Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-03-06
Eileen's Beauty
Sleep Won Out
By RUBY DOUGLAS

GIT DOES seem like the Irony or
Fate that you should have had u
fire that night" laughed Janice Burt.
"And you laugh" commented Eileen
dryly.
"Why not2 You must have been a
scream"
II did scream anyway. Honestly,
never gave a thought to the fire Itself
or to the fact that father and mother
were calling frantically to me to get
out. All I thought of was the way
looked and the front yard full of fire.
men,"
"What was this grand new beauty
sleep you were trying on this night
of all nlghts" asked Janice, still
amused.
Eileen shook her head dlsconsolate.
ly. "Oh-don't ask me about 1t. And
there l stood on the balcony In front
of my room--the very spot l had SO
often pictured myself I'M But In
stead OF looking wonderfully lovely
and wrathllke and ethereal in pale
romantic moonlight was veritable
comic valentine. My hair was done
In metal wavers that struck out like
Topsy's pigtalls all over my head. I
had frown eradlcator between my
eyes % smooth out the lines | am get
ting because won't wear glasses.
had this white Of egg smeared on my
face and 1t had dried in!'
1T sounds like some beauty Sleep
10 lnAE ri In. Ia
well at the party tomorrow night and
was going to try this for two or
three nights. II wanted TO look well
because Tom Harper. whom haven't
seen for three years, Is visiting his
cousin Bert. You know always liked
Tom, and then-he went away"
"What has that to do with the nre?"
asked Janice.
Everything - stupid. Don't you
know that we have only volunteer
fire department In our village? You
city folks know so little about subur-
ban problems. And don't you realize
that every male who Is not half dead
Of ennul dashes out to every fire.
midnight or not? And can't you be.
gin to see that Bert dragged his cousin
Tom out with him and that there they
stood with the ladder at the foot OF
my balcony waiting to make heroic
rescue and me-oh--"
II suppose you would rather have
smothered to death In the smoke"
suggested janice. "But l do begin TO
see."
~ climbed down the ladder with
the whole family and all the fremen
including waiting at the foot
to grab me In their arms. never was
so mortified in all my life. And you
| know, Janice, have always made II
point to go to bed looking pretty
in case of fire or burglars. 1t has al
most been a complex with me-"
~ knOw--you powdered your nose
and brushed your hair hundred
times aud chose pretty colors janice
burst out again into merrimcnt.
Suddenly she stopped, for her com
panlOn's eyes were full OF tears.
~ Just can't help IT," sobbed Eileen.
giving way to the emotion that she
had controlled ever since the fire. ~
know II Is silly, but"
The sound Of automobile wheels
crushing the blue stone driveway cut
short Eileen's cry.
Tom Harper pulled up IN front Of
the porch and stopped the car.
He came straight up to Eileen with
both hands Outstretched. II do hope
you are none the worse" he snid
earnestly. looking into her eyes. II
have been so concerned. And you
we're so wonderfully brave"
Janice knew that the man before
her had not seen the curriers' nor the
beautifylng lotions nor the wrinkle
eradicatOr. She knew It and thrilled.
did she tell you about NJ he
asked Janice, turning TO her after
minute.
Janice laughed. "She has told mo
her vision"
(which has nothing to do with my
bravery, but rather Of my beauty
sleep that ! thought ! was having In
solitude" confessed Eileen.
And then the whole story came out
and Eileen forgot that she had been
on the verge Of thoroughly good cry.
The relief she experienced At the
knowledge that Tom had moi thought
her dreadful after all these years "
separation was enough 10 chase away
the tears.
They talked Of the fire and Of the
insurance adjusicrs, and Eileen sald
that the concensus Of opinion was that
the fire had originated IN the walls
among the lGthing whore mice had cnr-
ried matches.
Safety FIRST said Janice, FOR lack
Of anything better to add.
~ think II was beauty 6rsr with
me-" laughed Eileen.
"And n Janice doesn't mind I'm
going TO tell you what II was with
me-" began Tom, looking NJ Eileen
with his soul IN his eyes.
But Janice left them alone, and then
and there Tom told Eileen that he
had never experienced so dreadful
moment ns when he beheld her alone
on that balcony where, every moment,
he expected 10 see flames bursting out
Of the windows.
He told her mnny other things, and
among them the fnct that he had not
even see the cnrlersl
"Then you do love me-" whispered
Eileen.