The herald., 1922-10-19
TRUE BEAUTY
BY ROSE e. BAkALAR

huuC-ofNl ouit.
"Wot's the grand rush?" languidly
chewed a chocolate wrapperess.
I'm going to the bOilermakers' thirC
annual tonight" she telegraphed. anc
bOlted But that was not the mair
cause of her excitement
In all her twenty years she never
had INDUCED in a real manicure and
massage. Now, ever since her ready
acceptance Of Bennie's casual oral in
vitation, two months ago, Fanny had
fOrswOrn gum, lemon and lines, and
weekly serial thrillers, to save for this
dreamed-Of luxury. Tonight she still
lacked petty cash to realize her fer.
vent desire. She vowed to obtain that
deficit somehow, somewhere. Hence
the grand rush."
factory brought her into her home, on
the stoOp.
At small. secondhand table near
the back window, sat Joie. Opposite
him reigned plump Mrs. Zibin, con-
tentedly maSticating some hot boiled
potatoes.
Fanny threw her late model on a
nearby chair seat and FASTENED into
the family bedroom anxiOusly re-
cOunted-only one whole dollar.
She scanned her healthy finger
nails, then peered at the worried,
youthful reflection In the half blind
glass.
Il just gotta, l just gotta, that's
ALL" she murmured. After carefully
relying her boarded treasure, she
thOughtfully walked into the kitchen.
"Why can't you give 1t to me, mar
bringing up that subject again. "All
need now is 40 cents"
Mrs. Zibin coughed dryly, and with
arched eyebrows and struggling Shout
ders, mildly asked, Forty cents?
Where should get you 40 cents? tell
you papa is right when he hollers. You
don't know what suffering Is yet. So
many people go around with their
hands in their pOckets-with nothing
to do, and it wants you a massage. A
massage you want? A piece of hard
bread to put in your mouth, you should
be glad, yet you cry your eyes out
for massage"
II need II. / gotta have it. Just
this time, ma" she entreated
ITS them new peoples" Mrs. Zibin
peeled another jacketed potato. "Such
noises what they make! 1t should only
clap them In their head. Three days
what they moved in, and every mantel
of mine they break. Go, Fanny. Go
hOller on them. They should STOP"
II have no time. gotta dress. Tell
Joie."
Our imbiber Of written thrills and
sOggy Jumps raised a shrewd counte-
nance. "YOu always tell me to 60. l
won't go. You told her first"
Mrs. Zibin sighed heavily as she
peeled and aired her sorrows to no one
In particular. "Such children I got"
Reluctantly Fanny tapped on the
noisemaker's door and entered. On
the bare floor crOuched an exceedingly
thin woman. soothing a wailing child.
"Why do you make so much noisef"
indifferently.
81 can't help it." creaked the living
skeleton. my kid bangs the floor
when he's hungry"
Fanny adored children.
Drawing a deep breath, she plunged.
Here" She dropped her clinklng cap
ital into the squatting, skinny lap,
then met the unturned, deeply sunken
eyes. A soul lay bare its gratitude.
Fanny then descended as softly as
possible.
"a kid and his ma are starvin' I'D
stairs" quietly reported Fanny.
Mrs. Zibin lost her appetite.
us it7 Moor" she gasped. "Tll 20
get them bite. Don't stand looking at
me. Go dress. It's getting late"
The faithful alarm clock on the
shelf warned seven.
Reused to action, an awakened Fan
ny quickly slipped of her made-over,
cheap serge, energetically massaged
her smooth skin with plain soap and
cold water, busted 1t with talcum. and
perfected a quick manicure with a
common pinhead. Quite contrary to
her mood, she hummed, 1--WE Got the
Blues"
With cheeks bearing a tantalizing
flush, such as no beauty expert could
hope to produce, and eyes sparkling
with understanding, she answered Ben
MES knock. At sight Of her he
whistled.
Gee" was his pithy tribute, you
look great!"
At the ball some said It was her ex.
preston, but whatever the cause of
ner attractiveness, the majority ad-
mired 1t, and forgot to notice the alb
sence Of pink-paste-high-polish on her
clean fingernails.
Quite long time later, we see FANNY
In her own comfortable home. hem
ming the party dress Of her listening
grownup daughter, and winding up her
discovery Of that whole-hearted sery.
Ice beauty secret. and at that
oail your papa took me this whole
silver candlestick l won for beauty
prize and don't forget didn't
get my beauty massage and manicure
either"
Not So Cheering.