Evening Star Newspaper, October 18, 1935, Page 30

DAILY SHORT STORY. THE PLAIN ONE By Ethel Willis Hewitt. A LETHIA g MOORE mov- ed restlessly about her spacious liv- ing room out in Takoma. It was apparent that she found being the mother of a notably beautiful daughter and a very plain one a bit difficult at the moment. She glanced nervously @ at the little china clock on the man- tel. Three o'clock. At 4, they were ex- pecting Bart Hen- derson. Karen stifled a yawn with the back of a slim, white hand. “What's the hur- ry? 1 think the whole thing is id- {otic, if you ask me.” Mrs. Moore broke in, impatiently. | “My dear, when Bart went to China three years ago, it was your picture he took with him—you he was in love with, The fact that Judith wrote those letters has nothing to do| with it.” Judith’'s hands, arranging yellow roses in a deep blue bowl, were & bit unsteady. Her plain little face reflected nothing—precisely. * % ko | “JPLEASE,” she said quietly, “don’t go into all that again. Of course it's Karen. The fact that I nnsured‘ his letters every week., when Karen | wouldn't be bothered, meant only one thing—1I felt sorry for him,” she ended | flatly. Karen, in all of her golden loveliness, tose from the depths of a wide-winged chair and slipped an arm around Judy. “And now I'm supposed to step up and carry off the prize. It was you who held him—it's a darn shame, | = Later, Judy, slipping into a cool, green frock. regarded herself ruefully | in the triple mirror above her dressing | table. Plain—from every angle. They | were right. The woman for Bart| ‘would be glamorous. Fumbling in the | Jower dresser drawer for a handker- | chief. she came upon the deep box that | held his letters. Her part of hxm—-[ always. * ok ox % *['OMORROW, maybe, shed burn 7 them. but even then she knew she | never could. They were alive, a part | of her, a part of him. They were a | man’s letters to & woman he was madly in love with. Hers, even if she were the plain one, who would never | sttract men. Mother had said as much, so had | Grandma Moore and Aunt Louisa; | everybody, in fact. And all those | letters she had signed Karen had called her Cookie, because, he sald, the thought of her gave him the same tremendous thrill that he got as a kid from the smell of cookies and the | knowledge that he could have all he! wanted when they came out of the | oven. Dear, dear Bart. At dinner, sitting opposite him, | watching his lean, arresting face and his hands while he talked, she ate very little. | He talked seriously of his work. of his travels, of China, when Mrs. Moore or Karen steered the conversation in | His voice died away. danced, mostly | that direction. In that quiet seclusion Judy alwnys slipped into when Karen ‘was present, she was thinking that Bart could never give Karen what he had given-her. The evening was going nicely. Mrs. Moore was in high spirits, and Karen, evidently flattered by Bart's lavish tention, lost reluct- ance to continue the little deception. They played a rub- ber of bridge, and * afterward, in the rosy light of the| living room, they turned on the radio and danced, that is, Bart and Karen Once Bart danced with Judy. not easily, as he danced | with Karen, but apparently for polite- ness, awkwardly and in silence. “I don't dance very well,” Judy ventured, in desperation. “I'm afraid it's my fault” Bart said, quietly. Judy was glad her mother’s satisfied enthusiasm left no gaps to be filled in. She went out into the garden, and sat for a long while on the little bench | near the lilac bush, wondering if every | exquisite thing in life had to be paid for in heartbreak. * ok kX HE heard the door bell ring. Karen wouldn't have him to herself, after all. There were gay voices and laughter. Karen's friends. They didn't | concern her. She was glad she didn't have to go in. Later, in the warm darkness, a hand | touched her shoulder. It was Bart. He dropped down beside her on the bench. “There's company. I slipped out Judy, how oould you?” he ended unevenly. | “How could I—I what?” Judy man- aged, through a tightening throat. He took her cold hands between his. “You must have felt all along that | I knew. Karen could never have writ- | ten one of thcse letters. They are so entirely you. Glamorous, sparkling, | utterly fascinating.” his voice died away in the vaguest whisper, almost & caress. Judy went suddenly panicky. She must make him understand. “Oh, but