SEEN and HEARD
around Me
NATIONAL CAPITAL;
By Carter Field
FAMOUS WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
Washington.—There Is more una
nlmity—in private conversations
among both Democrats and Repub
licans, New Dealers and reaction
aries—that the silver policy of the
United States government Is weird
than on any other controversial sub
ject, probably.
There is not so much public criti
cisms of It, for various reasons,
mostly concerning the electoral
votes of certain strategic western
states
But the truth Is that no one
explains It satisfactorily, probably
because it Is rather difficult for any
one to explain something he docs
not understand, and the only two
persons credited with understand
ing the silver policy are President
Roosevelt and Secretary of the
Treasury Morgenthau. Neither of
them does any talking. If one ex
cepts the occasional retort of Mor
genthau that tie la "still buying all
ver" and Is “carrying out the man
dates of the silver law.”
The most Intelligent theory as to
the actions of the administration
runs something like this:
first. It was forced on the ad
ministration. Had It not lieen ac
cepted, the probability Is that con
gresa would have rushed through
some other Inflation measure. It Is
not Impossible that congress might
have forced the use of printing
press money to finance govern
mental needs, and pay the national
debt, as many advocated.
Second, having accepted the sil
ver law, the Idea of a tremendous
profit to the treasury developed In
the minds of Roosevelt and Morgen
than They had Just made a profit
In gold for the treasury of some
thing like two billion, eight hun
dred million dollars. Incidentally
six hundred million Is still In the
treasury, and two billion was con
verted Into the famous mysterious
equalization fund, about which, like
the sliver policy, nobody knows any
thing except Roosevelt and Morgen
than, and they won't tell.
Profit Looked Good
So the .Idea or making a profit
on silver of about two billion, to
be made by buying and com
mandeering ailver cheap, and re
valuing It later—as gold was re
valued —at a much higher price, was
very appealing.
Up to this pidnt, as u matter of
fact, there la no doubt about the
precise accuracy of what happened
Now comes the more nebulous part.
Having conceived the Idea of a
big profit, obviously the more cheap
ly ailver can he bought, the greater
the profit would he. So every now
and then Morgcnthau would net as
though the silver buying policy had
been abandoned. This always re
suited III the price of silver falling,
and from l he standpoint of accumu
latlng a lot of silver at a low price,
everything was splendid. With the
exception that the government
tins nearly slways, since the pol
icy started, paid more for newly
mined silver products! In this coun
try than the world price.
Rut as a result of his clever
strategenis to convince the world
silver holders that the price was
not going to advnnce, the world
gradually came to the conclusion
that the whole silver price boost
Ing objective of this government
had vanished. So the world, be
lieving the price of silver would fall
as siton ns the silver experiments
tlons of the United States were con
eluded, tiegan to dump silver.
With the result that If the United
States tomorrow abandoned Its
whole silver policy (which It posl
tlvcly will not) the result would
be a rather heavy loss to the treas
ury on Its silver operations to dnte.
Whereas, If Morgentbnu had com
plied with the spirit of the silver
law, and kept up n brave front of
forcing the price of silver up, the
world would not he dumping silver
now, hut holding It ror the alleged
objective mentioned In the silver
law—11.29 an ounce.
Substitute for NRA
President Uoosevelt Is still eon
vlnced that there must be a substi
tute for N'ltA. Further, lie Is still
convinced tlmt an essential part of
the advance program Is to convince
the American people that business
cannot work out a satisfactory sub
Btltute—that It must be Imposed by
the government.
This Is the status despite the
obvious fiasco of MaJ. George I*.
Berry’s conference, which was far
from being satisfactory to the Pres
Ident. In thru the major did not sue
ceed to anything like the desired
extent In simulating an Impression
of fairness.
No one Inside the administration
criticizes Major Berry’s motives
nor his advance plan. There Is e
good deal of undercover criticism
however, of his Inck of tact Ir
handling the situation that devel
oped.
Critics admit that they do no|
blame Berry for his frame of mlml
when the big meet was called ti
order. They know all about the pro
limlnary meetings of groups of bu.sl
ness men. the obvious desire of n
great many Industries to sabotage
the whole movement, and the fact
that many had actually come with
more Intention of stirring up trou
ble than of aiding in any concil
iatory agreement or co-ordination
of the various viewpoints.
