Evening star., 1923-12-02
Copy Book
Stuff
BY SOPHIE KERR

why didn't your"
II hardly know. was so tired and
there was so much to do, and she
cried and carried on 50. So 1 gave
her the ten dollars, Amelia Ann went
en- strike, and ! had to get dinner.
She'll be back tomorrow. though"
But what has all this TO do with
the dance tomorrow night?"
| Something pitiful and young flashed
across Martha's face, and was gone.
| "Oh, l got silly streak. got 1t
| into my head, somehow. that I'd like
to go to that dance. So told mother
to look around when she was in town
and see if she could find a little dress
for me at the sales. And-and when
the box came this afternoon-at first
Il thought--that was what it was"
She stopped abruptly.
"Oh. well, it really doesn't matter
she went on, presently. I'D have had
dull time, suppose. But I'd just
have liked to sit and look-lights and
music and young people, and no clean
towels to think about, nor grocer's
orders, nor Amelia Ann. Oh, darn
everything"
She laughed. II had a brain storm.
can tell you. Mother and Marie
cringed. and as for poor Regina
she covered every time I touched a
butcher knife. Anyway. we've blown
ourselves for a magnificent costume
for Marie, and she certainly ought to
be able to mako Gus Kramer fall
when he sees her in it. Ops. my
dear! She sure do look malicious, as
Regina says. And if she only can get
Gus-thatll be one liability written
spoiled, and Marie is a poison mush-
room to talk to one of the deadliest
amanitas who ever killed a conversa-
ton. Give me a cigarette, will your
Come outside and smoke it. You
have to wash the dishes?"
mo, Regina will. Golly, it's fine
to sit down and loaf with sympa-
thetic soul"
UTHERE goes your mother down
the street" said Lowden, as
they sat on the side porch where's
she off to--the movies?'
NO; going down to play bridge
with old Mrs. Granger and the Millses
She'll come home with thirty cents
winnings, and as pleased as Punch.
Funny about mother-she's one Of
those women who never look at the
truth, never see it. When she was
girl she thought she'd marry money
and live in big house, and have lots
Of servants and entertain a lot She
anarried father, who was as poor as
poverty. and bounded him into buy
ing this place and let him work him
self to death trying to pay for 1t.
Then we had to take boarders. But
it's all the same to mother. She's liv-
ing in a big house, even if it is nearly
tumbling down; she's got servants
me and Regina and Amelia Ann; she
has guests-who pay their way. to be
sure, but what difference does that
maker"
Are you sure" asked Lowden,
that you look at the truth. This
dance, for instance. Can't you really
go?"
Without a man. and without a
uEcSS. <AleC, wake up.
so far as the mans concerned, I'll
take you. If it will give you a mo-
ment's pleasure, I'll only be too glad
to martyr miself."
Il don't mind In the least martyr
ing you" said Martha, but even so,
I can't go. I've only got that old
white organdie 1 made myself"
1T won't do. You ought never to
wear white, Martha. It's hideously
unbecoming to you. Hasn't Marie got
a dress you could snitch, in an emer-
gency like this?"
Marie would scream till you could
hear her in Baltimore before she'd let
me take rag of hers"
Need she know it-until after
ward? She can hardly scream at the
dance. before the captious Gus
Martha began to laugh. "Marie's
got a white crepe de chine that will
! be perfectly all right for me. I'll have
to hem it up"
But it's white. Hasn't she got
something in brilliant color-fame,
or Indian red, or orange, or henna?"
They don't suit our dear Marie's
simple girlish style"
Bring down the dress anyway, and
let me look at it,"
II can't get it yet. She's sitting up
: sairs at the front window waiting for
Gus Kramer to come in his car and
toot the horn for her. Believe me,
Alec, il any man came for me in his
car and sat and footed the horn, I'd
never run out to him, unless maybe
l had q full-size, hard hitting brick
| in either hand"
What a little tough you are"
Yes. am. I'm fed up with trying
mother and Marie nothing but pair
| OF parasites. just when get some
thing laid aside for the plumber,
| dear Marie has to have new pumps
$14, bing; or mother blows herself
| to a frock. as per today. And what
| do 1 get? Seven days week Of
| heavy toll. Well. pardon my raw
| ings. -. Listen-there's the Noble
| Gustus-
A low, sporty car stopped well out
| in the street and the song of the
| nOOCcT was hcdIu Tie ldIu. Hey
| could hear Marie's rush down stairs,
| the fiattering joy Of her greeting. In
| articulate gutturals replied. The car
| "chuffed," slid away.
| May she be inspired to brilliancy-
until she's got him." said Martha fer
| vently. "Send her a thought-wave,
Alec, maybe it'll help the poor old
bean to spark"
'"You skip up and get that Dress"
commanded Lowden.
Martha appeared with q limp white