The Washington times., 1936-11-28

from happiness, LndI Was Cne Cd
Other things happened.
Jan, in a new white dress,
walked upon a platform with Al
others, and walked down again
with a roll of white, tied with a
red ribbon, in her hand.
She had finished high, and she
had a diploma.
Three persons gave her pres
ents. A little pearl brooch, with
a crescent of pearls that had
been Evelyn'S own graduation
present, from Evelyn. A box Of
candy and scholarship at the
business college Dorathea had
gone to, from David. A sheaf Of
white orchids and lilies of the
valley, cabled all the way from
Guatemala, from Lowell Kramer.
Ards was graduated from Miss
Carver'S, and planned to enter
California in the fall.
eff you want to go, Jan, I'll see
you through" David told her. II
only arranged for the business
course because you said that was
what you wanted to do. I'd
really rather see you through col
lege. I can't remember anything
I learned when I was there, but
I'm glad I went"
"No-you're awfully good to
me, David. Too good. But I
couldn't wait four years without
earning something"
"Jobs are hard to get, jan"
"I'll find one!"
"I'll help you when you're
ready. But don't give up the
other idea without a thought. 1t
makes a nice background for a
girl, Jan. Lowell'S going to be a
university man. Don't you think
that he'd like you to have a col
lege degree, too?"
Her eyes filled. She'd thought
of that, too. But she shook her
head. Kept her eyes turned
away.
ooh, he'd like it. But if he
knew how things are with us,
he'd want me to do what I ought
to do-get a job. Don't you think
I ought to, David?"
I'm darned if I see why you
should take the family on your
shoulders. 1t isn't right"
"Please-Ill be happier doing
it my way!" For, though she had
told him her secret, that she and
Lowell would be married some
day, she didn't tell him just how
bad things were at home, because
he might take it for a hint, and
he'd lost a lot of money, too.
Maybe she shouldn't even take
the scholarship, but he'd be hurt
if she refused.
So, a few days after commence
ment, she gathered up Dorathea's
old shorthand and tipping books
and started off, and in three
months she had another diploma,
and, wonder of wonders, a job!
It wasn't much of job-juSt a
little secretarial work in the
school, but it gave her a few
dollars while she was waiting,
and showed. she thought, that she
was going to be lucky.
II thought I was lucky" Dora
thea said, but my luck didn't
last. Wait till you get out in the
business world, and have to buck
a lot of jealousy"
That's right" Benny said.
"Oh, you don't know what 7
mean! I mean other women-be-
ing jealous of a girls lookS!"
There's jealousy with men,
too"
Dorathea raised her eyebrows. |
Bonnie, dramatizing himself
again! And she said to Jan. cat
least you won't have that to con-
tend with as I did. I meant
mean"
"Oh, I know what you mean.
It doesn't matter, Dorathea," Jan
said smiling, but she did mind.
She went to the mirror and
looked at herself for long time.
It was always so disappointing.
She sort of forgot what she
looked like, between times. Every
one else in the family was so
good-looking, it was so easy to
think of yourself as one of them.
And then to go and deliberately
take a good look at yourself, to see
your ordinary, everyday, unglam-
orous self
"All American girls are nice
locking" she'd read somewhere.
Nobody was crosS-eyed or buck
toothed anymore, because they |
fixed that sort of thing when you
were young. But what difference
did it make? It just raised the |
standard, that was all. You were |
still plain, still unexciting, one Of