The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1939-10-13


ping and had decided to buy the
stunning sports suit that had been
reduced because of a small spot on
the blouse. She knew that she could
embroider a black flower on the
black knitted silk-something for
NAL that would not spoil the tai
lored effect, perhaps a symbol of
cubistic square.
I'm just afraid that Ed thinks
me too shabby to take about" she
told herself sorrowfully, wishing she
could stretch her small salary to
the point where she could indulge in
the frills that all girls love and es-
pecially those girls who work in
the downtown stores and see the
latest novelties.
For three weeks she had heard
nothing from the young radio sales
man and she had grieved until she
had lost four pounds. And, when
one weighs a scant 100 pounds, four
pounds is important.
She loved Ed and she was not
ashamed to admit it to herself.
He had been taking her about
for some months and his manner
had become increasingly tender I'M
til that last night at the theater.
The heroine, a dreamy girl with
golden curls and babyish mouth,
had spent her last $50 for dozens
of roses because she expected her
lover to call. He had arrived
hungry and cold, and looking
forward to a good meal, and Rosa
mond had told him gaily of her de-
pleted finances.
It was at this point that Ed had
turned to his companion saying:
Isn't she wonderful? To be so
romantic-so appreciative of the
beautiful things of life"
Rita agreed that the scene was
indeed lovely, but she had qualified
this by mentioning the unwiseness
of spending ones all in moment.
Suppose her lover had failed to
reach that country house that night?
What would she have done for din
ner? The empty pantry was shown
and there would be breakfast, too,
to consider"
Rita had wondered at his sudden
GOODNESS that night, but had never
connected it with the play except
and this had loomed big in her
mind-except that he might have
fallen in love with the exquisite
Rosamond in her childish frock of
expensive white lace. Rosamond,
with her background of nodding
pink roses was beautiful, and Rita
had contrasted her own blue serge
smartness with that dream of girl
hood.
Rita made her own blouses and
most of her sheer collar sets, often
working until far into the night in
order to make q bit of real lace
that she could not afford to buy.
Passing a florist shop in Rose
mont avenue, Rita glanced in.
She knew the girl who owned it.
Grace was in the far end of the
small shop and she was bent over
her tiny desk with a handkerchief
in her hand Rita stared in.
Surely Grace could not be crying.
There was no one else inside and
Rita opened the door.
Grace bit off a sob and mopped
her eyes. ''Oh, thank goodness, it's
you Rita. I'm a sight.H
What's wrong?S,
81 lost my purse and-my rent
money was in it. The agent will
be here by eight o'clock in the morn
ing and what I'm going to do is
more than l know. Where in the
world can get $60?"
Rita stood in stunned consterna-
ton. Where, indeed?
He warned me when / rented
this that he'd accept no excuses.
Pay or GO he said. There won't
be any important sales tonight. It's
seven o'clock now. What in the
world shall l do?"
Rita looked down at her purse.
In that she had the savings that
she had withdrawn to buy her sum-
mer clothes. Sixty-three dollars.
She needed the clothes but-another
girl needed that money-it meant
her living. If she were put out
what would she do? She knew that
Grace had no near relatives, none
in the city. Still, there was Ed.
He might telephone her almost any
night and want to take her out and
that meant clothes.
Motors whizzed past in the wide
street and gay snatches of song
or laughter drifted into the fra
grant shop.
Spring had come definitely and
the world rejoiced. The scent of
lilacs came with the soft breezes
and the smell of earth and bursting
buds could be detected even in the
wilderness of bricks and stone.
Love meant so much and modern
love seemed to follow the girls who
wore the prettiest frocks.
An unconscious sigh burst from
Rita's pink lips.
She seemed to see Eds face be-
fore her above the nodding flowers.
Then she lifted her head CALAMITY.
She could not see another girl in
need when she had surplus money.
Take this, Grace" she cried,
opening her purse and unpinning
the little packet of folded bills from