The Washington times., 1931-12-29
CHAPTER NINE

and bromo-SelCZer, puIIed Lau'
rel Oakes together.
Presently she was singing in
the bath.tub. It was a good
old world, after all. The sun
was shining gloriously, and
there was the hum of bees and
crickets outside her window.
A graciousness was on the
land today. AS though the
whole earth we're giving thanks
for its own beauty and fer
tility.
She-Laurel Cakes - owed
thanks to someone. too. What
about that good-looking young
man who had been her res
cuer?
Would he call her up, to find
out how she was?
She wished he had showed
some eagerness to make a date
with her.
But nothing of the sort. His
attitude had been that of a
big disappearing brother.
Well. she'd certainly asked
for criticism. what with the
wild and unconventional char.
acter of their meeting, followed
by her unrepentant pertness.
Still, on this heavenly morn
ing of high summer, she
couldn't get the stranger out
of her head.
She must confide in someone.
It would have been wonderful
to talk 1t all over with mother
but then lovely Constance,
like nearly all the mothers Of
the other girls she knew, was
always too busy to listen!
Preoccupied they were. with
their own lives. Perpetual
haste engulfed them.
Fear of Ridicule
There was the fear of ridi-
cule. too, which held one back
from giving away ones secrets
to an older generation.
Mothers showed indifference
to their young daughters prob
lens, Shirking responsibility
.. and Constance was one of
those whom time was contin-
ually pressing.
What with her golf, her dates
at the Country Club, her eternal
bridge and poker parties :. {.
(and mother played quite highD
her matinees in town and
her dress fittings, any attempt
that Laurel made to discuss
anything vital with her mother
had been side-tracked.
It was the same with all the
other girls. Youth went un-
guided at the very time it need
ed advice most.
Yet Laurel continued to have
q sort Of blind faith in her love
ly mother. IF only Connie
would listen she would tell me
the right thing to do
With all the changing and
conflicting standards of the
world today Comics advice
would be worth something
And the only person that
tried to be any sort of guide to
her was reckless, ultra-modern
Imogen!
The blind leading the
blind" that was the sit
uation.
But why worry? One was
only young once and if
dad and mother were perpet,
ually busy on their own good
times why shouldn't she make
whoopee?
Laurel got out of the bath
tub wrapping a coat of French
toweling that was printed with
great red roses about her. p
Fresh indies
From among the perfume
sachets in her bureau drawer
she drew out a fresh set of
underwear.
In cobweb lace and delicate
pink silk. She donned long
chiffon stockings.
"All glorious within. she
would be that today. Maybe
who knows?-She might see
her handsome young doctor?
She had enjoined him to
strict secrecy. It had taken
quite a lot of cajoling.
From a perfurned hanger in
her closet she took down a
lovely little sports dress that
looked very simple, but had
cost $40.
It was in pale pink silk, with
embroideries in orchid on the
natty little belt and cuffs and
collar.
She laid 1t on the bed, and
made up her face elaborately.
Then slipped into the en-
chanting frock, and down on
her wavy brown locks drew a
little helmet hat-in feather
weight felt-of the same
delicate pink color.
Oh, show the forehead more.
As she moved the hat back
from her brow there was a
twinge of pain from the cut
that was a couple Of inches
from her temple.
Would the darn thing bleed
again?
And just then the bedroom
door opened, and in came her
mother.