I'm not like that. really. | I have no—no charm, nothing. Karen'’s lovely, she—" ught her up, close in his arms. “Karen’s loveliness is on the surface, for all the world to see. Your loveliness | is just between us. I'm selfish. I| couldn't bear to share you with the | world, Cookie,” he whispered against | her hair. | It couldn't be true, and yet—— “You meant all you said in your letters—for me?” she asked, wide- eyed, unbelieving. | There was a little silence, lilac- | scented and breathless, then he lifted | her face. | “Here’s how.” The kiss was sudden and bewildering to them both, falling as it did on | Judy’s small, unattractive mouth. But it convinced her that she couldn't be so very plain—not with Bart loving her like that. (Copyright 1035.) APPROVAL OF CONTRACT FOR PORTAL IS ASKED Officials of the National Capital Parks yesterday disclosed they are ask- | ing Secretary Ickes to approve a con- | tract for $10,773 for the improvement | of the Takoma Park portal, at the Piney Branch underpass and the Dis- | trict line. | ‘The Grand View Nurseries of Mount | Vernon, N. Y., was the low bidder when | bids were recently opened and C. Mar- | #hall Finnan, the park chief, is recom- mending to Ickes that this firm be given the word to go ahead without | delay. The work will consist of grad- | ing and planting, excavation for lawn areas and planting areas to the new | grade of the highways, top-soiling and ‘ the furnishing and planting of ma- | terial for landscaping. Bids ran as high as $21,541. | = Labe Shote HONEY Fo fi heners WriteW . F. Straub & Co .Chicag for 100 recipes 1935] OCTOBER 1935 [ suwpay | wowoay | TuEsoaY vumesaar , Tuursay] emioar_|saturoay Arthur Jordan’s October Sale of Pianos Marshall & Wendell -~ §1 WEEKLY o Cable & Visit Our New Victor R;fld Department THE EVENING STAR, % t % 1 ROYALIST* ~—misses”" frock with a martial air There is quite a bit of military atmosphere in these modern, voung frocks designed for mod- ern, young lives—but it is a very delightful military fashion —bright buttons — frogs, gav colors. Witness the frock sketched which contrasts dark red and bright blue with great chic. Sizes 14 to 20. From s collection at 51695 Misses’ Dresses, THIRD FLOOR. BRIGHT WOOL ~and very smart about it too A little frock vou will net want to be without—nice now without one's coat—quite as good, later, with it. It comes from a collection of novelty woolens and crepes—each with some little fashion idea that makes these frocks look in- credibly smart for $]0-95 INEXPENSIVE DRESSES, Tump FLOOR. WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1935. WOODWARD 10™II™F asxv G STREETS & LOTHROP PHoze DIsmrict 5300 —suede and smart- grained calf —each with two initials This is a handbag event you will not want to miss. It offers an opportunity to own a smart bag for each costume—and for incredibly little, too. You may choose from numbers of pouches and envelopes—some of them with popular slide fasteners—some top-handles—some back-straps. Every bag is very nicely fitted. There is black, brown, green or wine, in both the suedes and the leathers—and, of course, the initials do add a nice, individual touch. NOTE—A splendid opportunity to do some advantageous Christmas Shopping. HANDBAGS, AlsLz 8, PIRsT FLOOR. Why Not Drop in for Afternoon Tea Tomorrow In the Tea Room, Seventh Floor, is a delightful menu—and, if you are planning to stay downtown, there is something a trifle more substantial knowre asségl‘wilight Supper.” Either will be delicious—and served from 2:30 to 5:30. ‘TEA ROOM, SEVENTH FLOOR. Tomorrow’s Candy Specials Pecan-Stuffed Dates Chocolate-Covered Krunch.__ Homemade, Assorted Bon-Bons and Chocolates____2 pounds, 95¢ Campy, Amix 14, Fmst Froom, COCKSURE of a very bright future This dashing felt—one of our newest Jane Wandl hats, by the way—rises to new heights and adds the gay feather, cocksure of its chic. and bright future. From a col- lection of feathered felts in black and bright colors— 37.50 MILLINERY, THIRD FLOOR STOCKING KNIT means chic in sports clothes —and vou can prove your fashion acumen in a sporting crowd by wearing this stocking- knit sports suit. A three-piece affair, with contrasting blouse—and the blouse, by the way, has Schiaparelli's scarf-neckline. Green with vellow gold—brown with green, black with red, navy with wir®. Sizes 14 to 20. $3475 Other Suits from $10.95 to $59.75. SPORTSWEAR, THIRD FLOOR