The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-12-11
Chapters From, a
Woman 5 Life
GRACE GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF
THE DANCE
BY JANE PHELPS
synopsis of Preceding Chapters

his model-Helen Ralstrom. His
mother. who is making the couple a
visit, also. dislikes Helen
| Grace Harter. an "old flame of
! Walters tries to aid Doreen thru
/ placing Helen in embarrassing sit.
| uations. Doreen, however, isn't
quite sure of Grace's honesty, altho
! she likes her.
Walter plans a new picture with
Helen as a model. His mother
openly disapproves. Grace leaves
mysterious phone messages with
Helen at Pages studio. She also
tune party. Mrs. Page is taken ill
and Doreen decides to remain with
her. Grace, at the last moment,
borrows Doreen's costume.
Chapter 81 .s
"You should have been there,
Doreen!" Grace said as we settled our
selves fora comfortable chat. 1T real
ly was a lovely party. Claire Gordon
looked stunning. She was dressed as
SO well a.. all the costumes were
lovely. Walt is a born host"
What did ellen wear?'I asked.
I'm getting to that Generalities
first. You told me Walt said she was
going as Night or something, until he
told her you were going as a gypsy. OF
course she was too clever to let me
know that she made the change on
that account. I'd like to know what
she told him. Well, never mind. I
was a bit late because of coming here
after your costume; so 1 sort of
sneaked in. When Helen Rafstrom
saw me, give you my word she
turned green with envy She wasn't
one, two, six, as far as the costume
WENT 7-l
Mine was the best could find" L
said regretfully.~ I had so wanted to
go to Walters party. y
Se'Weli. it may have been cattSo in
me-" Grace went on, "but I took par
ticular pains to stand close to Hefen,
under a good light too.' She said
land I wish you could have heard her
Yoice-it was vinegar, undiluted.
Z It's rather unfortunate we should
both have chosen gypsy costumes"
The studio happened to be rather
quiet just then and L replied. loud
enough for most of them to hear:
isn't it too bad we are dressed
alikei Walter said he told you Doreen
was to come as a gypsy; and that-you
said you were to be Moonlight, or
Starlight, or something very differ
ent. AS Doreen couldn't come 1 bor-I
rowed her costume, sure no one would
have one like it, as Walt knew what
everyone was going to wear. Strange
you should have decided to double up
after hearing what she was to wear"
Il don't see how you dared" I said
laughing.
Il wish you could have seen her
face, especially after Claire, who had
heard every word, said:
'Doreen- certainly chose the hand
soonest costuI-4o. 1t quite puts yours
in the shade. Helen. And you look
stunning in it, Grace" 81 tell you.
Doreen, if looks could kin both Claire
and / would have died on the spot"
was ashamed of myself but I
couldn't help feeling glad. Helen
could have had but one object. in
ter told er CT my decision-to out
shine me. 1t had served her right.
I said something of thi~ to Grace.
Wait She had another blow. wal |
ter was busy when 1 went in, but af>
ter a monIen, he saw me and said |
why. Gracel I shall have to sketch
you in that costume. You're perfect |
ly stunniugi 1 was going to make a |
sketch of Helen, but you make a far
better gypsy than she does. She should I
it was rich, Doreeni'' /
Ct should say so. What did she do,
go homer" I thought perhaps anger |
might have driven her away.
Not heri She pretended to laugh /
It off. said something about being dis
appointed in her costume, so had got
Ten together gypsy affair. easy to
obtain as the costumers had loads of |
Romany costumes. She said she hated T
% appear in it, because there was
nothing original about it"
Meow" I mimicked, laughing.
es, two cats, weren't WEI But 1
was determined not to let her put it
)ver you, and had the best of IT |
Walters speech proved that Now
I'll tell you about the party. But I +
had to get Helen Ralstrom out of my
Iystem first L
For an hour Grace told of all that
vas said and done. and when she left
felt almost as if had been there.
she told it so well. made fun so good
was so clever in her de-
criptioRs that 1 went back to Mrs
Page feeling less abused because her
llness had kept me at home.
Tomorrow-Its the pin pricks that
hurt.)