Evening star., 1934-04-27


suddenness of his going. No more sur
prising, though, than the report of his
bankers which placed the residue of
his estate at less than $4,000. The
smart world arched its browS. Pierre
Reynal had left his widow, Corinne,
and his two daughters, Valerie and
Sandra, in what it regarded as very
straitened circumstances
Fifty thousand dollars!
"A miserable pittance," in the words
of the widow, who was loud in her
lamentations. Especially her lamen-
tations over poor dear Pierre's i'm
providence"
Couldn't you put the money away,
mother?" This from young Sandra
who knew her father was dear but
who felt keen hurt at the infection
her mother placed on the word
poor Some place where the in
terest would buy us bread-and salt?
Val and ought to be able to earn
our own cakes and wine, and yours,
too."
Corinne Reynal looked startled.
IT haven't the remotest idcl what you
are talking about, my child" she said.
I'm talking about earning a liv-
0iS. IL . pCCll uOlle.
Don't be ridiculous. Very ILL
choSen-at such a time"
I'm not being ridiculous I'm try
Ing to be helpful" Sandra was serious.
You're being most annoying. What
would do do, either of you?"
The question was rather staggering
Sandra thought What could she do?
What could Val do? Nothing useful,
surely.
Il get your point, mother" she
said, sparring for time. Let me see
Val-wen, if Val is as beautiful as
you say she is. if she's as Turing as
she thinks she is-she could be a
model. Shes what you might CALL
even at her early age. professional
beauty. Why not get paid for it?"
There" Corinne Reynal shifted
at a scented kerchief. I knew it was
one of your stupid jokes Young
people think they must be the clown
Most awkward"
But, mother, I mean it. I'm not
clowning. Earning our cakes and wine
would be great sport"
'Sandra! Wherever did you get that
queer-looking gown? Red! With your
hair!"
Il bought it out of window. For
practically nothing. The salesman in
sisted it was bargain"
MY dear child, try to remember
that nothing cheap ever is bargain
Why didn't you go to Rappe and allow
Georgette to select something chic
something appropriate for you?"
Sandra shook head wiser than its
years.
"Val beat me to it, she said. she
snitched five or six of the newest and
most expensive models. Rappe was
none too pleased. It seems we owe
him lot of money"
"You do have the most depressing
Ideas" Corinne sighed audibly. "Rappe
has dressed us for years. He's de-
lighted to have our patronage"
Maybe he's heard about the
$5o,0o0"
"Sandrai"
But, mother, maybe he has"
mo excuses, please. You're deter
mined to be impudent. Go to your
room and remove that impossible
gown. Give it to one Of the servants
to Marie. She has nieces-some-
where. It will do very well for them.
Dress for dinner-white would be best.
We're dining cut. Quietly. of course.
The st. Regina--the food there is ex-
cellent"
Again the wise head of Sandra
wagged "I wouldn't advise it, moth
er," she said
Corinne Reynal bristled. why,
pray?" she demanded you've al
ways liked the st. Regina. It's quite
In,
the moment"
Sandra was not to be abashed by
her mothers mauteur. Its correct
enough Too correct. I went in yes
terday for lunch. With guests. When
] signed the check the waiter-that
comedy one with the fiat feet-said,
1sUn moment, 81 vous plait, mademoi-
Belle sat tight until he came back.
He wanted to know if the check was
to be charged to the account of M.
Raoul Reynal. said no, the charge
was as usual. And did he pull sour
Sisage!'
Corinne Reynal's indignation flushed
pink in whitening cheeks. Il hope you
put the fellow in his place" she
crisped. Such insolence! How dare
he!"
MdyUc MI. dIlu 1Nl .. OI. nCslIld
have heard about the fifty thou"
stop itl Stop. this instant. for
bid you to continue this attempt at
humor."
But, mother, it isn't humor. It's
on the level. Honestly"
'Sandra! Did you hear me say I
forbid?' Such impudence appalls me.
What your father could have been
thinking Of, leaving us impoverished
as we arc"
Father didn't think" Sandra cut
In. He couldn't. The doctor said
father went out like light, that he
never knew what"
"Sandra!" The name was an ex-
plosion.
Eyes, mother"
"You are a most difficult daughter.
You are disobedient. And cruel. Cruel
to your mother who sacrifices her life
for you. You make my sorrow doubly
hard to bear. Leave me, now. please.
My heart is broken. 1t isn't strong,
as you know. I'm-exhausted shall
have to rest. We dine at eight"
Eyes, mother"
Sandra went to her room. She re-
moved the offending dress. She did
not give it to Marie. Instead she hung
1t in the back of her closet If she
was going to be poor-a dress was a
dress. Red or white. Being poor might
not be so bad. If one were sporting
about it. Poor people bought dresses
out of shop windows-after they'd
earned the money to buy them.
Sandra slipped into ripple Of white
crepe with lei of white rosebuds out
lining her young bosom. She must
be particularly nice to mother this
evening. Get Corinne's mind of her
heart. Else they would be in for
period Of doctors, nurses and a trip to
one of the fashionable spas where
Corinne took the cure" Funny
thing about cures" at spas was that
they never cured any one. They