The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-05-31
in HER
FLUFFY BLUE
FROCK
&c by D. ]. Walsh.)

sit down much would remain so.
Once pressed, georgette creases again
quickly. 1t was fluffy, soft thing of
lovely shade of blue, but it was old
"a year old. Not that she minded
wearing an old dress; she was not
one of those girls who was constantly
having new things. She remembered
that this blue dress had made mother
and her pinch quite dreadfully for a
short time, but she had to have some
thing nice enough to wear when Curt
Averil asked her to go with him to
some one of the many gay affairs Of
their set.
Curt had shot into Rosevile like Il
meteor. A dozen girls had tried for
his attention. but he had singled out
Patsy Barber and Patsy had been
glad because she had liked him on the
instant. In no time at all they were
going together everywhere, and Rose
vile was gay that winter partly on his
account, partly on account of the
young Warrens recently married. Then
Just as everybody was looking for
their engagement Curtis employers
had transferred him to q nearby city.
And there he was thrown with Biz
della Virgins, of whom he had only
good-naturedly taken notice while he
was in ROseville. Birdella was the
richest girl in Roseville, and in the
city where money counted more she
was a person of some Importance.
There, too. she had better chance
to show off her wonderful frocks and
inherited jewelry.
: Patsy had known so well that was
going to happen when Birdella wrote
that she was seeing Curt nearly
every day, and other people had
did not care; she could do that much.
But ali the time she was caring I'M
It'll her heart was breaking to pieces.
Now Birdella was back in Rose
willie stayirs at Jessie Warren's.
There was a great deal of secrecy
about it, but Patsy knew what it all
meant. This dinner and dance Jessie
was giving tonight at which Curt was
to be present-well she wished she
might die before the time came to
,go, but as she hadn't died she would
have to go Death was the only
thing that could excuse her. Any
thing short of it would be looked
upon as sour grapes.
She put on the blue dress, fastened
1T and looked at herself in the glass.
,She was too pale, and though she
hated rouge she applied it vigorously
until her cheeks glowed like roses.
"My eyes will be bright enough"
she thought. "Well! They shan't see
what 1 am going through. I'll fool
them all-Jessie and Birdella and
and Curt"
She went down stairs and Mrs.
Barber looked at her daughter criti-
cally.
"You have an astonishing flush.
dear-but it is becoming"
at came out of the little gilt box,
mother" Patsy laughed. Just as well
to begin to practice.
Emily Harris came for her and
they walked down the street to the
Warren house, which blazed with
lights.
81 am awfully glad to be in on
this" Emily said. you know Bir-
della never liked me a lot. And nei-
Their does Jessie. But they've raked
in everybody"
Gwen me-" and Patsy gave that
crystal tinkle laughter.
"Well, you used to go with Curt" re-
turned Emily.
They went in and became one with
the great festivity. Birdella was in
lavender and looked better than she
had ever been known to look before.
Birdela was a blOnde-an aluminium
blonde as opposed to the golden type
as Jack Franklin had said Every
where there were lights, flowers col
or and few strange people, but Pat
sy only saw one thing. That was
more. the triumph that blazed in Blr-
della'S pink cheeks.
Dinner was a marvellous affair, but
Patsy was only dimly conscious that
she had tasted food, and slipped from
her goblet and crumbled her roll.
She had Bert Westcott beside her
and he was in his most humorous
mood; he was warranted to make a
frozen face smile, and she was glad
because it made it a little easier for
her to laugh. Opposite sat Curt
watching her. Yes, he did watch her,
wondering how she was taking It,
probably. Well, she would show him
that she didn't mind at all.
Afterward they danced in the par
lor which had been cleared for ac-
ton. The Warren's house was large
Curt danced first with Jessie, next
with Birdela. Then he came to
Patsy, but Patsy had seen him in
time. Luckily at that instant John
Endicott asked her and she moved
away with him, laughing back at
Curt.
She danced twice with John. Fe-
verishIy she saw that she must dance
with Curt before she was through or
somebody would wonder. And she
did. Birdella was dancing with a
Mr.. Johnston, quiet man who
seemed little old for that crowd.
"This seems like old times" Curt
said as they giided into the next