The Washington times., 1934-07-11

ror, fastened to a pillar opposite
the elevators, caught their re
flection-the reflection of two
women who were plainly ladies
but who were also plainly down
on their luck in out-of-date hats
that turned up in front instead
of down in a season when all
the new hats hid the right eye
in last-seaSon skirts that were
too short, in black suede shoes
that were shiny at heel and toe
from too much wearing.
Lets go out at the side door.
I simply cannot pass that sales.
woman at the lace counter, "
Lutte said in a whisper, as if
she were afraid that someone in
the throng of shoppers might
hear of their humiliation. Her
eyebrows were twisted high on
her forehead in a look of dismay
and bewilderment still. THAT
upStart of a man, Susan! I
can't understand why stood
there and let him talk to us
the way he did. just think of
his daring to!-Why, old Crowell
Hart, who founded this store,
was one of your Grandfather
Broderick's lifelong friends!-
I wish I'd put that fellow into
his place!-"
Susan shook her blonde head.
Nothing that you could have
said would have made any
difference, Lutte" she said.
"All that mattered to him was
that our bill wasn't paid. His
job is to tell people just what
he told us-that if they don't
pay they can't buy anything
in the store"
Full Flight
They were walking away
from the building now, moving
very quickly as if both of them
felt that they were in full
flight from something shameful.
II don't believe feel equal
to walking home, Susan" Lutte
said as they reached the cor
ner of South Main and Sixth
Street. II think I'll get on a
street car here. I feel-shaky.
AS if someone had knocked me
down and walked all over me-"
Her voice was shaking and
suddenly to Susan's horror she
began to cry. She pushed up
her spotted veil and began to
brush away the tears that
gathered along her lids and
rolled down her face.
Nothing like that ever hap.
pened to me BEFORE" she went
on after a minute or two. But
then we always had plenty of
money until the last two or
three years, and money pro-
tects you from lots of unpleas-
ant things. I used to be miser-
able because everybody knew
was married and I wasn't. I
used to think I'd marry even a
poor man If I had the chance
but I wouldn't think of doing
1t now that I'm older and wiser.
I know now that nothing in this
world really matters except
money. Susan, I'll never be
the same again after what just
happened to us. declare, I feel
just like a criminal. Don't
you?"
Certainly not, and you
mustn't" Susan nSwered
Sturtlily as Lutie's street car
came along. Lets forget it.
I think I'll walk, Lutte.
Goodby."
She helped her aunt into the
car and stood on the edge of the
pavement, frowning as she
watched it disappear into the
Snow+filled darkness. Then as
she turned and started along
South Main Street past the
lighted store windows her face
began to clear. She swung
along smoothly and quickly as
If she enjoyed walking, and her
lips parted a little as if she
drank in the cold fresh air with
eagerness.
Under the brim of the un-
fashionable hat her whole face
wore an eager expectant look
as il she were on her way to
meet someone whom she was
very impatient to see. AS a
matter Of fact she didn't know
more than a hundred people in
the whole city, but whenever
she was out on the streets alone
she found herself filled with an
oddly excited expectant feeling
"a feeling that just around the
corner, in the next block, some
one or something wonderful and
thrilling might be waiting for
her.
Expectant
So far, in her twenty-one
years, very little that was out of
the ordinary had happened to
her. One day Of her life was so
much like the next one that she
could hardly tell them apart.
and all of them so uneventful
that q walk downtown and back
was something Of an adventure
to herbA