Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1926-10-01
Needed a Dash
of Red
->~~~~~->---~>>-~-~~~~-
BY MARTHA NJ. WILLIAMS

loLs clOdkr ever so warm, ever so soft
Of the richest, royalest red.
Would Il" Jasmine gasped, half ex-
tending her eager hands, then drop
ping them in shame as she caught
Maria's arm.
You could wear it." Maria went
on. But, patience knows, you're like
enough to run wild in safe wear
brown, or black or dark blue. Think
I'll sell this thing to Peggy Smith
she sells to all sorts-folks wouldn't
know. Else dye it I like such pot
tering-and the cloth would take most
any color"
Don't! Please. I love it so-Just
as It is. Keep it-let me come and
look at it. You-you don't need the
price Of it-not any more than you
need the coat"
Seems like you don't ever remem-
Der the poor heather, Marie said loft
lily. Five dollars amt much, I know
that's every cent Peggy Snith'd give
for it-but at least it'd show within
Maria yearned for the red coat even
more than Jasmine did, but the same
acid common sense that had made rich
Cousin Emily give away the garment,
had shown Maria that 1t turned her
sallowness liyid. Emily gave Maria
her tiny Income upon condition Of
never seeing her, nor having her birth
date recalled. This, unwlttingly. she
made possible the Lewis MENACE. Jas
mine owned the cottage with It's gar
den but, lacking Marla's money,
couldn't have paid much beyond taxes.
even with the help of Peggy Smith,
and the bees.
In happier old times the main road
had run in fair sight OF Lewlsland,
then spreading estate. The new high
way, seeking easiest grades, ran out
of sight hut almost flush with Peggy
Smiths front door. Hence the shop
wherein she bought and sold pretty
well everything offered, taking from
Jasmine all her comb-honey, biggest
new-laid eggs and choicest early fruit.
Jasmine went on to her tumble OF
hiyes-and barely in time Two
swarms were buzzing out--she was
thankful they were not three. June
was the month of bee trouble exc Of
bee profit. Swiftly she was armed for
the fray-and buster than any whole
swarm Of bees.
Thus she did not see Maria slither-
ing away, with fine long box under
her arm. Neither did she note her re
turn later-a third swarm had burst
out, in fendlsh temper. fully deter
mined to fly away. They couldn't be
allowed-prevention took strategy and
all afternoon. to say nothing of many
stings Sleep brought Arrangement for
the swellings, but the angry puppies
were even darker, There was nothing
for Il but shroud herself In n deep
sunbonnet when, answering Peggy's
Imperative phone call, she scurried to
the shop, With basket OF choice fresh
honeycOrnb Her first glance showed
her upon arrival the red coat. agleam
In the show window
Peggy Smith was mainly eyes and
moutli--the eyes keen. the mouth ac-
quisltIye, Yet II softened tride as
she lifted out the combs-she even
said less crunly than common: "wuth
more'n l can afford TO pay for EN-"
Even II take II In trader Jas
mine began
Before she was answered horn
honked imperatively at the door and
as Peggy appeared man asked hur-
rledly; How much for-thnt red
thing there in the Window"
Amt marked il ylt-new stock.
Peggy returned. Tho man, hurryinr In
caught down the box shook on its
contents Suddenly he saw jasmine
rnthur her back and said eagerly Il
wonder would you be kind enough to
put this onr"
"Shorely She ~lll,' from Peggy. Jas
mine could but obey. yet managed to
shield her face from the strangers
gaze As the softness enyeloped her.
be gave a small glad cry
"rm an artist," he said "herc Cor
quiet and color rm pautiug a pie
tureI hope to mako it great lt
ntcfs in alI thls efcen richness
dash ~ red-and classic figure. r.
" thf yQung lady woud pose Cor
me- stoHHg there ureertaInly