Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-07

TT was on display-fold on fold of
shining. regal velvet hanging
from the standards of the coun-
ters From far down the alSleS
of the department store 1t caught
The eye colorS brave under the stream
of artificial daylight" poured on It
electrically. There was the scarlet vi
cardinals and the purple OF kings
hunting green and golden browns.
There was black so soft in its depths
that it seemed to be fathomless, ana
dull blue velvet like the lining of a
jewel case. The colors arrayed them
selves together without clash because
they We're perfect and confident; and
among them, hanging from It's sup
port like the dress of a queen, was
piece of ivory velvet SO soft and I'M
practical and wasteful in its dellcacy
that it hung there all day uncut.
The first snow was softly falling out
side. and the warmth and majesty OF
The velvet suggested Winter beauty 10
many a shopper. Blondes with bleach
ed hair bought the blue velvet. hoping
vainly that it could restore their faded
beauty. Women with bold eyes bought
lengths Of the scarlet, which could
only accent their holiness. Women
who should have bought golden brown
chose green, and many mistakes We're
made because the soft depths OF color
tempted women into hopes OF loveli-
ness and did not warn them of the
.caricature which turks on the other
side of beautiful things and reveals
itself If they are misplaced even lit
tie.
1t was in the middle of the after.
noon rush when Judith Leland came
down the aisle in her quiet, direct
way. She had none Of the hating
manner of the casual buyer. but went
grayely about her business as If shop
ping were a necessity which rather
bored her. Beside her trotted her
mother, q little woman shrouded in
Alaskan sealskins, whose imperative,
expensive look sent saleswomen
bustling toward her as II they scented
the limousine waiting for her outside
in the falling snow.
IF you're going to look at materials
go ahead. Judith said Mrs. Jarvis.
"IH be right there. l want to stop
at the glove counter just long enough
I o return those gloves that split
1T won't take me long" answered
Judith. I'm just getting some dark
blue crepe. 1 wish l could have found
something ready made.
CHE sat down at the dress goods
counter without interest. 1t had
been horrid. hunting around for a
dress ready to wear. All of them look
ed badly on her; all Of them had made
her resentful of herself as she had
come to be- The mirror had again
and again given back the image of
heavy-eyed young woman with a
weight Of smooth, badly dressed hair.
She had tried to believe 1t was the
fault of the gowns, and finally in her
encouragement had refused to try on
more of them. She would buy some
material and let Miss Raines make it
for her.
And now she didn't want to buy
material. The fabrics which the clerk
spread before her were all as distaste-
full as the gowns had been. She
turned them over DULY. Black, dark
blue-stuff for dresses to serve the
double master afternoon and evening
the proper clothing for divorced
woman who didn't go out much, who
had to be clothed even If no one cared
how she looked, least of all herself.
Black crepe, navyblue satin. choco-
late brown-sad-colore materials
much what she had always worn, to
be sure. 1t was what she always
would wear henceforth. Her eyes
rested resentfully on the velvets, ane
a vague. thought trailed through hel
mind that hundreds of women wore
evening dresses of such material. kirl
probably knew women who didn t bore
him, women whom he didn't affron
with his speeches and his actions
beautiful women.
Would you consider velvet? asked
the salesman.
Nothing so elaborate" she an
swered shortly.
They're very beautiful" he in
sisted; "all-silk velvet. We're selling {
great many of them for afternoon and
evening wear. There's a lovely
black
He held it before her, and Judith
felt angry. Why assume that she
must have black?
I'm not interested in black velvet,
repeated Judith.
The colors are lovely, too. There's
n wonderful shade of green-quite
new"
Judith fingered the dark cloth
spread before her, trying to shut out
the sight of the velvets. They had
nothing to do with her and she knew
it. but the thought Of them. bright
end proud for decking out successful
women, taunted her. She hated the
dull stuff before her.
"a very good wearable piece--du
rable," the clerk argued on returning
from his dispersion on velvet to the
sale before him, and holding n breadth
of the material up under his chin
abSurdly.
Judith felt a kind of nausea at the
thought of buying She wished her
mother would conclude her Wrangle
over the split gloves and come. Her
eyes went from the crepe TO the shin
ing velvets and again she was dis.
1ulbed.
Let me see that piece of ivory
velvet" she said unexpectedly.
The clerk, used to strange shifts in
woman shoppers. took it down for her
and Judith slipped one hand under its
folds. SO beautiful. SO useless
for slim, dark woman. She liked
the soft luster. the shining simplicity
Beautiful, isn't it," The clerl
broke in upon her reverie, almost
startling her.
Six yards Of It. please" said Ju.
tiith, toning her voice to Indifference
'Yes-I'll take the crepe, also
x :: :: x
CHE saw her mother approaching
~ and felt ridiculous. But the scis
sors had already begun to slither
through the velvet when Mrs. Jarvis
Joined her daughter:
''They were horrid about those
gloves" she said. II spoke to the
manager and he adjusted it. Really
insolent. Did you get what you
wanted, JUDITH" She looked observ
antly over the counter. That blue
crepe? Sure it won't crock? Are you
sure, young man? That cream velvet
isn't for you. is it. dear? But if YOU
wanted velvet. Judith, why didn't you
:et the black? Or the pretty piece of
lrnWn=So lovely with Nnnr hair