Evening star., 1926-12-01
Windows.

~ ESS. stepping out Of the plain
little car that her uncle had
n parked on the east side OF the
l. boulevard. glanced up as
= usual at the wide. silk hung
windows Of the great hotel on the op-
posite side Of the street. The windows
never failed to fascinate her and
when she sometimes sat waiting for
the rest of the family to return to
the car. she liked to watch the people
sitting at the tables. The beautiful
gowns of the women and the smartly
cut clothes Of their escorts satisfied
her sense Of proportion. 1t was MT
ting that the spacious rooms should
be the background for these luxurious
idlers.
she did not. however. have the
slightest trace Of jealousy mixed with
her frank admiration.
Again she glanced up at the win
dows and her face changed. amaze
ment turning to a sudden poignant
grief
At a table by the window sat Glen
and opposite, bending forward until
the dropping plume Of her hat almost
touched his face. was a girl. A white
fur scarf fell back from her velvet
coat and her long white kid gloves
were beside her on the table. The
pale sunshine glinted on a gold mesh
nurse and Bess felt sure there were
Jewels in it's frame because of the
sudden flash of color.
"Oh," she breathed. catching her
lin between her teeth to quell the
rising sob. 'and he never said a word
when I told him l would be down
town today. No wonder"
With her shopping list in her plain
leather purse she went to the corner
and was hardly aware of the pushing
throne. Her mind was entirely oc-
cupied by that picture in the hotel
window. Glen had taken her about so
long that she had already planned
the interior of a dream cottage to
hold love within and keep the world
Of trouble without. And now. when
she was actually hemming the blue
md white tea towels and had
luncheon set of stamped linen on her
shopping list. she discovered him
lunching with girl who, apparently.
lived only for dress and gayety. She
could not imagine thiinble on those
restless hands. jewel-laden.
THAT is WAY he hasn't proposed
she reflected. "to a plain brown slip
of a girl who loves to cook. one VINO
wears overshoes and low heels. Prob
a bly, he would be ashamed to take me
to the hotel for meal. AnSrllE Hne
surveyed her we'll brushed coat and
stout little brown shoes. Bess always
kept to a color scheme each season.
She had selected brown this time and
, her accessories were harmonious.
II Just shan't buy overshoes. she
decided. and turned into the corner
store. where she always bought her
smart. serviCeable footwear.
She emerged with pair of pumps
that had cost many times the price of
| the contemplated overshoes. Then.
recognizing the incongruity Of the
dainty, perishable suede with her coat,
she took the linen money and bought
cheap, showy coat with white fur
upon 1t. A f1imsy silk frock Of ex-
| treme style and a tiny pot of paint
were added, and, last of all. some pure
white powder and a vivid lipstick.
This last was Of tint only suitable
| for the stage. where the footlights
| require a heavy makeup.
II guess" murmured Bess grimly.
that | can compete if ! have to. I've
spent all I had. No one could do
more"
| Glen had invited her to the movies
that night. He arrived looking tired
| and somewhat irritable. When Bess
entered her aunt's little living room