The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-04-09
By I. Wright.

~ ALLIE buttoned the large but
- ton on her white apron and
~ reached for the narrow black
patent leather belt which completed
the costume Of employees in Madame
LaRose's beauty parlor. 1t was
early in the morning, so no one
said anything when she wandered
out to the reception room and
stared about thoughtfully. She
was thinking Of Tim Murphy.
Tim was a street car conductor
and had been Sallie's admirer since
school days. Nothing had ever
been said about marriage, but they
had both thought vaguely that
some day they would be married
and have q little flat of their own
where they would have company
in to Sunday dinners and play the
latest dance records when people
dropped in evenings. Last night
at the movies, however, Tim had
rather brought matters to a clI-
max by saying:
Tomorrow, Sallie, is my day
off and I thought we'd go down.
town to lunch, you and ! and
and sort of look around at things"
It wasn't much Of a love decla-
ration, but Sallie knew what he
meant. She had known him long
enough to understand that he
meant to look at an engagement
ring and perhaps some furniture
for the flat. And Sallie was rot
sure that she wanted to leave her
position in Madame L. Roses to
live in q tiny flat and spoil her
hands by washing dishes.
SalIie had beautiful hands, and
as all of the employees at the shop
were given cut rates on work,
SaIlie had had her hands attended
to until the nails were glossy and
oval and until the flesh was soft
and white. The bell rang four,
times and Sallie hurried to her
table. She knew that someone
was waiting for her.
Good morning. Sallie," said
Miss Mainwaring. "Can you hurry
right through this morning."
Sallie pulled the bowl of warm.
soapy water towards her and
deity started to work on the
hands OF the young woman before
her. She liked to work on this
girl who was always more friendly
than many who patronized the es.
tablishment.
1.-THE importance Of being in
earnest-he should have said: the
importance Of being rich"' The
words scarcely whispered but the
acute ears Of Sallie caught them.
"Pardon?" said Sallie.
EsteIla Mainwaring pulled her.
self together with q jerk: at must
have been thinking aloud. Sal.
Iie," she said with a weak smile.
"I-I-"
Sallie looked at her sympathetic.
ally and said nothing.
You ought to be glad, Sallie,
that you aren't in society,"" said
Miss Mainwaring.
II was just. wishing this morn
ing that / was" answered Sallie
in low tone. II was looking
around the reception room with it's
Persian rugs and the flaming par.
rot in the golden cage and won
dering whether or not I could ever
become satisfied with a little flat
and with" she paused.
She dried the hand on which
she was working and reached for
the other. Miss Mainwaring took
advantage Of the lull and reached
Tor her purse. Taking a clipping
from 1t she laid it so that SaIIie
could reach IL.
II certain elderly family
whose family tree has lengthy
roots' but whose Golfers are now
shallow and but bIeakly lined.
does not step in and aid in the
marriage of it's only daughter,
Estelle' there will be another old
maid who will attend every debu-
tante party with bitter hard eyes. 1t
party with bitter hard eyes. 1t
vas noticed by many at the recent
Artists Ball that she sat out more
than one dance in a nook by her.
self"
Sallie's eyes blazed as she hand.