The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-11-22
= JENNY
CAME OUT
STRONG
&c by D. ]. Walsh.)

lowing Thursday afternoon. The two
women constituted the committee for
that particular affair and as they
were friends and neighbors they could
say what they pleased to each other.
I'D like to ask Jenny Boyd" Eva
said.
"We ought to ask her," Helen
agreed.
There was a silence during which
Helen bit the end of her penholder
and Eva made tiny marks with pen
ell on paper. Then their eyes met
across the library table. They were
making out the invitations in Eva's
house.
"She's in the neighborhood," Helen
went on. I'm afraid she'd feel it
terribly if we didn't ask her."
"Of course she won't CO." Eva re-
piled. She hasn't anything to wear.
The open meeting is always a dressy
occasion. I'm going to wear my new
canton crepe"
! Its safer to ask her them" Helen
remarked
"Why, Helen, what do you mean"
81 mean that if she can't go, It's
safe to ask her. You know, Eva, she
Iisn't-well, she takes in washings to
help out She is all right as a neigh
Dor, but when it comes to real soci-
ety-oh, l don't want to appear mean,
but you must see that there's quite
and the rest of u.s."
Eyes, l see," Eva was grave. 81 feel
that myself, but l do like her, don't
you?"
sob, yes, like her. Well, I'll write
the invitation" Helen sighed and be-
gan to write.
They never dreamed that Jennie
Boyd would accept the invitation, but
she did. She came running across
next day to thank Helen.
81 appreciate it awfully," she said.
Helen remembering what had
passed before she wrote that invita-
ton, squirmed a little.
eve certainly wouldn't think of
leaving you out, Jenny" she said.
81 should have been terribly disap-
pointed if l couldn't hear Miss New
ton. I'm crazy over Miss Newton"
Jenny said ever since l heard she
was coming to speak at the meeting
of the Woman's club I've just hoped
and longed to hear her."
"It-its going to be something of
a dress-up affair, you know, Jenny"
warned Helen tentatively.
81 know it. I'll find something to
wear" Jenny replied brightly. "Well,
1 must go. I've got to finish Mrs.
jerks ironing"
Helen watched her as she flew back
home. There was something fine about
Jenny Boyd. She had spirit and
grace, too. Not every woman could
have jumped the puddles in West
street as she did without appearing
awkward She had the boyish build
that turned motion into poetry.
81 will say for Jenny" thought Hell
en-, "that whatever she wears, even if
it is just an old rag of a bungalow
apron, becomes her It's her shape,
suppose"
Eva came in presently. She gave a
little gasp when she heard that Jenny
Boyd had accepted her invitation.
"What will she wear? She hasn't
a thing but that old blue suit. Not a
decent blouse or anything! And now
that her husband is out of work she
won't be able to afford anything. You
know the BOyds never go in debt for
anything. What they can't pay for
they don't have"
Helen bit her lips. She wondered if
Eva knew that the hat she was going
to wear was not paid for yet. That
hat bill was worrying Helen terribly
Still, if one was in society one had
to have things like other people.
There was, however, one comfort in
the fact that the hat made her look
very nice, when at last she was dressed
for the meeting. OF course, if Miss
Hill was there, it might be a trifle
embarrassing. Miss Hill had made
the hat and she never failed to get hel
pay lOT any lullllHcly NOlh SAC ulu.
Eva joined Helen, and the two WON
en- proceeded to Mrs. Alverson's where
the meeting was to be held. Mrs
Alverson had plenty of room for sucl
affairs, and besides she was Miss New
tons hostess.
The great parlors, opening into one
another, were full of women in theil
best hats and frocks. There was the
scent of cut flowers and the sound o.
faint jingle in the kitchen where
Allie Scutt was making coffee. Mis-;
Newton had come down and was max
ing herself agreeable to everybody
She was q thoughtful-looking plain lit
tie woman of sixty. Nobody would
ever have guessed from her appear
ance that she could be a popular lead
~Ner and organizer of women.
Upon this assembly Helen and Evf
were amazed to see Jenny Boyd en-
tering with the calm manner tina
would have done credit to Mrs. Alver
son herself.
"Look!'' gasped Helen, isn't Jenn!
stunning?"
Jenny was indeed stunning. VIVA
another woman might have looked il
the same apparel, one may not say
but Jenny certainly had an air of dis