The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-02-20


day. after lunch. when she came Ia
rather hrcathless. undid a parcel. and
showed me n pair OF pale-hlue arti-
fetal silk stockings
II I Was rich. said Polly, I'D
have everything blue These we're a
present"
The remarkable thing about Polly
was that uhe knew how 10 obtain
such presents and yet prevent excess
sivc familiarity With splendid lm-
pariiality she allowed herself 10 b.
fondled by anybody who passed her
curtain. She ala Il without vice.
laughing. just like a friendly cat al
an ARIA gate who holds out 20 any
passer-hy head 10 b. ueklsd. Some
people would have called her loose
In fact that apparent iooscnebs was
an evidence Of her purity OF mind
Carrsaos meant nothing 20 her.
she was little round. rosy pleas
ant animal
she was engaged 90 young man
whose picture ! was shown. younE
clerk. good looking in a delicate way.
wearing a large watch chain on
which we're fastened swimming prizes
and masonic signs
sho had complicated troubles Her
boy was anxious 90 marry her az
once. but tho she would not acknowl-
edge a. she felt that They had heen
engaged too short a time. only two
years Her class instinct made her
look forward 10 normal time of
trial OF NJ least four years Also,
her father was Eckly ponsionor,
and her mother did washing at
irregular intervals 80 they depended
upon her. and she folt responsible
She had aomo idea OF SITTING them
up In a small HOUSE where they could
LEI lodgings and she couldn't marry
until shed done H. Also there was
tho roussoau 70 gct-a blue ono.
III
! began 90 acquire regulars ReEu-
lars arr rather nuisance. for they
expect 20 be- dawdlcd over. humorsd
when affectionRtc. and grow rather
croHs whom they have 20 wait. on
tho other hand. they provide GER
tain Income. Also. IT'S the thing 90
have. Every trade has It's blue rib
bon, and the manicurist has failed N
every day one man does not Eloomlly
wait outside tho curtain. With jealous
vigilance, FOR unfalthful sounds
Thanks to my regulars. vas now
earning Just on three pounds a week
and was accepting life with n GER
tain degree % amusement. Some Of
Tho men wero not dull: a few were
attractive: but I SIN kept my rules
and gave nothing consontingly. even
70 Mr.. why. my soldier regular. the
most difficult OF them all. i realized
that ! had escaped from Mra vern-
ham only Into n Hfe that would lead
me 10 nothing much more prrciss.
Excepting marriage. perhaps. Susie
had got married: Miss Merton and
Polly were engaged. " was. a. Pol.
IS remarked. n good place IN which
70 commit blFamy. but did I want
20 get married. told myself /
didn't. tho. OF course. did Mar
riaEc u the terminus for women; It's
only less final than death.
Just about then I had a difficult
Interview with Isabel. ! knew what
would happen. 10 had not told her
what ] was doing. but MIRA vernhRm
told her I'd left her. and Isabel called
AZ Haicombo street. interviewed Mrs.
William. who did not conceal my now
occupation. had 10 go and have tea
on Saturday afternoon. Isabel was
furious
How can you be such foolf /
suppose you think yuu'vs done SOME
thing elsvtr7 suppose you think
you'll got married In that manicure
shop
well. ons does.- I replied. aEEres-
hively.
''Yesl To what sort OF mani To
the sor, Of man that gets manicured
/ suppose you're doing Il under your
own nams7"
Yes, There's nothing to be
ashamed Of
who's talking OF shhme7 II isn't
shameful. It's silly. SO long M you
were tucked away In Mrs vernham's
back room nobody knew anything
about sou and you we're all right.
what's going TO happen II you do
marry7 when later on you meet the
men you have manicured7~
Perhaps sha'u't marry TO-
Piled There arc other things than
mhrriaEe."
Work." said Isabel. sardonic.
Not only work." / replied. and
said more than / meant zone doesn't
need TO marry 20 know men"
isabel understood me at once. She
seemed 10 detect some change in my
features.
"Ohl" she said at length. III