Evening star., 1927-04-21
Dorothy's Apron.

II OROTHY BAXTER was slicing
cold potatoes for salad when
the telephone bell rang behind
~ her. she turned, wiped her
hands hastily on her apron
and took down the receiver. Just as
she opened her lips to say. Hello"
she heard her own name spoken in
her ear as it were:
Dorothy Baxter? Oh. don't ask
heri She will come wearing her apron
never gets out of it. you know"
Dorothy hung up the receiver softly.
A heat that was greater than that
of her cook stove played over her
cheeks. She looked down her front
and saw an old checked apron that
bore two patches and a carefully
mended tear.
Never gets out Of one" The
words still played at her ear. She
had recognized the voice. 1t was
that of her husbands sister. Alarilla
Knapp who lived two doors down.
There had been 81 high wind the night
before and doubtless the wires had
become crossed. That was how she
had heard Marilla expressing her
opinion of her sister-in-law to--whom
Dorothy knew that also. AIarilla had
been speaking to Helen Collier, who
was evidently planning party or
something. And Marilla was seeing TO
it that Dorothy was not to be asked.
OF course, Dorothy had always
known that Marilla did not like her
that she had never recovered from
the resentment she had harbored
against Dorothy for winning Richard
Baxter. Yet in the II years that had
passed. Dorothy. i'm spite of her ordi.
nary heritage, had made Richard a
fine wife. She had saved his money
kept his home, raised five babies to a
school age; the youngest was just In
her first primary year. Richard
wasn't a. money-naker he had beer
| more charming than efficient to begir
with. but life was toning him dowr
SO that he was giving a good account
of himself. He was fond of his wife
| his children, his home. and Dorothy
| tried to have all these to his liking
| She loved Richard as much as she
| had when she married him and every
| thing that she did was for the sake
| Of that love. Even the fact that she
must work while other women played
/ was to her not an unpleasant one
| Her apron was the insignia of hel
| high calling and after all it became
| her better than an evening gown.
/ But now Marilla's words had stuns
/ her to a new consciousness of herself
created in her a fresh impression o
| her limitations. Marilla did not re
spect that sacred apron. she made o
| it a joke that could be welded dis
agreeably, Suddenly Dorothy's pa
| tient endurance of Marilla brolx,
| down and tears filled her eyes.
That telephone! Again! She turned
| her back upon it deliberately anC
went back to her salad making. Sh,
| would hear no more.
When. therefore, after a few min
utes the door opened and Helen Collie
| entered. Dorothy received her witt
smiling calm.
Isn't. your telephone working?
Helen demanded II made centra
ring and ring trying to get YOU"
Won't you sit down? What i
| it?" Dorothy returned.
What a beautiful salad, Dorothy
you are a wonder. Well, it's Just this
I'm giving little party tonight. jus
a few of my best friends, to meet Mrs
Welton. You know Mrs. WeIton
She's stayin at the Harmons. / wan
you particularly to meet her becaus
what are you shaking your hea
Ifor?'
'T can't come" Dorothy smiled
though a little fixedly.