The Coolidge examiner., 1936-11-06

colorful. l had determined to do
something original-there was no
touch of color in the whole effect
The gown was of black lace, a high
comb for the hair-as black a tor
toise-shell as 1 could find. And in
stead of the usual mantilla, l wore
a big square of black maline close
ly dotted with rhinestones.
am a tall woman. Once I was
slim, But perhaps l had better say
now that 1 am thin. My hair is jet
black. 1t has always been abun-
dant and as I have never cut it,
/ still have a great deal. My eyes
are gray. l am forty-six years old.
And that, I fancy, is all that is nee
essary to say about me. However,
I myself felt that my costume was
becoming and Sarah was en-
thusiastic.
Sylvia is little, even for her eight
years; frail and honey-haired;
pearly and freckled. Sarah loosed
her hair from it's two tight pig
tails; combed out its waves;
mounded it on her head. Then she
drew on the white lace dress. It
was so long that it dragged on the
floor. l cannot tell you how charm
ing Sylvia looked.
I think I shall never forget what
an amusing picture we made as we
stood before the long mirror III my
room. Reflected back Of us was
my tall tester bed with its beauti.
full chintzes' in Pompadour blues
and pinks; the light here and there
in the room, spreading into golden
pools on the polished tables or the
polished floor; Sarah's warm, dark
face above the shining gray poplin
of her uniform; Sylvia's tiny fragile
silvery figure and my tall, filmy
dark one, both of US a-light with
sparkles, from our wells. hated to
put Sylvia's mask on.
AS l did not want to keep Sylvia
up too late, l started early for the
party so that she might See the
whole show. And to make it the
more thrilling to her, l improvised
great mystery in our approach to
the Stow house. A little before
nine, we emerged, hand in hand.
from my back door. l took Sylvia
down the driveway to the road in
front of the house, walked toward
the ocean and then up over the
Head, passing the Fairweather
house, the Eames house, the Mar
den house, the Geary and the Bray
houses to the Stow house. We en-
tered there by the back door.
1t was a beautiful night Many
regretted that the moon was to be
late. But l did not regret it, for
love the stars. The air was soft and
warm. AS we walked, Sylvia S
trusting little hand in my hand and
her chattery little voice in my ear,
l could hear the long, slow BOOM
ing sweep of the incoming waves
and the long rafting pull-back Of
the outgoing ones. l explained to
Sylvia tnat 1 had started early on
her account, so that she could
watch everybody appear and that we
might be the very first to arrive. l
told her that-in order that no.
body could guess who they were
the Slows always left their home
before their first guest appeared
and returned after the party had
started.
Three or four times in this brief
walk. we met policemen, the first
just beyond the park. We greeted
them all and they responded with
smiling, mystifed appreciation.
When we came into the big Stow
kitchen. the usual crowd of colored
girls filled it; the Slows Jessie
and Caddie, the Eames' Lulu and
Lily, sisters by the name of Lamb;
the Gearys' Jennie Snow and Win
ME Tompkins; Big Hattie Doane
and slim little Alice Robinson who
we're always available for extra
work; Bessie and Sarah.
The house looked lovely. Matte
has an exquisite taste in decora
ton and she is an accomplished
gardener.
Several had arrived before us.
There was that air of tingling con-
straint excited half-suppressed
mirth-which always hangs over
the beginning of a masked party.
Three men, an Indian, pirate.
Sylvia did all the talking l did
all the listening. l was willing
enough to listen. I was conscious
that l was going through one of the
most curious experiences of a life
time. 1t was almost eerie.
I have never had the slightest
skill in identifying my friends at the
Stow masquerade; for they can al
ways make me believe they are
what they are pretending to be- We
do not unmask until about eleven:
and up to that time, our main en-
deavor is to make as many cor
rect guesses as possible. OF course,
occasionally 1 do penetrate a dis
guiSe, but not often.
Imagine then, my surprise when,
almost as fast as they entered the
hall, Sylvia began to tell me who
tho clrnn.c