So when several of the business
representatives started the fire
works, they typitied for Herry the
spearhead of the whole force he
was lighting against, and he lashed
out.
It would liuve been much better,
critics point out, had lierry re
strained his feelings, and after re
minding the conference that noth
ing was on the agenda for tills
meeting hut his outlining speech,
then announced the meeting ad
journed, hut Inviied those who
wished to talk to orgnnUe their
own meeting and go ahead.
This would have left the busi
ness representatives who wanted
to obstruct free to talk their heads
olT, but no particular harm to any
admlniatrutlon objective would have
been done.
Feared Speeches
Berry’s own objection to this
course was that speeches would he
made at such a meeting, which
might have “stolen the headlines”
In the next day’s papers. His crit
ics admit this, hut Insist that the
net result of the speeches would
have been to show more conclusive
ly than anything else could pos
sibly have done the difficulty busi
ness representatives would $ have
had In getting together.
Two courses are now open to the
administration, and decision as to
which will he followed will be made
hy Mr. Roosevelt himself.
One thing Is absolutely essen
tial to either course. The fuce of
Major Berry must he saved.
tine course would he to allow Ma
jor Berry to tuke all the letters he
has had from business men of va
rious shades of opinion, work them
out, and finally produce a report
recommending specific legislation
for a substitute NRA.
Despite widespread objections to
the whole Idea of NBA on the
part of many business men—espe
cially since prices have begun to
rise—plenty of Justification could he
produced In these letters In Major
Berry’s possession for such a course.
It Is true that some of the let
ter writers have since changed their
minds. A great many business men
wanted gome form of NRA restored
while prices were still low. They
wanted some form of government
protection ngainst chlselers. Now
that prices are rising, the danger
to their own selfish Interests Is not
so frightening. So they would like
to get rbl of government Interfer
ence and supervision, now that they
no longer need, ns they see It, Its
protection
Hoover Vs. Borah
Will Herbert Hoover's strength
at the Keiiuhlk'un national eonven
tlon be sulltclent to stop William |{
Borahs nomination If the Idaho
Lion gets going good?
That question Is being asked In
many political circles, both Demo
cratic and Republican, since the
recent radio blast of the veteran
lone wolf of the American bouse of
lords.
As a matter of fact, up until that
speech, you could not find a Re
publican in Washington who really
believed Senator Borah had a
Chance for the nomination. This
was true despite the paucity of
available timber for the G. O. 1*.
nomination, and despite the fact
that Borah bus been running first
In neurly every poll taken, begin
ning with that of Robert H. Lucas
many months ago.
Borah was simply set aside for
two reasons. One was Ids age. He
will be seventy-one on June 211.
next. Just after the convention ad
journs. The other was the strong
group of Individuals high In Itepuh
Ucan runks who object vigorously
to his nomination.
Herbert Hoover Is In a way the
head and front of this group, hut
It Is very large, and Important. The
opposition of those composing it Is
based on two things. Borah’s po
litical and economic philosophy, and
what they call Ids ‘‘undepend
ability."
A very prominent magazine editor
has told many Republican leaders
of his own negotiations with Borah
for a long series of articles. The
fees for the articles were to be
huge. There was no limitation on
what lie could say—no attempt to
dictate policies. Borah, the editor
says, was frankly attracted by the
money and the opportunity to reach
such a large nudienee so easily. But
he reluctantly declined the offer.
Ills explanation Is the whole
point. One article might he all
right Two might be right. But over
such a period of time as was In
volved. be wns likely to change bis
views so radically that the later
articles might contradict the ear
lier !
It Is this, rather than Borah’s
political philosophy, which today
causes most of the opposition on the
part of Republican leaders to Borah.
Copyright.—WNU 8«rvlc«.
Explorer II Rising from the Stratobowl.
Prepared by National Oeoyrnrihlc Society,
Wwihlngton. L>. C.-WNU Service.
