Smyrna times., 1931-06-10
WEEKLY SOCIETY STORY FOR
EVENING ROUND THE LAMP
READING TO WHILE AWAY
TIME AFTER DAYS CHORES
"Knew Her by Her Jade Earrings"
An Interesting Short Story
Written by Helen ST. Bernard

An Interesting Short Story
Written by Helen st. Bernard
| EOR twenty-five years the annual
ball at "Strathmore School for
Girls" had been the big event; then
| all the cadets from the nearby mill
! tary academy came in their color
! full uniforms of French blue; then
sweethearts, fathers and mothers
| from home.
Tonight the college was in readi-
ness for that day of days-tomor-
row. AT her window at the far end
of the second floor hall Sally Cole,
teacher of English and literature,
sat looking out over the rolling
campus bathed in a soft silver
moonlight. Twenty years ago she
had been girl of Strathmore and
had been thrilled at the prospects
of the annual ball. She, too, had
had her party dreSs-a white voile
with lace-edged ruffles around the
bottom.
And 1t was twenty years ago to-
night that the waltz and twO-step
had sounded out over the campus
until the wee hours of the morn
ing. and Sally Cole had danced
| nine dances with the tall blond
cadet in blue; had walked with
him beneath the oaks in the moon
light, and eaten her ice cream and
cake with him behind the palms
in the gymnasium. He had liked
her white dress, but most of all,
he had liked her jade earrings, long
slender pendants set in dull gold,
falling almost to her shoulders. He
had said jade was his favOrite col
or. And he had kissed her that
night and said he would come back.
Sally had never left Strathmore.
Following her graduation she had
been placed on the faculty. And
she was smilingly tolerant of the
whispered consultations long after
the quiet bell had rung. They were
young, and only once she
argued to herself
She moved TO her dressing table
TO arrange her hair when a dark,
slender girl came in. radiant in a
coral chiffon frock.
Alice Wayne was the schools
harum-scarum and rules meant lit
tie to her. Sally knew of the hap
py-go-lucky father who was seldom
home long enough to get acquaint-
ed with his lovely. motherless
daughter. Alice showed her let
ters from Africa. Asia. Central
America and recently, from Egypt.
81 thought I'd find you dressing
for the dance. Miss Sally. dear.
Alex is here. and don't know what
10 do with him.
"Alex?" queried Sally. which
one of the swains is Alex?"
ALEX is my father. He landed
in New York this morning"
''Oh. am glad he is your ia
ther. | Thought il might be an
other admirer arriving in addition
10 the three already here. Aren't
you happy TO see your father?"
''Oh, yes" drawled the girl. But
| hardly know Alex. He is a good
old scout, but such a vagab0nd
But | do declare. Miss Sally. dear,
| don't know what shall do with
him with Bobby and Hank and
Earl to look after"
"Well, my dear, do not neglect
your father. You are all he has,
you know. Let the boys shift for
themselves"
Sally smiled. with the despair
ing wisdom of youth.
ALEX is lecturina me something
fierce for having my hair shingled.
Says he likes old-fashiOned girls.
oh. Miss Sally. lei me do your hair.
Part il in the middle and coil II
low on your neck. Please. Miss
Sally. And you should
have earrings"
Sally Cole smiled at herself in
the mirror an hour later. Her
usually sleek hair was sOftened
over the ears and cniled low on
her neck. Her dress was white, a
lovely soft silken thing she had
bought in New York. Sally always
had white dress. For a second
her hand toyed with the jade ear
rings in her jewel case. Twenty
years ago tonight she had worn
those exquisite things and
then she was fastening them in her
ears.
As she Joined the other members
of the faculty. Alice Wayne spied
her and came across the floor hold
ing fast to the hand of a big blond
man.
Miss Cole. Alex. And Miss Sal
Iy. this Is my father"
He looked straight into SalIy's
eyes. questioning gaze. He
smiled at her as he took her hand
in his, and with the other hand,
he touched the earring that nearly
reached TO her shoulder.
Earrings of jade "a white
dress Strathmore
and those twenty years are
bridged. | would have known you
anyway, but the jade really proves
you are yOu. came back, twenty
gears ago. but you had MOI given
me your namei I couldn't find you.
but ! never forgot"
For the love Of Mike. Alex, what
are You talking about?" demanded
his dhnghter
II mean. young lady. you can
save dance for your old dad
along about the last will be
busy up to that time. Here comes