Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1921-01-26
False Colors
By HELEN CARR
20. 1920. Western Newspaper Union.D

Wnlte lawn collar ana cults 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
q living wage. Employment in tie
business world was new to the here
tofore sheltered country girl, and he
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.
Urmond Wells held an important
| position in the office, and Cecily'S wide
eyes We're 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 q favor conferred never in
| cluded herself.
Maize, the little pianist across the
clearinghouse hall, who practiced
hours a 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 al extra box of candy some
one had given her.
ITS the same dress and that same
old hat" Maize remarked, that's get
ting on your nerves.
Wear my suit for a few days, Cts
sy, and my georgette waist and see
how different you'll feel."'
Cecily, who a 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 go 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.
Cecily 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
ality.
When the rest were dancing she
slipped unobserved to a quiet corner.
Realization of the part she was play
ing came to her poignantly. She was
parading under false coors-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" a pleasing voice re-
marked, 81 thought no one was here
and l wanted-to get away from all
that" - +T.Gs
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 bust
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 I should have been In,
without Mazies 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.
II could not afford to buy dress
suit Just for this OCCASION" he confid-
ed, land. Of course, would not Dor
row."
1t Is remarkable how friendly two
people heretofore unknown may be-
come when each has made a confes-
sion to the other. After that last re-
mark Of the young man Cecily found
1t necessary to confess concerning her
own borrowed fnery.
1T all came from my loneliness"
she excused. II did so want-to be
included"