanksgiving.
The dinner was to be at noon.
At a quarter to IL Grace switched
into Maidas room. Yes, she locke
ed charming. Red was her color.
MAZDA sat by the window in her
old cheviot- skirt and blue waist
darning a St, Oh. doing fancy
work.
why, goodness me! Amt you
dressed yet'T shrilled the red one.
How does 1t At in the back? Don't
you think these velvet tabs look
awful swell? Why amt you dress
ed. MaidaT
my dress didn't get finished in
time" said MAZDA. I'm not going
to the dinner"
That's too bad. Why. I'm awful
ly sorry, MAZDA. Why don't you put
on anything and come along-it's
just the store folks, you know. and
they won't mind"
'T was. set on my purple" said
MAZDA. IF I can't have II 1 won't
go at all. Don't bother about me.
Run along or you'll be late. You
look awful nice in red"
At her window Mazda sat through
the long morning and past the time
of the dinner at the store. In her
mind she could hear the girls
shrfeking over a pullbone, could
hear old Bachman's roar over his
own deeply concealed Jokes, could
see the diamonds OF fat Mrs. Bach
man. who came to the store only on
Thanksgiving days, could see Mr..
Ramsay moving about, alert, kind
ly, looking to the comfort of all.
At 4 in the afternoon, with an ex-
pressionless face and lifeless air
she slowly made her way to Schleg-
els shop and told him she could not
pay the 81 due on the dress.
"Gott!" cried Schlegel. angrily.
For what do you look so glum?
Take him away He is ready. Pay
me some time. Hat not seen you
pass mine shop every day in two
years? II I make clothes is 1t that
do not know how to read peoples
time when you can. Take him away.
bretty in him all right. So. Pay
me when you can"
MAZDA breathed a millionth part
OF the thanks in her heart, and hur-
ried away with her dress. As she
left the shop a dash of rain struck
upon her face. She smiled and did
not feel It.
Ladies who shop in carriages, you
do not understand. Girls whose
wardrobes are charged to the old
mans account, you cannot begin to
comprehend-you could not under
stand why Mazda did not feel the
cold dash OF the Thanksgiving rain.
AZ O'Clock she went out upon the
street wearing her purple dress,
The rain had increased. and IT beat
down upon her in a steady, wind
blown pour. People were scurrying
home and to cars with close held
umbrellas and tight -buttoned rain
coats. Many Of them turned their
heads to marvel at this beautiful,
serene, happy-eyed girl in the purple
dress walking through the storm as
though she were strolling in a gar
den under summer skies.
l say you do not understand II,
ladies of the full purse and varied
wardrobe. You do not know what
~ is to live with a perpetual long
ing for pretty things-to starve
eight months in order to bring a
purple dress and a holiday together.
What difference If 1t rained. hailed,
blew. showed. cycloned?
Mazda had no umbrella nor over
shoes. She mad her purple dress and
she walked abroad. Let the eIe-
ments do their worst. 4 starved
heart must have one crumb during
a year. The rain ran down and
dripped from her fingers.
Some one turned a corner and
blocked her way. She looked up into
Mr.. Ramsay's eyes, sparkling with
admiration and interest.
why. Miss Mazda" said he, you
look simply magnificent in your new
dress. l was greatly disappointed
not to see you at our dinner. And
Of all the girls I ever knew, you
show the greatest sense and intelli-
gence. There is nothing more
healthful and invigorating than
Drawing the weather as you are do
ing. May walk with you?"
And MAZDA blushed and sneezed.
Copyright 1920, BY Wheeler Syndicate