The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-09-29
CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER Fir TEEN
IT VELYN PARSONS boudoir was
Il like a turquoise jewel box in
which the owners ivory and golden
beauty was set off as craftily as the
jeweler designs settings for rare
gems.
Mrs. Parsons was sitting at the
dressing table inspecting the clasp
of a strand of pearls.
Here, Rose, will you fasten
these?"
The maid fastened the pearls
about throat which, under lamp
light, failed to show trace of
age. The jewels hung half way
to Evelyn Parsons waist.
They were perfect, evenly matched
pearls, and, as Mrs. Parsons was
well aware. harmonized with her
blond coloring and added delicacy
to her mature charms.
That's all now, Rose"
The maid disappeared. Evelyn
! Parsons drew the stopper from a
heavy vial of perfume. 1t was
heavy perfume, too-spicy, exotic
Ind sophisticated. Mrs. Parsons
touched her ear lobes. her lips and
finger tips with the scent.
Then she stood and surveyed
herself in the mirror. She smiled
at the familiar reflection, apprais-
ing and evidently satisfied with
each detail.
Evelyn Parsons was 40 years old.
No one would have guessed her
over IS.
She was a rather small woman.
She had rounded prettiness OF
face and figure, and no one except
Evelyn herself knew what it cost
to keep down that fatal hipline to
the measurement at which it stayed.
constant diet, exercises, expensive
massage.
It was her golden hair, though
that was always mentioned when
acquaintance spoke of that pretty
Mrs. Parsons"
Tonight the cleaning tresses
which defied time were drawn back
into a low knot. Her shoulders and
arms were creamy white.
There we're chin lines and tiny
criss-cross wrinkles about her blue
ewes which worried Mrs. Parsons,
but the electric glow concealed
them.
EVELYN Parsons. who had been
beautiful at IS, still could turn
heads in any public gathering place.
Her smile persisted. 1t was a
>shrewd smile reserved for those
strictly private occasions when Eve
lvn and the reflection in her mirror
communed together. Generally at
such times there was a man IN the
offing.
CHE was dressed in black chiffon.
- It was a simple frock so lar
as ornamentation goes. Judged by
line and effect it was pure Paris.
The skirt. appearing to be the
slimnest possible covering about the
Aips. flared to mysterious. bell
like proportions before 1t reached
the floor.
The bodice. seemingly no lower
than other evening gowns, conveyed
implications all the more marked
because of the frock's demure de-
sign.
Fvelyn had bought the dress in
tn. french capital, nor had she
regretted l cent of its outrageous
rri-c. She was a woman with
'ureSs sense"
Now she touched the side of the
gown lightly as a woman will, un-
able to resist giving a final pat TO
that which already is perfect. She
book up her mirror, inspecting the
1awlesS ruby of her lips.
It was not difference to the men,
DRY Of Dwight Parsons. in his grave
eight months. which had persuaded
Evelyn to put on the black gown,
even though the conservative ele-
ment of society which she was al
ways careful to consider would have
apprC ed the choice.
Evelyn chose the black dress as
she selected her perfume.
Of8cially she was mourning her
husband. Privately that mourning
had ceased months back. The widow.
attractive and worldly wise. had re-
<urned 70 New York from six