TllK Explorer II, balloon of the
National Geographic society
army air corps stratosphere
flight, which rose to a record alti
tude of more than 73,(XX) feet on
Armistice day, was the largest free
balloon ever built. Commanded by
Capt. Albert VV. Stevens, who also
wns the scientific observer, and pi
loted by Capt. Orvll Anderson, both
of the army air corps, the balloon
soared more than two miles far
ther Into the upper air than the
previous official altitude record
(01,237 feet), made by Lieut Com
mander T. G. VV. Settle of the
navy and MuJ. Chester Fordney of
the murine corps, on November 20,
1933, The unofficial balloon alti
tude record prior to the flight of
the Explorer II wns 72.2IX) feet,
made by Russian balloonists.
If a tent were made from the
bag of the Explorer II 20,OtX) men
could find standing room beneath it,
with space to spare. It will cover
about two ami two-thirds acres of
ground, nr 115,84.1 square feet. It
has a cnpaclty of 3,7tX).(XX) cubic
feet of gas. This Is 23 per cent
larger than the capacity of the Ex
plorer I, used on the 193,4 Nntlonnl
Geographic-army air corps strato
sphere flight and at that time the
record-breaker for sl'<e.
If fully Inflated on n football
field the Explorer would cover
more than the totnl width of the
gridiron and about two thirds of
Its length. A building more than
eleven stories high and of equal
width and depth could be placed
easily Inside It.
The big hag Is made of cotton
fabric, treated reppntedly with rub
ber until It Is gas-tight. The gon
dola, and its four-and-one-hnlf top
load of men. Instruments and bal
last. was suspended from a cat
enary hand or girdle cemented to
the lower part of the balloon.
Moored With Seven Miles of Rope.
Seven miles of rope, enough to
reach from the enrth to the strato
sphere, were used to moor the
giant hag during Its Inflation and
until the time of the take olT.
The balloon was Inflated with
helium gas, which could not burn
or explode, Instead of the hydro
gen gas used In the Explorer I. Only
about 2(10,(XX) cubic feet of helium,
about 7 per cent of the balloon’s
capacity, was let Into the bag at
the start. As the balloon rose It ex
panded until at a height of about
12 miles it tilled out the entire bal
loon Into the shape of a perfect
sphere.
After the balloon became spheri
cal and the helium continued to ex
pand there was no danger of the
bag bursting because the excess
gas escaped through four appen
dixes In the bottom. These are tulnj
lar openings like Inverted chim
neys, 17 feet long and 7*4 feet In
diameter.
The gas In the hulloon was con
trolled by two valves of a type in
vented by Captain Stevens. Op
erated by compressed air somewhat
ns air brakes are operated, the
valves were controlled from with
in the gondola. They could be used
to let gas escape from the top of
the balloon when It was desired to
halt the ascent temporarily, or to
hasten the descent toward enrth.
The gondola of Mie Explorer II
which housed the crew anil precious
scientific instruments Is a hlg nine
foot bubble made of magnesium al
loy, thin but strong. Though near
ly as strong ns steel, the metal
used In the sphere Is less than one
fourth ns heavy. It Is the world's
lightest structural metal. Even
ulumlnum Is half again as heavy.
Such extreme lightness enabled
the balloon to go thousands of feet
higher In Its ascent than would have
been the case If the gondola were
mude of heavier metal.
New Lightweight Metal.
This lightweight champion of the
metals Is a coppnratlvely new bit
of modern chemical magic. It con
tains 93 per cent pure magnesium,
one of the lightest of substances.
The magnesium Is obtained from
deep-burled supplies of salt water,
or brlie, pumped from wells ut
Midland, Mich., by the Dow Chern
leal company.
Though It appears hard and
shiny like any other metal when
fashioned Into the material for the
gondola, magnesium ground or
shaved into hits also can born with
a brilliant light. It was used In
photographers’ flashlight powder
before electric flashlamps were de
veloped, and In flares dropped by
aviators at night during the World
war to Illuminate the ground for
bombing and photography.
Despite Its light weight, the
mugneslum alloy needs a thick
ness of only three-sixteenths of an
Inch to give It sufficient strength
for the stratosphere balloon gon
dola. It carried Into the strato
sphere on the flight a load of two
men, more than a ton of scientific
apparatus and thousands of pounds
of ballast.
