The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-03-20
PURPLE
AND FINE
LINEN
BY KARIN c. sUNDELOF

'.s....-....-...
Both her own perturbed feelings and
the decided click of Mack's receiver as
he slammed it down on the other end
of the line told Hazel that she was not
doing right. She turned her refusal
over and over in her mind as she sat
there, the dim g o'clock light of early
winter making it almost impossible to
see the traced pattern of the stamped
scarf in her lap.
'"Well Hazel, you're too busy to go
to a Dance" she told herself, viciously
ljabbing her needle into a French knot.
I'Besides, you're doing all this for him,
and If he's so selfish as not to appreci-
ate it, it's not your fault"
But she was restless. She folded up
the scarf, and went to her room to
pore over the hordes of beautiful
things which filled her "hope chest"
all the work Of her tireless, loving
hands. Her home was going to be
perfect-hers and Mack's-and with
this determination firm in her mind,
she worked early and late on dainty
linens. She allowed herself very little
time to eat. Sundays alone she gave
to Mack, for she would not dare touch
a needle on Sundays. On that day
she was her own cheerful. happy little
self, trotting obediently at his side to
church, driving with him, calling with
him.
After supper her mother warned her
You're getting bleary eyed over all
that sewing" she said, herself busy
with the latest novel, her neat little
feet resting comfortably on the fender
before the living room fire. you'll
have all the time in the world for that
after you get married. Goodness, If
were Mack, I'd go to that dance to-
night with another girl. / would so.
/ wouldn't be bothered taking No con-
stantly for my answer to everything
1 invited my girl to. Sometimes l wish
the old stuff would burn, or that some
body would steal it, or something"
Mrs. Bailey reached for an apple, re-
turned to her novel, and chewed con-
| tentedly. Marriage had given her all
| she desired, and she showed it in every
line of her little, plump, brisk figure,
and in every fleetlng expression of her
/
| forty-four, but nobody would have.
taken her for a day over thirty eight.
| Her husband adored her, and so for
that matter, did her two children.
| Among the most prominent of the pic
| lures that adorned her son Bobs col
| lege room, were those of his ''little sis
| ter-mother.'
| Hazel vouchsafed no answer to her
| mothers rebuke. Her hands trembled
ever so slightly over her sewing. She
did want to finish that scarf before
Saturday. 1t went with the set for
their bedroom. Tonight, however, the
blue and rose of the silk hurt her eyes.
In her minds eye she had picture of
Mack going to the dance with another
girl. Almira, for instance. Mack used
to go with Almira before he had really
known Hazel. She glanced at her
watch. Half past eight! Should she
call him up and say she would go?
stitch, stitch, stitch No, she must fin
ish the set. Her thread knotted. She
struggled fiercely to untangle it, finally
cutting it with an angry little jerk.
What was the matter with her? She
glanced over at her mother placidly
reading and chewing. She would find
no sympathy there. She rose with
muttered "G'night." and fled to her
ROOM Her mother smiled, little.
grimly, to herself, and there were other
thoughts in her head besides her
novel.
Hazel looked at herself carefully in
the mirror the next morning before
she set off to the office. She was los
ing her color. Suppose she should lose
her vitality. and her good looks! Sup
pose Mack learned to like rosy-cheeked
Almira better than he liked herl Sup
pose, well, suppose lots of things
Lovingly she took a long, lingering
look at the things in her chest. lock-
ing it carefully before she left the
room.
The day dragged. Hazel's head was
heavy. So, indeed, was her heart.
Mack had failed to call her up. He
had called her up every day since he
had given her the ring. During her
lunch hour she worked feverishly on
her scarf. She felt that she could not
eat. She must have the set done be-
fore Sunday. There were only a few
petals left on the embroidery now.
Suppose Mack had taken Almira to
the dance last night! Suppose he had
called Almira at her Office! She re-
called the numberless times she had
told Mack she was too busy or too
tired to go to the movies" to a dance,
to "show in town." Her mother was
right. But, then, she just had to get
linens and household furnishings for
their little home, and Mack was so ur-
gent about getting married in a hurry.
They could not afford to buy just what
she wanted, and they must have the
best.