The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1924-10-30
Dressed Up; No
Place to Go
BY RUBY DOUGLAS


exit sign envel0ped her Quaker ora
uniform in rosiness that was becou
ing beyond mere words to describe
The door behind her opened ouetl
and closed quickly. A big. uniforma,
fireman tip-toed in. He stood clos,
beside her, his arms folded.
They did not know each other
though she ushered there each NIGH
and he stood about to comply wifi
the fire law in the theaters.
The fireman turned to her with
broad grin. There was nothing on
the stage that was amusing, but the
infectious gurgle beside him had
brought out his ready smile.
81 couldn't help it," she said soft
ly
Help lwhat?"
Laughing out loud" she explained.
"Tell me SO that I, too, may be
mirthful," he insisted. They whis-
pered. perforce
II was just thinking how Won and
I are all dressed up and no place to
CO." she said, trying to be quiet in
her glee.
ITS true-you In, your usher's uni
form, me In my firemans grandeur
II is funny" he admitted.
"Veritably-all the worlds a stage
as Shakespeare said." she went on.
1--WE often thought how you and
stand around here every night decked
out to kill. You stand bravely around
In your grand brass buttons and visored
cap looking bored to death. / sashay
up and down the aisles in this Quaker
outfit that no more suits my tempera-
ment than it suits yoursI You are
realer than / am, BUTTS all up-
stage stuff together"
The big man almost laughed aloud.
His arms were not folded now and
he did not look bored.
what are you going to do about
it?" he asked.
"Nothing-it's all can do to earn
my salt"
"And we all have to do that" added
the man. p supposed every girl who
took this sort of Job hoped to be
an actress" he went on.
Heaven forbid" said the little
usher.
"Then what do you want to beY
ventured the fireman
"An honest and truly girl who
doesn't have to act. A girl who can
be real--all the time" answered the
usher bit wistfully.
The fireman did not reply. He had
caught the pensive note
That's a laudable ambition" he
said after while, ''but it isn't be-
ing DONE"
The girl acquiesced quickly. swell
10 / know 1t"
After that night when her sense of
lumor had brought them together they
became friends 1t was some time be-
ore the big fireman mustered courage
o ask the little usher If she would
pend, perhaps, the next free evening
The had with him.
"In my regular clothesY she asked
you're taking no more chance than
am-plain Jane" he said.
"Im almost afraid to see you with
ut your grand uniform. You know ;,
ow we women love brass buttons" :
Nevertheless, I'm going to take :
nance, If you'll let me-" !
They took their free evening to-
ether far from the theater district. /.
q a quiet, restful garden they found :
table for two and there they sat :
citing better acquainted.
do you like me in regular clothes"
sked the usher. e
"Yes," said the big fireman, IF that r
expresses it." u
"And / think you are almost hand h
)me in that brown suit. like 1t
etter with your hazel eyes and light =
air than / do the blue Of your uni
,rm. Firemen should have blue eyes
J match,' she laughed.
After that she asked him just why
> happened to be a fireman and ne . ;,
Id her. He had further ambitions, u
1t he was young and the excitement "
Id appealed to him. Ever since he
Id been small boy he had loved to v
} to fires and chase red fire wagons. u
Suppose - suppose our theater l.
lould get on fire." said the little z
her. q
II should dash quickly out with you Sc
my arms" he said, almost without U
mixing.
"oh!P breathed the girl. "ohl" she pr
peated. 81
The man went on eating. He had
t meant to blurt out those words "a
boldly. you see," he said, i was "a
st being real" =
She did not reply.
Don't you want to allow me the =
lvilege of being real as well as your tn
fT he asked. az
But-yes, of course do. only ar
hadn't realized what" nl
You Just hadn't realized that whle w
e been seeing you in your sweet Ut
drab Quaker costume every nignt 10
e been slowly, almost unconscious M
falling In love with you. You III
1n't realized that that spontaneous ma
lie laugh of yours that night when
orb