Polytechnic High School - Caerulea Yearbook (Long Beach, CA)

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a pair of silk stockings happily. