The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-05-06
ALICE'S BLUE GOWN.
By MiZpah F. Buckingham.

BY M1Zpan r. buckingham.
Copyright, 1921, by Wheeler Synd--
cate. 1nc.)
But, Lloyd, don't you like it?
Isn't it becoming"
Alice turned around in imitation
of the style-show mannikins, dis
playing to it's best advantage the
limited glories of her new blue
vo;le dress. 1t was pretty dress,
and becoming, to be sure, but it
lacked the something" that, well
that Vera Demming's clothes had.
But then, Vera wore the latest sport
silks while she, Alice, if the truth
must be told, had made over this
one from her second best OF last
year. because she and Lloyd were
saving for the home they expected
to have sometime.
She had heard 1t all her life-how
so many marriages were unhappy
because men lost interest in their
wives when they became careless
about their appearance and indif-
ferent to styles. So Alice tried doub-
ly hard to look her best but it
seemed that Lloyd was SO differ
ent," he never "enthused" about her
appearance. Why didn't he call her
a peach" classy" and such
things? Just to win some word OF
praise from him she had worked
late the night before to finish the
blue dress to wear today to the
shore party where they, with the
other members of the Pawling Ave
nue. club, had been invited TO visit
Mrs. Carter's summer home.
Now why couldn't he see that the
sleeves were made according to the
latest within OF fashion when she
knew so well what trouble it had
been to cut them that way from the
material she had?
She made another bid for his APP
proval-"But don't you think it's
becoming?
"Yes, sure. but It would be more
so if you didn't look SO tired. Hav-
en't l asked you lots Of times not to
sit up nights sewing! You might
better have worn 1t as it was last
year than bothered to try to follow
every fad"
That was Just it. He never ap-
preciated how hard she tried. She
knew it. he didn't care how she
looked. Anything was good enough
for her to wear. But she tried once
more.
Honestly. don't you think II looks
as well as Vera's? Don't You think
it's pretty?"
"You bet! It's prettier than any
thing Vera ever had"
The answer was all that she could
have hoped for, but some way it
hurt for Alice knew it wasn't true
and believed Lloyd said it just to
please her because she expected him
to. Oh. il he would only rave about
her the way fellows were supposed
to! She knew the dress was be-
coming; knew, too, that other fell
lows knew it il Lloyd didn't. AT
lunch that noon Carl Houghton's
eyes had said more than Lloyd's
ever had. Anyway, she was tired
the disappointment hurt, and sud.
denly tears were yelling up in her
show Lloyd that she really didn't
She flew to Mrs. Carter's room, and
after dashing cold water on her
reyes and hastily adjusting her hair
said she didn't care. and she would
formed in Alice's mind. She had
eyes.
why, my little grille. what's the
matter? Have / gone and said the
wrong thing again? or course you
look nice-you always look nice, tc
me-"
There, he'd said 1t again. Just as
she knew he would. Why did he
always tack that TO me" on the end
Just az though he were making al.
lowances on her account for some.
thing? It was too much. Before
she realized what abe was saying 1,
was over.
"Yes-and I guess I do to othe.
folks. too. I'm tired Of your beins
so quiet and never noticing" she
flung At him. and ran hastily mp tn