In tests It withstood strains five
times as great as It was called
upon to bear during the flight. Dur
ing the flight It was subjected not
only to the load hut the strain of
air pressure Inside thnt was far
greater thnn that outside.
Walls of the gondola are made
of rolled plates of magnesium al
loy welded together. The hatches
are castings of the same material.
The entire gondola, with Its metr.l
floor, hatch covers and a metal arm
from which some Instruments were
suspended, weighed G38 pounds.
Sunny, Calm and Cold.
In the stratosphere, It has been
discovered, continuous sunshine
reigns, with no storms, clouds, rali.is
or fogs. Hut—It is about 80 de
grees below xerol Also In this
paradoxical region of the upper
air the sky Is so blue thnt It Is
almost black and sounds are
strangely faint and feeble.
No summer resort on earth can
equul the sunshine and calm of
stratosphere days. The sun shines
from rising to setting every day.
with a brilliance unknown on earth,
for there is little air to dim Its
rays. Practically no water vapor
exists In the stratosphere, so there
can be no clouds to shut out the
sun, and hence no rain or fog. The
turbulent air currents nearer the
earth also are missing, so storms
are non-existent.
i;ut even wun mis perreci weutn
er overhead, the stratosphere is far
from being an Ideal vacntion spot.
It Is as cold ns the desolate polar
regions of the earth. A tempera
ture of nearly 80 degrees below zero
Fahrenheit was recorded In 1934,
both on the first National Geo
graphic-army flight to the strato
sphere nnd In the Antarctic on the
second Byrd expedition. And again
on November 11, 1935, the Explor
er II found a similar temperature.
The air Is so thin In the strato
sphere that a man would suffocate
and die there unless artificially sup
plied with oxygen.
The stratosphere Is one of the
earth’s newest frontiers, a region
of cold air 20 miles or more thick,
surrounding our globe as the skin
surrounds an orange. It hangs
above the earth at a height rang
ing from ten miles nt the equator
to seven miles in the latitude of the
United States, while over the poles
It may hang lower still.
Its bottom is the level at which
the air above the earth stops grow
ing colder. Every one knows that
the air grows colder as one climbs
higher on a mountain or in an air
plane, and scientists, formerly be
lieved the coldness steadily In
creased with latitude. But about
37 years ago It was found that the
temperature ceased to drop at a
height of seven to ten miles, nnd
remained about the same as far up
as could be measured with ther
mometers attached to small bal
loons.
Man Couldn’t Live There.
The stratosphere always stays
at approximately the same low
temperature hecuuse the heat that
its air absorbs is almost exactly
balanced by the heat It radiates
away. It Is colder in winter than
In summer, hut strangely enough
it Is colder above the equator than
nearer the poles.
A man suddenly taken to the strat
osphere could no more live than lie
could In the depths of the sea. Not
only is there much too little oxygen
to keep him alive, but the tissues
of his body would tend to expand
because the pressure Inside Ids hotly
would be far greater than that out
side. The crew of the Explorer II
was sealed In a gondola nnd sup
plied with artificial air by an air
conditioning unit, just us is the
crew «f a submarine.
MERE MAN
88
By BARBARA BENEDICT
£ Awoclated Newspapers.
WNU Service.
ItANCINK DEltltY faced her
mother. Grim determination,
detfunce and rebellion were
written in her face.
“Mother, I’m going to tell him.”
“Tell him what, dear?” Mrs.
Derry looked u little frightened,
but she smiled sweetly, neverthe
less.
One of the best things that Mrs.
Derry did was to smile sweetly.
"I’m going to tell Count Stefano
that 1 don't love him, that the only
reason I proposed to him was be
cause you wanted me to.”
"You’re going to do no such
thing.”
“Yes, mother, 1 am."
“Hut, my dear child, do you real
ize what you’re saying? Tell Count
Stefano that you don’t love him! In
deed! Why—It would ruin every
thing Oh, such ingratitude, such
thoughtlessness! And after all my
planning and scheming so that you
could marry well. Money and a
title! Think of It! And, apparently
It means no more to you than a
puff of wind. Franclne, I forbid
you to do such a foolhardy thing!”
