The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22
EOening Story
Another Girl.

AnObAACl Nu L.
BY LAURA REID MONTGOMERY.
Ruth held her cheap little purse
/ tightly as the elevated train hurried
her down. to the shopping district She
had saved for a long. long time to get
the $50 together, but she felt that the
occasion warranted the skinny lunch
cons and countless self-denials that
had been necessary. She had not seen
Donald Wingert since he had gone
west the day after they had both been
graduated from high school He had
written her saying that he would spend
Sunday in Chicago and would call to
take her to the park.
It suppose" she dreamed, her I'M
seeing gaze fastened earnestly on a
tattered bear that stood jauntiiy on
the roof of furrier's shop, that Dom
aid will be exacting after travelling so
much. L suppose that even this taft
feta gown that seems so wonderful
to me will be very ordinary to him.
wish L could buy some gray silk
stockings and high-heeled pumps to
go with it. but the dress alone will al
most break me up" Her disparaging
glance fell upon her trim Tan shoes
toned straps. Il Her thoughts
snapped off as a plump. elderly lady
with a large, benevolent countenance
smiled at heE1Rnd sank down into the
seat beside tho girl.
so glad to see some. one from
home" puffed the newcomer. 81 have
been meaning to call you up, but, as
usual, I've been SO busy begging and
trying to get my missionary box ready
THAT
rs the box full?" asked Ruth
dreamiIy. She had always donated
something to the box at home and she
wondered what she could spare.
Full?" exploded the. other. Eyes,
fun Full of tattered party dresses
with the trains cut off, old motor caps
with goggles attached and broken
glasses Moth eaten suits with the
buttons hacked off and the fur collars
removed, leaving the lining out. My
dear, you'd hardly believe it, but one
wealthy woman sent her chauffeur in
with broken umbrella full of holes.
She had tied her visiting card to the
handle and had written underneath:
Good luck to the young missionary
bride. 1t is more blessed to give than
to receive, and send this along glad |
ly'"
Good gracious" gasped Ruth. The
word bride" had brought a soft, an |
ticipatory look into her shy face. rs |
the box for a bride? She will prob |
ably have what she needs most
"She did have cheap but adequate |
outfit, but in getting down to the |
steamer for Calcutta the cheap little
trunk got lost. We are afraid that /
she won't get damages for it. In some |
way it seems to have been careless
ness on the part of the expreSSman, |
that poor girl has only the clothes she |
was wearing. and her one nice dress |
"a thin frock for church wear in that .
hot PLACES gone
What she needs most are morning I
aprons, thin underwear, a shady hat; |
she wore a tight turban with her serge
suit on shipboard, and here the good |
woman sighed, what no one will give,
a cool pretty muslin of some kind. |
Her husband had counted on her nice
appearance to get the children to love
her, but if she has to wear the dis
carded party dresses of vivid green
tulle, torn and spotted, or the red vel
vet knee-length atrocity covered with
battered sequins that came in this
m morning, I guess the heathens won't
have much on her.
When Ruth looked over the adver-
tised dresses she found that they out
distanced her hopes. One in particu-
lar was stunning. Blue silk with
smart touches of gray-and-white
braidinF and an adorable vestee of
sheer embroidered stuff suited her eX-
actly. Conventional enough for the
street, yet suitab for any place that
she would be likely to wear it, and
only $50. Yet, as she looked at her
self in the great triple mirror, anOtheri
form seemed to fit in and blot out
the smart coat-dress. The face of the
second girl was filled with pregnant
at the sorry trick fate
had played upon her.
had been stitched full of girlish hopes
that she had planned to wear to Sun
day school to meet her young charges
had vanished and in its place the slim
hands clutched a horror of faded, gro I
Lesque finery about her. 4'She could
wear her suit skirt" argued Ruth,
looking pitifully at the dream figure
her thoughts had so uncomfortably
conjured- into the shop mirror.
Not in that climate" reminded her
grimly, the heat of the
Saturday afternoon in a temperate
zone ought to tell you that
What die you say, dearie?" cooed
the shopgirI. patting the ear buns that ,
fell holly to her almost bare Shout '
1ers. THAT looks adorable on you. {
Sold one yesterday to an actress
ct said" Ruth actually paled with
he effort as she dreariIy unlocked !
he dainty vestee, that 1 have decid-
ID to make my dress myself. I'm
orry to have troubled you, but
The other girl smiled and shifted !
Ter gum. mo trouble at all, dearie. :
know how it is myself If you buy i
he goods at sale you may be able c
o squeeze out enough for a pair of t
hose ribbon-laced gray pumps with I
iecent HEELS her eyes scorned Ruth's Z
veil polished calf pumps with their =
irm heels. Z
But Ruth did not go to the silk sale I
n progress. Instead. after some care
III calculations she bought twelve
ards of dainty rose-sprigged organ
lie. 81 want to get two simple dresses
bout my size out of this" she told
he saleswoman, also I want enough
o make two lingerie hats, wide brim