The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-02-03
SANDY IS
HERE TO
Thrill
BY ELEN0RE MEHERIN
Author Of ..Chickie''
CHAPTER /

Author Of s.ChicIie"
CHAPTER /
~ JUDITH closed her eyes. She
remained seated at her desk.
quiet as statue. She was
quiet ike this while her heart
raced with a dream. Last night
! beautiful thing had happened
70 Judith. Someone said to her,
aOh. Jude, you're the dariingest
thing on earth r
She was not used to words
like these. She wasn't the kind
of girl who wins such tribute.
Those who loved judith said she
had soul, in her face, but
others called her 1plain ex-
ceedingly plain
Judith herself knew she was
homely. I'm Just out and out
homely,' she murmured after
many an agonized scrutiny Of her
Image when she became cruelty
aware Of her large mouth, her
tan. skin and straight drab hair.
0nce an elder woman noticed
her eyes; said they were mag
nfffeent. OTerI1earing this. Judith
found II hard TO breathe tt w9s
the first time anyone had seen
comellness ii her lace.
And how she worsbiped beauty
fog drifting with f0rlorn rhythm
over hilltop: trees grown stlA
against the twilight sky. She
conl feel within her yearning:
q sweet. aching want al Is she
must reach out her arms and
draw close to her being the love
hness she saw.
Life-its mystery the count OF
her unknown future filled her
with eager longing. She PIC
fured herself doing brave. splendid
deeds, pictured herself sought
after, adored-
But she had a bump of rugged
common sense. She came back to
reality. Judith Moore. What
would man-that kind OF b
man-want with a hulk of a girl
like your
Pride Rushed Up to Flame
She would want to cry asking
this. but her pride rushed up in
. flame. She always managed to
hold her head very high wllis-
pering gruffIy to her storming.
f1nperious youth: II don't want
love! I don't need it. / never
think of men or MARRIAGE |
can get along alone!"
This grim sentence only sent
her back more clamorously to her
dreams. Romance would come to
her all right! Some godlike man
would see into her heart, how gay
It was, how noble. He would be
enthralled by this inner beauty.
They would recognize each other
instantly. He would say, Judith,
I've searched the world over for
you!' She would answer with a
glad. mighty tranquility, I've
Waitedv'
There were many versions of
this rapt scene-aIl Of them
piercingIy tender. m m
Judith chose a moonlit garden
whose, she didn't consider; some
times they would meet at a dance;
again they would be standing on
q ship far out at sea. All girls,
especially plain ones. cherish wild
hopes like this.
But last night why, last night
Douglas said to her, "Oh. Jude.
you're the darlingest thing on
EARTH She repeated it softly; a
warm huskiness filled her mouth.
Friends for Years
II means nothing, of course.
She and Douglas had known each
other years. She couldn't remem-
Der when they first started taking
long walks together-almost since
the day he and his mother, Emma
Keith, had moved into the flat
next door From the very begin
ming he told her his hopes and
how he intended to make il UP to
I'm" for the way shed sacri-
dced educating him.
He told her about the girls he
liked. There was that angel in his
class at college. Judith listened in
soft, understanding way. When
the angel passed, it was the little
olonde typtst in the law offices
where he got his first job. Then
1t was the stately Miss Kane. He
was very glowing about them ali.
talking to Judith as though she
were a hundred and fifty years
old.
But last night he came over ali
a-chuckle. He pulled the dish.
towel from her hands with a
breezy: Gee, you're the pokes In
this shack. EN- and / finished
hours ago. Get your hat--got
something great to tell YOU"
They walked up Fulton Street
quickly because he was excited
with his amazing good luck. The
newspaper he'd worked on at col.
lege offered him $25 a week.
Think of it-twenty-five dollars!
And he had only to write about
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