“Forbidding, mother, won’t stop
me. I—I’m a little fed up with
your alwuys forbidding and de
manding, forever trying to run my
life. I’m sorry, mother, but this
time I’m not going to permit you to
stand In the way of my happiness."
“Yonr happiness? Franclne, there
Is something behind this. You’re—
you’re In love with some one else.
That secretary! Count Stefano’s
secretary. Oh, my Lord! That—
that person! Franclne, I will not
tolerate dlsobed—”
Mrs. Derry cut her sentence
short because the door slammed.
She found herself alone, staring
rather stupidly at the door through
which her daughter had vanished.
After a moment she started for
ward. stopped, turned, seemed to
the point of swooning hut Instead
sank wearily Into a chair, moaning,
Helowstalrs. Franclne was search
ing the hotel lobby. Her search re
sulted In failure, and she went out
side onto the terrace. Presently her
Francine Swallowed Hard. She
Stared in Wild-Eyed Amazement.
eyes fell on a young man in sports
coat and flannels, sprawled com
fortably In a lawn chair. She
marched up to him, and spoke un
hesitatingly nnd evenly.
“Count Stefano, I’ve decided I
can’t marry you. I’m sorry. I know
It will be useless to explain that
It’s because I’m not in love with
you. But—I’m an American, the
sort of American who has to be in
love with a man In older to marry
him.”
Count Stefano uncoiled his long
legs nnd stood up. He smiled.
“Francine, I'm ashamed to admit I
didn’t think you hud It In you. For
give me for my mistake. As you
say in America, ‘put ’er there!’”
And he held out tils hand.
Francine swallowed hard.
She stared in wide-eyed amaze
ment.
“You—you mean you don’t care?"
“That isn’t the point. The point
Is, I appreciate your being honest.
I wouldn't want you to marry me
If you didn’t love me.”
“Why, that's grand!” Francine
smiled, n little weakly. “That's—
grand! We can he—friends, then?”
“Nothing would make me hap
pier.”
The corners of the count's mouth
twitched.
“I’d like to he friends with both
you—nnd your mother.”
For an Instant the two stared
Into each other's eyes. After a
moment Impulsively, Francine
laughed.
“Count Stefano—Steve—you and
I had u date to play golf this nft
ernoon. Shall we keep It?"
“Keep . it? My dear girl, I
wouldn’t let you break It for any
thing.’’
And so Count Stefano nnd Fran
elne played golf as previously ar
ranged.
Throughout the nfternoon Fran
clne felt peculiarly llght-lienrted,
yet at the same time was conscious
of n growing feeling of regret.
She tried to analyze and explain
the feeling, nnd was annoyed to
find the task Impossible.
On the day following. Count Stef
nno asked her to ride with him, and
site ngreed to do so.
It was, she told herself, much
easier nnd nicer to keep dates with
i him now that her conscience
! wasn't burdened with deception. In
! fn(t. It was decidedly enlovahle,
being friendly with Count Stefano
Instead of engaged to him.
Indeed she would have been com
pletely happy If It were not for the
r
vague, unaccountable feeling of re
gret that still persisted In asserting
itself. It puzzled her, yet she
could not escape It.
Thus two weeks passed.
Fruncine and Count Slefuno were
seen much In each other's company,
more, in fact, than heretofore.
Oddly, Mrs. Derry did not carry
on in the manner in which Francine
had been afraid she might.
The older woman was, on the
contrary, quite charming and pleas
ant of manner, and gradually it
dawned on the girl that her mother
was unuware that she had broken
her engagement with the count
Thinking about It, Fruncine knew
that her mother believed she had
reconsidered her rash decision, and
hud herself decided not to speak of
the matter again for fear of cre
ating unnecessary unpleasantness.
This In itself was rather distress
ing, and Francine awoke to the fact
that sooner or later something
would have to be done.
Mrs. Derry would have to be told.
The business, however, was set
tled In a somewhat unexpected
though not wholly surprising man
ner.
