Evening star., 1926-11-10

Alice Holt stood before q full.length
mirror surveying herself with dubious
eyes. She was enveloped in a mus
sed gingham apron and her nose was
-four smudged and shining brightly.
Her hair, glossy black and heavy,
was unwaved and drawn into loose
knot. She looked a typical. wellpre'
served. but middle-aged housewife.
She gave a little sigh. as II loath
to leave the mirror. and walked to
her dressing table. Busying herself
there for half an hour, she came back
to the mirror. stepping out Of her
apron AS she moved. Behold. trans
formation. The black hair was piled
high on her head and her electric
curling iron had been used to advan-
tage. Her skin glowed from massage
and the skillful application OF COS
metics.
Next she went to the closet. sigh
ing the while. and pulled down an
elaborately simple dinner gown of
black shot with silver. that did some
thing mysterious to her: made girl
out of her. Thus, arrayed she went
downstairs to await the arrival Of Ned,
her husband.
Ned came in with as much bluSter
and noise as his youngest son, and
taking Alice in his arms with youth
full ardor. exclaimed over her appear
ance. Alice smiled a bit ruefully.
We'll. dear. I'll have to rush if
we're ODE at the Smyths at s.; can't
afford to be late for an affair like
that. eh?"
His enthusiasm was catching and
Alice smiled with more warmth.
NO. you child. one can't. Hurry and
dress I'll phone for the car"
Half an hour later, glowing from
his bath and shave, Ned put Alice
into their limousine with the rare
Difference and courtesy that was the
secret of much Of his charm. His 40
years sat lightly on him. Each year
seemed to bring him more eagerness
and zest for life and living. Where
Alice was charmingly dignified he
was full of rollicking humor and
seemed never to tire.
The dinner at the Smyths' was a
gala affair-two visiting noveists. a
rather cynical-looking Englishman
with an unctuous accent and heavy
crush Of ennui and a f1edgling author
ess whose first novel had recently
been published. The girl. Norine
Palmer, seemed attracted to Ned and
engaged him in lively conversation.
From the other end of the table. Alice,
with the Englishman at her left,
wearily listening to her praise of his
work, smiled at Ned, For some rea-
ing to go home.
After dinner Boyd Joyce, the Eng
hshman. monopolized Alice and sug-
gested walk on the terrace. After
a few turns up and down he seated
l1ny< 1t,ar h.-., la,
asked her: Mrs. Holt, YOU seem
distrait. Could I do anything"
At first Alice thought this the usual
preliminary move In. the game Of
filtration. A look at the mans face.
however, forced her to believe in his
earnestness. Something seemed to
tear loose her reserves, make her he
herself. 1t was like the blessed re-
lief of pulling the pins out Of ones
hair.
You seem, writer man, to have
insight. Perhaps l can give you ma
terial for a story. Anyhow, here's
my problem. Perhaps you haven't
vet discovered that I'm almost 40
years old and that l tint my hair"
"What?" The mans tone bristled
with surprise.
Il am young looking" she waved
ASluc MS lHIneuldte agreement, nut
am so frightfully tired of being
youthful | want to be what I am.
This afternoon I bribed the cook to
let me bake cake for tomorrow
and ! went about all afternoon look
ing quite frowzy and natural--no
makeup on--jIst me. myself. Most
of my afternoons l am the charming
Mrs. Eed--doesn't she. keep her age.
my dear?'-you know the sort of
'thng-and l race from tea to bridge
and on and on to the point Of despera
ton I meet the same stupid women,
and at night / meet their husba ndS,
Perhaps I indulge in a filtration;
what would you? But it is all so
deadly. I never, get TO see my home
or really to live in it enough to make
it home
She looked at the man for encour-
agement. Her face was flushed and
her eyes were as eager As girls.
Boyd got to his feet slowly and
lowered above hers II see. | under
stand and I'm sorry. no end. But
why don't you chuck it, don the apron
and fire the cook?"
Alice shook her head and got to her
feet. There's the rub, Mr.. Joyce.
You saw my husband? Well. you
must have observed how extremely
youthful he is. Just couldn't allow