Evening star., 1922-01-22

TED THE FLOOR MIGHT OPEN AND
The next quarter Of an hour was the
worst Marie had ever experienced.
She dreaded the moment when Allison
Hurd should reappear. When the door
finally opened Allison Hurd swept
there is no other word for it-down
upon her.
THE chauffeur will call for my per-
sonal belongings" she said. in tone
immeasurably aloof. please see that
he gets them."
"Of course" assented Marie, hastily.
Her eyes were passionately plead
ing. But Allison Hurd was not to be
deferred from characteristic use of
what those who knew her best called
her claws.
And I congratulate you." she went
on. "on your quick seizure of oppor-
tunity. apologize for having UNDER
rated you in the past"
Marie said nothing. she could not.
But after Allison had gone she
thought, over and over again. "Oh.
how, how could she say such q
thing"
THOSE who knew Allison better
would have realized that she had
but begun. She went directly to the
Country Club, where she knew a con-
siderable number Of her own circle
would be found. She airily announced
that she had left Lyons and then put
into circulation deftly manipulated
version Of. the episode that, before
nightfall. had managed to spread
throughout Leicester.
Small wonder, indeed, that the head
lines in the Leicester papers the next
morning were Of no importance com.
pared to Lyons advertisement. Every
body searched that out at once, to
read:
BE your own little girls fairy god
mother this Christmas.
"Once upon time there was a little
girl who always went to parties in
somebody else's made-over clothes.
One day the little girl next door took
her into the spare room and showed
her. spread out on the bed. the dress
she was Eoing to wear to the party
the next day. The dress was pink
georgette and it was accordion
pleated. It wouldn't wear and
wouldn't wash. but it was the lowell
est thing she had ever seen. That
little girl has never wanted anything
since so much as she wanted a frock
like that.
"And, oh. how she longed for a fairy
godmother!
Even the Httlest girl feels that
way. When. in the fairy tale, the fairy
godmother waves her wand and a
beautiful gown drops on Cinderella's e
shoulders. every little girl thrills
through and through. as she pictures
herself in Cinderella's place. And il
you have a little girl, you can make
this the most wonderful Christmas
Of all for her. You can be her fairy
godmother and give her a frock that
will always be beautiful memory, q
frock that"
Others, presumably. read further
But Aunt Jane did not. II did the
best could for you." she announced
dropping the paper. "I-I-"
Marje's father looked up from his
bacon and eggs. The abrupt depar-
ture Of Aunt Jane, kitchenward. and
Marje's instant pursuit, left him abso.
lutely speechless and even more be.
wildered.
But Marie understood. "of course
you did" she soothed, vigorously. -
oh, didn't mean 1t that way. Aunt
Jane. Please don't feel 50. You've
done everything for me. Ii wish
I'd never written that old sd. Every
thing has gone wrong. Just because
didn't mind my own business"
To that Richard Lyons would nevel
have agreed. That very morning
Marie. looking up. saw him smiling
down at her.
II felt it in my bones that you has
hit the exact note," he assured her
-And the way those frocks are NOV
ing out Of the store proves 1t. wisl
now I'd stocked twice as many"
"I'm--Im glad" Marie managed t
articulate.
"of course" he added abruptly, "yo,
know we pay for suggestions-"
"oh, I'd rather not be paid for It.
protested Marie hastily.
Richard considered her, plainl'
puzsled. "Then lts's put it this way
Suppose you"-he smiled again-"b
your own fairy godmother and TAX
your choice of any frock or gowl
we have in stock?"
This absolutely demanded acknowl
edgment. THANK you," murmure,
Marie, and began to type furiously.
The episode was ended.-and yet
wasn't. Richard Lyons so far ignores
the precedent established by fictiol
a to appoint In Allison Hurd's place
not Marie. but . young man name'
Jefkerson Allen-whom hs, took owe
from another store an The Lyon
systena. HA ala howesss TN -