She had gone sailing with Count
Stefano and they were returning
home in the mellow light of a per
fect June evening.
Steve had the tiller and Fran
cine was by his side.
Suddenly she looked up at him
and said:
“It’s been grand knowing you,
Steve. Tomorrow mother and I
are going away."
“Away? Why, I had no idea you
were leaving so soon.”
“Nor did we. I—we—decided last
night we’d have to go sooner than
we expected."
“I see. Well, I’ll miss you, Fran.
I’ll always remember our friend
ship.”
“Will you, Steve?”
“I won’t be able to help It.”
He laughed, a laugh which end
ed in a sigh.
“Sometimes I wish I weren’t a
count—nothing but a mere man.
Tiien you wouldn’t have hnd to tell
me that you couldn’t marry me.”
“Why, Steve, that wasn’t why—”
She broke off. realizing that she
had spoken without thinking.
He turned quickly.
“Francine! . . . You didn’t think
for a minute that I didn’t know
why you hnd promised to marry
me, did you?”
“Of course. I mean—why, Steve,
you wouldn’t have married me,
knowing that that was my reason?"
“Wouldn’t I? I wish you’d given
me the chance! I’d have married
yon any way at all.”
There was a haunting, desper
ate look in his eyes, and Francine
felt something clutch at her heart.
She said:
“Then, take me as I am. dar
ling, because the only reason I con
fessed to you was because I loved
you too much to even he the least
bit dishonest. I wanted to tell you.
In case mother ever mentioned the
matter. I wanted you to know—
and I’ve been regretting telling you
ever since, because it occurred to
me that now I could never hnve
you and—”
The sentence was never finished,
because Steve hnd Iter in his arms.
Hut there was no need for finishing
it It would hnve been a waste
of words and there were more im
portant things to talk nhout.
Monte Cristo Increases
the Finances of France
Although Edmond Dantes, the
dashing Count of Monte Cristo.
never existed, this Imaginary noble
man produces real money every
year for the cash box of France.
Since 1926 this yearly sum has
been 40,.ri00 francs, but beginning
with 193fi the French treasury be
gan to benefit to the extent of
112,100 francs a year out of the
fame of Alonte Cristo.
This sum was set recently at a
lively auction sale for the rental
of the Chateau d’lf, situated on a
gloomy, rocky island In the Aled
Iterranean, about two miles south
west of Alarseilles. It was from
this island that the hero of Alexnn
dre Dumas’ novel made his Imag
inary escape.
The Chateau d’lf Is real. For
four centuries It housed many pris
oners but nobody remembers them.
Alaribeau and Philippe Egalite were
among the notable prisoners who
really did occupy cells there, but
tourists visit the Chateau d’lf be
cause of Alonte Cristo.
Jean Raybaud of Annecy, vic
torious in the auction battle, will
pay the French governument 9,344
francs a month for the chateau be
cause of these tourists. With the
chateau goes the right to welcome
visitors at the rate of two francs
per person on week days.
Visitors Insist on visiting the
cell where he was supposedly Im
prisoned. They stand on the spot,
or think they do, from which the
grave diggers flung the sack con
taining Alonte Cristo (who had sub
stituted himself for the dead body
of Ahhe Faria) Into the sea. Since
the Island lies almost In the lane of
the Europe-Orient ocean traffic, and
every conceivable type of vessel
passes the cliff. It seems quite con
vincing that Alonte Cristo should
have been picked up by a passing
boat
Mound Building Bird*
The birds known ns mound build
ers. in the East Indies, take no
care of their young. Rabies hatch
by heat of the sun and start flying
after a day or two.
Wedding Dress
By JANE ALLEN
I
£ McClurf N^wsrianpr Syndicate
WNU Service.
PJOUA MADDEN, entering the cold
^ Interior of the Style Shop on
that stifling August day, felt her
frayed nerves soothed by the subtle
atmosphere of luxury which pervad
ed Madame Andre's little establish
ment. Here she was surrounded by
an almost bewildering array ofA
beautiful fabrics and colors—she,
Dora Madden, who had known so
little of lovely things!
A salesgirl approached her.
