The Washington times., 1925-11-17

Jessup againl Dear me, can't
see why she wants to waste her
time on an upstart like him,
I'm sure. With her looks, too!,
maybe she likes him, dear"
Mary Rose suggested, hoping
from the bottom Of her soul that
F1ossie was with Sam Jessup.
She was dreadfully afraid that
she wasn't.
Upstairs in the little bedroom
that she shared with Flossie, she
took OFF her hat, and put an
apron on over her black dress.
AS she opened the top drawer Of
the old walnut bureau for a clean
handkerchief, her eyes caught the
CLEAN of gold in one corner.
A little cigaret holder lay there.
half hidden by an untidy mass of
ribbons, handkerchiefs, collars and
water.Wave combs. The sisters
shared the drawer. and Flossie's
half Of it was always in wild dis
order.
Mary Rose picked up the little
trinket and examined it. Even
before she saw the 18-karat mark
on it, she realized that It was
very, very expensive. Stripes OF
Jade and platinum banded II bril-
Hantly.
Motion month OF Sundays
could Flossie Middleton have af-
forded to buy 1t, with her $40 a
week. And Mary Rose knew It.
Good grief! Now, where did
she get that thing, do you sup
poser. she asked herself.
AS she stood there looking at 1t
the telephone downstairs rang
sharply. Then the. sound Of her
mothers voice answering It, and
a moment later she called:
THAT was Flossie on the phone.
She's not coming home for sup
per, so we may as well sit down
and eat right away. Everything 9
ready
The table was set in the kitchen
the room that was the heart
and soul of the fatherlesS house.
Here the three women ate their
meals, and chatted costly after
ward as they washed the dishes.
Here they brought their sewing
and their reading. at the end OF
the day.
The arrangement saved not only
work but fuel and light-im-
portant items. For the Middle
tons were poor. When Dan Mid
dleton had died OF a stroke five
years before, the little house had
been all the heritage he had left
to his widow and his daughters.
But they got along beautifully
on Mary Roses $50 a week and
Is,
twenty. For money flowed
water.
She had never been known to
bring her pay envelope home,
unopened.
There was always something
that she lust had to have" for
herself-a bottle Of French per-
fume, a pair Of chiffon stock
ings and fancy garters, a slave
bracelet Of plated silver. Pretty
things to wear were a passion
with Flossie.
did she say she was with
Sam Jessup, when she 'phoned?"
Mary Rose asked her as she
helped herself to hash and green
peppers stuffed with corn.
Mrs. Middleton nodded. Eyes,
she did. And ! suppose I may
just as well make up my mind
that she's going to marry and
be poor all her life. like I've
been," she said In a dreary tone.
Work and worry-worry and
work. That's all I've had"
You had Dad. and you loved
him, Mary Rose pointed out
sensibly. you never would have
been happy with any one but
him. and you know it."
Mrs. Middleton raised her hands
and let them fall into her lap.
"I'd been happier II we'd had
q little money" she said. Nov,
don't get 1t into your head that
think you girls ought to marry
for money. Mary Rose. But it's
just as easy to fall in love with
a rich man as a poor one"
The girl laughed. Her mother
was the most humorous mixture
Of the romantic and the practical.
Dear" she said. 'it isn't easy
the right man. Money hasn't a
thing to. do with it.
I've found that out"
In the front hall the telephone
rang again. and Mary Rose ran
to answer it.
Hello" she said.
The deep voice OF Sam Jessup
answered her. Hello. yourself"
he said. Let me talk to Flossie.
wal your"
To Flossie! Why.
then, she wasn't with him at all.
She must have lied to
her mother over the telephone.
when she said she was with him.
But IL she wasn't with him,
where In the world was she2
The questions flashed them.