Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-01
The Awakening.


~ ESs YARDLEY had Just re-
- turned from pleasant morn
ing's shopping She had spent
IL. some time in Pryne's Beauty
Shop. She was especially
pleased with the way DeRue, Pryne's
head man, had clipped and marcelled
her hair. 1t made her look quite as
young as she felt---almost cute, in fact.
All her life Bess had wanted to be
cute looking A recent inheritance had
given her freedom from money worries,
a comforting security in life and time
to indulge in those first aids to fading
beauty which are so expensive and also
so necessary to woman Of her years
Bess was 39-plus-a fact of which
she was becoming increasingly con-
scious, although she hoped nobody else
was. One little worry disturbed her
she was beginning to take on flesh. The
scales told the story. But how was
one to resist the best of food, delicious
sweets and inactivity after years of
battling for ones daily bread. which
much of the time had gone unbuttered
and was sometimes rather scanty at
that. No wonder Bess took to ease and
eats as naturally as kitten. She took
comfort in the thought, however, that
clever corseting and straight-line
dresses would conceal her Indulgence.
AS for her ankles, they were still slim.
Feeling O bit tired after her shopping
trip Bess, upon her return home, de-
cided to rest bit before Cady the
maid, would announce lunch. She had
just settled herself on the big daven-
port in her charming living room
prepared to read a story from her ia
vorite magazine and nibble few bites
from the box of candied fruit she had
purchased that morning from an ex-
elusive little shop on Main street
when the door opened and her broth
ers daughter, Cozette, entered. On
the porch outside Cozette had left
some Of her young crowd. She was q
slip of O young thing with big blue
years before. She was devoted to Bess
and always included her aunt in the
good times of her crowd whenever pos
sible. Bess loved 1t and had always
prided herself upon the fact that
neither Cozette nor her friends were
conscious of the differences in their
ages.
"Thanks." Cozette said, as she
pinched her aunt's cheeks and deftly
extracted handful Of confection from
the box to MUNICH vigorously. What
are YOU doing this afternoon, BeTs?"
Cozette never addressed the elder
woman as "aunt."
"1'm going to an important business
meeting at Mrs Sherwood's." Bess said.
Good for you'll Hope they elect YOU
president. We'll, so long" she said, and
scooped no another handful of candy
and left the room. She was greeted by
q howl of Joy upon her temperance
on the porch, =,
"Your old auntie is dear, Cozette,
one bright Young voice exclaimed with
giggie. But she's getting to- be a
horse for Size II she hadn't gotten 80
fat Henry Bently would have married
her instead of running around with
that slender little widow. And the pay
dirt your auntie puts on her face Is 9
caution" the voice trailed away and
Bess was left with realizing sense OF
despair
1t was true. She was an old maid
size-pay dirt-what had the girl
meantp And then it came with sick
ening fash Pay dirt! Why she was re-
ferring TO the excessive makeup Bess
was so fond of using Almost blinded
by a mad rush of tears, BesS arose anc
fed to the secluSion of her room. There
passed the bitterest moments OF her
life. She suffered disilluslonment--de-
feat At last out of her suffering was
born a big resolve She would diet uil-
I'll she was skinny. Never again
would she be called horse for sise or
be accused of using pay dirt"
At / o'clock Cauy called Bess down
to lunch. Cady was famous cook who
had been handed down along with the
inheritance. She had cooked chicken
escalloped potatoes, made a salad with
whipped cream, had hot biscuits, crisp
and fiaky. There was coffee served with
cream 30 thick and yellow as actually
to make i necessary to dip it from the
pitcher with a spoon.
"Oh, Cadyl" Bess groaned, looking
at the table with shiver, Take il
all away Bring me plate of--oi
crackers and q cup Of tea without
cream"
"Oh, shucksl" Cady said with a dis
gusted shrug of her plump shoulders
and all the assurance OF an old serv-
ant. $50 you've started in to diet
Ell? I suppose I'll be expected to serve
tea and toast, and toast and tea, anc
for change toast and tea until you
look as skinny as a herring"
Faint with hunger and burning with
shame and rage, Bess dashed back tC
her room. Was there no escaping fooc
criticism?
The afternoon passed. Bess cried .
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