Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-07
/ w NH By MARGARET CULKIN BANNING
That the Purchase of Six Yards of Ivory Velvet
Would Change Her Life Never Occurred to Judith

kind to Judith and insisted that she
go to Hot Springs with her.
They arrived there at night. and it
| was next Monday, that Mrs. Jar
Wis felt the first tortures Of an
| ulcerating tooth which by evening
| confined her dinnerless and miserable
to her bedroom. Judith tried to
make her mother comfortable, and
| when the old lady was well surround
ed by hot-water bottles, Judith stole
| away into her own room to order din
| ner served there for herself. 1t was
very quiet, for they had chosen rooms
where they could not hear the sounds
from below. Judith looked restlessly
about her, but even then she did not
consider going down to the public
rooms alone. 1t was at this point that
her eye fell on her opened trunks and
! on a simmer Of ivory velvet In
stantly something within her asked:
why not?"
The head waiter showed the beauti,
| ful newcomer in the velvet dinner
dress TO a. conspicuous table He
recognized quality when he saw it.
and lowered around her II was q
completely new experience to Judith
! TO have men turn their heads as she
passed Her head was as high as
| usual. and she was serene. Every
thing about her was right. and she
knew ii. The long silky scarlet sea IF
which she carried she had bought one
| day and hidden away. Her hair was
not displayed TO the best advantage
| or 50 mother would have thought.
She had frightened ii and tucked il
away until ii looked like a thick
bobbed shock. and around il she had
put narrow silver ribbon. But it
was not the ribbon or the scarf or
even the ivory velvet: it was a sen.
| sation that came into Judith g
consciousness, u feeling of belonging
to scene and dominating il, of being
consciously beautiful and Of feeling
kindly toward every one who admired
| her. She had ordered dinner and
meant TO enjoy it in confidence.
Then she saw hiHl-not so far away
| with a party of six whom she did not
know. he was sitting rather stiffiy,
| and she knew in that quick single
| glance that not only was il Kirk but
| draped her scarf carelessly about her
! shoulders, seated herself beside A pillar
and waited. A mirror across the room
told her how lovely she was. as she
half concentrated on the book she had
| bought at the newsstand
! kirk passed her. alone. She lowered
/ her eyes and guessed that he did no,
/ even glance down as he went by. But
! she mad glimpse of his face. 1t was
leaner than it used to be- and at closer
| range II did not seem SO much vicious
as miserable. Her blood quickened
In year she had not had this sense
OF being alive. this thrill Of interest.
Kirk had not rejoined his party. Sh,
saw the others leave the hotel
swathed In motor coats. He sat in &
corner of the lounge. smoking in short
| angry puffs. Judith watched him. anc
other men about her watched Judith
and one or two tried to gain hel
! notice. But absorbed as she was fr
watching the wretchedness of Kirk
and wondering what was up now. she
did not see them. \ hundred mem
cries and pities rushed through he,
mind. He seemed SO close over there
and so natural. as if at any monen,
he might come over to her, full O,
familiar irritation or perhaps with
| some wild. gay proposal. She gazet
too intently, too forgettingly, for /,
must have been that which made Kirl
| twist his head quickly to see who was
| regarding him. Before she had time
| to lower her eyes, she had caught his