THE SECRET OF HER SMILE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21130, 12 March 1932, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE SECRET OF HER SMILE.

A PEN PICTURE. A SHOPPING COMEDY. Her radiant cheerfulness was as refreshing as a sea-breeze in the crowded shoe department, where a bargain sale was in full progress. No longer young, with greying hair and lined face, she stepped buoyantly in before her companion as if precedence was hers by right of birth, breeding and beauty, and having piloted the other to a seat with the utmost confidence, she successfully waylaid one of the harassed assistants, says a writer. The friend, indeed, seemed somewhat bewildered by this unwonted patronage, but cheerfully and utterly oblivious of the rebellious murmurs and protesting glances flung in her direction by fellow-members tlio smiling newcctmer persuaded the saleswoman to wait on them —and even to do it with a good grace. Her friend wanted shoes, and forthwith shoes—dozens of pairs—were brought forwai'd. While these were being tried on, the cheerful lady sauntered round with gay insouciance. Pausing before a case full of the most exquisite examples of the shoemaker's art, sho contemplated them contentedly and without a shadow of envy, while one of her own shabby brown shoes tapped out a merry little rhythm to the joy which possessed her. With a sigh expressive of utter happiness sho came back to her friend, who was voicing the rather usual sale-time lamentation that the colours sho wanted was not bo had in her size; that when the shoes fitted her the heels wero too high; and, saddest of all, when size and sTiapo and colour wero just right, the price was beyond her modest purse. "Too bad! Too bad! Never the size and the shape and the price all together!" she misquoted cheerfully. "But don't worry! I know where you will get just what you want." She smiled encouragingly at her friend, and sympathetically at the girl, who, albs-lb disappointed in her sale, actually smiled back at her. What was the Secret? And I watched the little comedy and wondered. That smile of ineffable bliss and glad assurance is, in my experience, only brought about by one of two things —a recently started and very successful love affair, or a recently purchased and very becoming addition to the wardrobe !

I studied her more closely. Someone might well be in love with the sonsie, happy person, but without being unkind I could be quite sure it was not, a .re-cently-started affaire. There remained the alternative. The Answer. My scrutiny was not unfriendly; but I was forced to admit that her shoes were far from new, and had already paid more than one visit to the shoemaker. Her stockings had long since lost their pristine freshness, and were too light for present day-wear. Her coat was shorter than any self-respecting coat should be in this year of grace 1932 and this despite the irrefutable, telltale marks of " letting-down." My eyes travelled upwards, past the shabby fur collar, and ... Of course! Crowning the lined, but smiling countenance, was an unmistakable and vastly becoming new hat!