Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-07-26
RITA'S
WHITE
HANDS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(9 by D. J. walsh.)

NVJ ny ~ d Wdisi'D
~ GORGE watched his wife as
1 r she stood facing the group of
~ people. In the intervals be-
tween her readings he fire.
Quently forgot just how nice she could
look. lie felt puzzled at the vast diff
ference Of Rita in the home and Rita
in public. He didn't pretend to listen
to the long and exceedingly senti-
mental selection that his wife was CIV
ing; he cared nothing for poetry. He
was comparing her modish appearance
with the bizarre lady of the breakfast
table. Then her rest robe had given
him an uneasy sense because Of Its
casual fastenings and the metal wav-
ers in her hair had impaired weird
look to her small head. Her turnover
slippers had lost the ribbons and were
tied with raveled rags of different COL
ors. And George knew that, had he
disparaged this frugal habit Of using
rags she would have pleaded economy.
At this point In his reflections he
sighed, quite forgetting where he was.
He was thinking of the cold cream
that she lavishly applied at night and
which she seemed reluctant to wash
off before breakfast. In fact, she often
permitted 1t to remain all morning
and the city SCOT had a way Of min
Cling with the emollient. George didn't
especially enjoy Sundays for this rea-
son-he liked a woman to look sweet
and neat at table and the belated meal
Sunday mornings did not make for APP
petite. At least, the breakfasts she
served were not sufficiently ultra to
cause any oblivion to surroundings.
81 WISH" he spoke aloud, with
vicious emphasis, shat might never
again see an uncooked cereal" the
raised lorgnon of his ample nelghbOr
recalled him to his surroundings and
he slumped down into his chair rosy
with embarrassment.
And the slim creature in softest silk
with cleaning wavy hair read on soul
fully, waving a white hand to ac-
centuate passage.
That white hand deepened his sense
of injury. The brief admiration caused
by Rlta's appearance had vanished
and his thoughtless speech, aloud, fur
Their annoyed him. "Why must she
keep her hands so sacred" he asked
himself. after all, our hands are sup
posed to be given some employment.
Suppose suddenly shut up my shop
because the work spoiled the shape Of
my fingersT He grinned invOluntarlly,
but the remembrance of the sticky
gloves worn by the Interpreter Of poe
try fingered. Rita disllked scrubbing
or washing because 1t spoiled her
hands. Sewing pricked her fingers and
dishwashing was done only because
sine knew a housemaid was entirely
out of the question. When all the
dishes were soiled she piled them I'm
the sink and ran the hot water over
them and then picked them out dis
painfully to dry. The gloves, worn
nights and at other odd moments when
she sat plunged in soulful reflections,
connected with her readings, had left
a trail Of marks on the doors; the
telephone, especially, was smeared
with cold cream and George had
learned to wipe It off before attempt
ing to touch 1t.
The reader closed the exqulsltely
bound limp-leather volume: "TO me
that Interpretation Is wonderful. Life
is what we make 1t. wretched affair
of makeshlfts and worries or some
thing ideal. Each glorious day should
be filled with beauty"-she hesltated
with gentle smlle-"or, at least, that
Is my conception of life. Life should
he the Interpretation Of beauty"
The Overdressed guests of Mrs Ran
dali Tremalne clapped decorOusIy.
Mrs. Tremalne was wealthy woman
who demanded constant fattery and
adulatlon. Her friends were com
posed Of group Of climbers who
hoped to enter the sacred portals OF
society by cllnging to her scanty but
exceedingly expensive skirts. Rita
had been presented to her as striv.
ing young person, who constantly
FeucDPu IOT LHe DtllcT lullE5 VI iicJ
and whO-thls was the part that
pleased the prudent Mrs. Tremalne-
would give readings absolutely without
charge, because she wished to read
before the best people.
beautifully interpreted" wheezed
very thin old man with a dyed mus
tache Of an unnatural black. "She
grasps the fundamentals Of the better
life"
AS George dazzedly turned his head
to see who had made the comment he
heard this tart whisper: "That's the
man who lives In the fiat above US;
he beats his wife every Saturday
night"
George wondered savagely why he
limited this exercise to Saturday
nights, then blushed at his elemental
nature.
"You did very well, my dear" Mrs.
TremaIne's voice rang out. "Your in
depreciation Of woman's place in life
Is charming. Your husband is very
much to be envied-" ponderous
hand was playfully wagged in Georges
direction, who weak-mlndedly smlrked
backbone and sit with me while i
talk to you bit"
Rita, blushing mt the flattery, swan
along in the wake Of her patroness.
George, convinced that the evening