McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1922-06-16
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ABIT OF COLOR
BY FANNY RICHARDSON

this haiti does not harmonize- some
how"
'1'll have none of your back talk,
young woman said Miss Elite, twist
ing her slim neck to get q better view
of herself in the mirror.
The salesgirl opened her mouth
again and would have said more, but
Miss Elites defiant expression meant
a scene and Ethel detested scenes
After all-what was the use? 1t was
the same. old story over and over
middle-agedl woman pirouetting un.
der sixteen-year-old' sunbonnet, Oh
sixteen-year-old under purple pan.
sizes.
Last week 1t had been Miss Prouty
land she had called the fioorwalker
because Ethel said large picture hat
accumulated her chins. And the week
before 1t was Mrs. Graham, who had
stamped out of the store, vowing she
would never come back, because Ethel
had said a pink hat did not become
her navy blue dress. Well, 1t did seem
as If something uncomfortable would
happen If the floorwalker received any
more unfavorable reports.
So Ethel stood silently watching the
movements of her customer, as she
twisted and turned and patted and
fretted, until she had achieved what
she considered stylish angle, and
jumping up, exclaiming, cts all right
just what | want. How much?"
'She wouldn't be half bad looking
II she'd only show her eyebrows and
hair" thought Ethel, as she made her
way to the cashier with. a crisp $40
bill. "But that eye-ugh-and the
dress and the shoes! Oh, why do they
make such fools of themselves"
Ethel pondered the problem over
and over in her curly head during
the rest of the day, but she found
no solution. Vain, of course, they
were-these women--all women. They
wanted to look young, or they wanted
to look old.
In desperation, few days later, she
buttonholed the proprietor and led
| him to a quiet corner.
whats the matter with mel" she
| pleaded Il don't want to sell these
hats to the wrong women, and yet
do 1t every day. It's always the wrong
hat. You'd say so yourself, if you
saw them wearing 'em. They're
sights! And yet they will not listen
| to me.
Ethel fairly shrieked the words in.
to the proprietor's ear.
But he gave her little satisfaction
He simply patted her hand and said
Don't you bother your curly head
about them. You can't sell 'em some
thing they don't want If you don't
make EN- want It."
"Yes, I've got to make 'em wan,
1t" she said, land l know there is
q solution"
And 1t came sooner than Ethel had
dared to hope. 1t came next day
Miss Elite had come back to buy an
other hat. No, she had never really
cared for the red one besides
Mr.. Blackstone had said 1t made hel
pink and white blondness pasty look,
ing. No, there was absolutely moth
ing in the show window she wanted
they weren't the right style
Had she anything which would bring
out the color of her skin \. some.
thing with a bit of color with an
angle?
EthePs heart skipped a beat. Hell
eyes took in Miss Elites brown COS
tune, her neat oxford shoes--she fell
old--very old for her years sand wise
Did Miss Elite want a hat which
would bring out the delicate tints o.
her something with an angle,
Certainly but there was only one III
the store for her.
Slyly the girl went over to the show
window and took out large, DARK
brown hat softly shaded with dull
flowers. She hastily retreated to the
Sewing-room for scissors and a bit oil
bright blue ribbon. With trembling
fingers, she gave one corner Of the
hat an almost vicious tweak, and in
serted the ribbon behind the flowers
SO that only an occasional piece
showed. The effect was dashing, chic
almost charmingly attractive.
She hurried back to her customer
who was by this time rather impa
tient. But when she saw the hat, hei
large eyes glowed, and, she stretched
out her hands eagerly. The salesgir
shook her head roguishly.
| One moment. Lets cts 60 over there
where there is better light"
She led the way to long, full
length mirror in the front of the store
where the daylight streamed through
the large windows. ITS wonderful,
exclaimed Miss Elite, critically ap
| praising her neat brown figure. Hel
eyes, beneath carefully trimmed
brows, resembled liquid pools
'.fishy eyesT who could have
imagined such comparison? Hel
golden hair glistened through the sof,
| mesh of the crown.
"Wby. 1t looks as though 1t were
made for me- she breathed.
1T was" said Ethel softly as she
! took her $40 bill to cashiers desk
she felt very old for her years-and
wise.
Always Good Crop Of Weeds.