Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-27
The Green Tafeta.

Lois Ryder had sat up until mid
night sewing and had arisen at 6 to
continue her work. 1t was now 3
0 clock of the smiling Spring after.
noon and she had just finished put.
ting the last stitches to Lillian Mack s
dress
She threw the dress over a chair
and sat back looking at it. 1t was
bea utiful dress. her masterpiece,
indeed, If an ordinary dressmaker
may be said to achieve a masterpiece
Made of pale green taffeta. purling
over with narrow ruff1es, it brought
into the small humble room the mys.
terry and light of an ocean wave
breaking into foam, or of a young
tree-top swirling in a soft wind. All
green. not a touch Of any color, it
was the kind of dress which a blonde
woman may wear successfully
Lois was blonde, vet it never oc-
CURED to her to wonder how she
would look I'm the dress Though she
had made dozens of pretty things for
other women to wear. she herself al
ways wore black. She did not choose
black, rather she had it thrust upon
her. She had inherited quantity of
black clothes, coats and dresses from
her dead mother, other coats and
dresses and gloves and hats from her
dead Aunt Rachel. They were &C.
ceptable because she was poor, so
she made them over, fitting the
dresses to her slight figure, and wore
them so constantly that few people
else. In this black garb she looked
like little old woman, but in reality
she was still young enough to long
for bit of beauty and joy.
At that moment the outer door
opened and girl entered hastily
without ceremony.
Your dress is done. Miss Mack"
Lois said. rising to her feet
The girl looked at the dress,
frowned and drew a deep breath.
oh, I wish / hadn't got it, she
exclaimed. Il need the money for
something else. My aunt has sent
for me to come home. You know
we had trouble and l left. | want
to go. but I haven't any money to
&c with. If hadn't bought this dress
| would have had money"
Lois stared at the girl. She didn't
know what to say.
You wouldn't buy It, would you.
Miss Ryder" pleaded the girl. III
let you have it for half what the
material cost me. That will allow
you your pay for the making
She seemed genuinely distressed.
Lois went to a drawer took there
from her purse and counted out $50
Il only want half" Lillian said
It's awfully good in you. Miss Ryder
] hope you'll like the dress. Do you
know l got sick of the idea of having
green after l found that a girl
don't like got a green dress. I'll
have. lots of pretty things when I
set home, for auntie is we'll off. I
ought never to have left her to come
way off here to work in the mill,
but l guess l got sort of independent
| was going to wear it to the Mid
winter dance tonight By the way,
there's my ticket. Why don't you
go and look on even If you can't
dance?"
She turned and dashed out of the
house. but she was laughing now
instead of crying.
Lois was left with the dress. It
was hers! She put the remaining
portion of money back in her purse
with unsteady hands. She went to
the dres and lifted it in her hands
Yes! She had done her best by it
and now 1t was hers.
Suddenly she Rugged it to her pas
sionately. 1t came to her that all
her life She had wanted green