Atlantic Narratives

ree of charge by the Dayton department stores; but if, like Eunice Day, you are the daughter of an unsuccessful bookkeeper who has left a life insurance inadequate

scalloped guest-towels which Eunice had given her some months befo

said. 'It's just a sack,-what they call

ghtly complacent air of

age into her hands. She was a tall, slender girl, with dark eyes and a pretty dignity

et home until quarter past six, and I've

'Why, Mabel, it's beautiful, and

e sack at a

it. It's nothing wo

other day that I had made a pink kimono and I hoped he would like it.

has a funny way of say

know,' said Eu

dark hair. Harry always tells me to stick to blue. It's the color for blondes. Don't

er though when they are all pressed out,' said Eunice, laying the sack ca

be married?' asked Mabel as she re

y Stephen won't want to for another

awyers,' continued Mabel sympathetically, 'have to wait so much longer. Now Harry knew to a cent what salary he was getting when he proposed to me, and he knew wha

er. We happened to have the cretonne in the house. Mother

chest,' said Mabel cheerfully, 'and t

I'll lay this sack on the bed so it won't g

re the first person I've shown them to. I hope you'll think they're dainty. Ther

bel said amiably. 'I've been al

Eunice was laying piles of carefully f

loor. 'This is my prettiest set. I've kept it wrapped in

stuff with appraising fingers. 'And all made by hand. My, wh

ok them up one by one and showed them. 'I won't let you see the table linen to-day. I've

oing. You certainly have nice things,

,' said Eu

the door now. You have to put away everything. I'll just

ent! You must let me go to the door

agre-looking woman with a thin mouth. Her eyes had once been soft and dark l

It's a nice pattern. That sort of lace looks almos

hey were sw

ne could have without spending money. You

t to show the linen un

ngered the la

h better tablecloth than that

ment she was folding and looked up, troubled, into her mother's face. 'Oh, it see

lay tissue paper in that sleeve, Eunice, the way I showed you. I'll start supper so tha

it more carefully that way. She touched it with caressing fingers. 'Dawn and apple-blossoms,' she re

ng a good salary in the Cash Register Company; another had gone to college, had been in Stephen's class at the Ohio State University in fact, and was now doing well as part owner of the garage on Main

at it would not pay to work his way through Law School. He wanted the time to get something out of New York. His father was unable to advance the money, so Stephen went to a friend of his father's, a prosperous coal-dealer in

ecord at the university in scholarship, and two other facts, the young man's forehead and

ncy to him. He introduced him to his sister, a maiden lady living in Washington Squar

fying from the outside, but once inside you feel beautifully at home. I think it's the perfect breeding you find there. I've met women more intellectual, gre

dignity into our kitchenette apartment, it will be a home that people will love to come to. It's par

ou have not only charm but the dignity that belongs. I wonder if I'm foolish to care so much for that

an. She knew it and Stephen knew it. 'We are going to be great, you and I,' he had said more than once. And yet one day when she had answered, 'You and I, Stephen?' his eyes, which had been alight with the glorious vision of the future, s

ervently that the hope was a prayer-that she w

and most of the people she knew were like Mabel. They thought Stephen's way of saying and thinking things 'funny.' There was only one woma

the United States even. She was full of shrewd comment. Eunice talked to her about the books that she and Stephen were

d there came another encouraging thought. The people in the Square were sure of themselves of course, but perhaps they were sure because they had things and had always had things. She w

ready in five

ing in a

s candlesticks which she had bought at the Ten Cent store: she had wanted to have brass; but then, Stephen

arefully. Stephen had said once that they were not wonderfully

She picked up a photograph of Stephen from the bureau and laid her