“Something for you, madam?" It
was a crisp young voice and the girl
serself was crisp and capable.
Dora s request, however, brought
the thlngly plucked eyebrows to
gether in a tipy frown.
“A wedding dress," she repeated.
Let me see . . ."
Something in white, you know,’'
Dora elucidated. Simple, but styl
ish. And not too expensive.”
Swiftly, expertly, the other ap
praised her customer. Fairly good
tigure without much style. Pale
eyes and hair. The prospect of
white satin against such a sallow
complexion caused her to shudder
inwurdly. If only the woman had
chosen to he married in blue!
This way, please," she said smil
ing.
Her high-heeled pum|>s preceded
Dora's sensible Bhoes down the
length of soft carpet to an open
glass showcase filled with snowy
satins and mousse!Ines de sole.
In the fitting room Dora stood at
last before the long tr’ple mirror in
a dress which thrilled her with its
beauty and simplicity. A dream of
a dress in satin and lace, a cloudy
veil caressing her iiead and falling
about her shoulders in a shimmer
ing cascade. Not such fine satin,
some women might have said; to
Dora the perfect wedding gown as
she laid always pictured It for her
self.
She observed the skirt critically.
It was a trifle long, perhaps, but
such small alterations were simple.
One hand strayed to I lie veil of soft
illusion and she reflected wistfully
that it would lie ever so much pret
tier against dark hair—dark, softly <
waving hair. Her straight blonde *
hob appeared dull und lifeless un
der the bright glare of the lights.
Even so, Hie sight of her slim re
flection brought a brief sensation of
pleasure. Strange not to have
known before that she had n good
ligure. A pity not to have afl'orded
pretty, well made dresses. . . .
Dora hit her lip on a quick sigh. •
took a little turn about the room. 1
"Ted will like it," she told herself.
Important, was It not, that the
bridegroom should lie pleased with
the bridal gown? Remembering
Ted's face—witti its deep blue eye*
and boyish smile—blurred her con
sciousness.
IIow really terrible It was to love
a man so much!
Turning to tin* salesgirl she sa'ul.
“I think I'll decide on this one. It's
very beautiful."
The oilier slopped up smiling, to
hel[> her change. “Yes, it’s a emst
attractive model," she said briskly.
"I mustn't forget Hie orange blos
soms.” Dora was thinking as she
recalled Lydia’s letter.
A sweet girl. Lydia, and her fa
vorite student from the very be
ginning. Just a carefree child of
the mountains two years ago at six
teen; now so suddenly a slim, tall
young woman with the smokiness
of the hills In her lovely eyes.
Ted used to call tier a "line kid."
To both of them Lydia had been a
■sort of protegee, a strong bond of
common interest. She had crept so
often into their conversations as
they talked together over the dying
embers of a dozen campfires or
during long hikes through flit
woods. Lydia was talented. Lydia
had promise—she must, somehow,
be sent to college, receive reul u«l
vantages.
But it was not always of the stu
dents that they had talked.
As Dora, garbed once more in her
cheap brown silk, returned to the
front of the shop, memories were
taking her hack to that golden aft
ernoon in autumn when Ted had de
scribed to her those three years of
teaching in the little school before
her arrival; his long tight hack to
health in the hills following a seri
ous breakdown; his growing love
for the mountains which had flnull>
decided him in tiie choice of a life
work.
"These people are renl—this coun
try is real," he had confided with
characteristic enthusiasm. "It ^
somehow gets hold of you after a
while. I could never lie satisfied
anywhere else now.”
And Dora had realized that day
that she could lie happy tnere for
ever. too—with him.
The dress, wrapped at Inst in soft
tissue paper and placed In a long
box, the salesgirl waited, pencil
poised, to write the address. Dora's
gloved hands resting on the counter
were rather too tightly clasped to
gether.
"Mail it to Miss Lydia Spencer,"
she said steadily, "Norton's Bap.
Term. You see. tills is—her dress
and the wedding is this week.
And, oh yes. 1 almost forgot”—the
odd smile that twisted Dora’s lips
never reached her eyes—1"please
put in a spray of orange blossoms.
Brides always wear them you
know."
