BEAUTY IN A BLUE WAIST

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4978, 30 May 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

BEAUTY IN A BLUE WAIST

Sunday dinner at Mrs Thompson’!! was always more or less of an event. Perhaps it was because tile boarders appeared in their best apparel on that occasion.

Feminine finery was especially in evidence. Dainty, fancy waists and becoming hair bows gave .an air of festivity which mere week day dining never called forth.

Yet the feminine element of the Thompson boarding house always dressed prettily and tastily even for “every day.”

Tho majority of the girls worked for a small living. Some were stenographens. Others stood patiently behind counters and dealt daily withall sorts and conditions of customers. Yet., despite tho fact of small and hardearned salaries, ail of them seemed to have caught tiic fever for stylish dressing—that most prevalent and contagious disc aso of America.

On one particular Sunday thero waa an unusual 'display of smartness and prettiuoss.

From the quiet corner table Ellen Hyatt saw it all, and tho dissatisfaction which for- weeks she, had been successfully combating swept upon hep all at once. , Ellen had natural charms which few of tho girls could boast. iYet she was painfully conscious that among thorn sbo made no show.

Her .little blue silk waist —tho only “best one” she possessed—paled into disheartening insignificance beside those others. Two months ago, when she loft tho little homo, town, she had thought tho waist extremely lovely aud lit for very nice occasions. Since coming to Thompson’s she had worn it every Sunday and realised its inefficiency.' Bitter thoughts assailed her now. “Dress is tho thing that counts, after all,” she reflected. “Men may talk forever about ‘beauty unadorned,’ but tho sentiment is hopelessly out of date. Mon try to persuade thqiAsoivbs' l they (prefer naturalness and simplicity m women, but there isn’t one who is proof against tho charm of handsome fabrics and stylish curves.” 1

Perhaps this definite conclusion came just at that moment because Ellen caught sight of Harvey Randall’s head bont toward Miss Franklin at the next table. Tho latter were stunning today in white and black. Her dark hair was dressed high with a velvet bow. Randall seemed very intent. Yes,-even ho was susceptible I . ; Even he! Ellen bit her lip and lost all interest in fricasseed chicken. Somehow she had thought him superior to superficialities. She remembered with a certain soorn the long talks she and ho had enjoyed—talks on tho serious things of life. Her lip curled, “He’s just like other men,” she told herself. Up in the parlour, half an hour later, she joined tho others, as was her wont. Discussion went on as to renting the hall and securing the music. Everybody must take an interest. ■

Ellen -tried, but failed dismally. She overheard Miss Franklin- ‘ and Mias Brown planning drcSses for the occasion. “Fancy waists are no longer acceptable for every dressy occasion,” remarked tho latter. “I shall have a new gown.” Ellen gasped inwardly. How was she to meet this emergency? A desperate resolve came to her.

Upstairs in her rooms she sat holding a roll of bills. It was tho money, she had been, saving for .a purpose. Oh, how determined sho-ltadsbecn. to carry out-that purpose! . ; ,Ho'V ; .4hA thought of it had thrilled and energised , her every effort! But that was in tho days when it had seemed to her that the most joyous privilege in life was the ability to earn money and help one’s family. Now—what was it that seemed most worth while? Hie face of Randall came before her and she knew that she was blushing. "X must have something prettysomething exceedingly becoming—to wear at the dance,” ho heart declared. In vain did an inner voice protest that the love of a man who cared for externals was. not worth having, and that she should not care to win it. She realised that she did care; very much, very much. “Mother can do without the money for awhile,” she said at length. “But X cannot do without t,hat dress.” The battle ragdd, furiously for a long time. Ellen seemed to see as never before how like iron must bo the will that successfully resists distraction from its ono groat purpose. But at last she put the money back. “I can the dress.” she said. During the days that followed she listened with unruffled serenity to the plans of tfie others for new frills and furbelows. She had made her decision. On the night of the dance she dressed calmly in the oft-worn blue waist and skirt.

Some ono knocked on the door ms sbo was adding the, finishing touches. The boy banded her'a florist’s box. Flushing with expectation she opened it. Such exquisite white roses! And tho card —Randall’s! : i ' l ' ! She was the most radiant -of 'all that night. Randall claimed many dances. 0n the way home he said: “You were the loveliest girl in the room. No one compared with you. And I was so glad you wore that blue*waist!” “Glad ?” gasped Ellen. ■

“Yes, very glad. You see, I’ve aoquirod a. sort of affection for it. I like it better than most affairs of that sort. You had it on when I first saw you, andi’l— have liked it ever since.” As for the other things that Eandall said, Ellen can tell you best about them. As Mrs Harvey Randall she now has a sufficiency of pretty clothes. But the blue waist sho still cherishes as one of her most precious treasures.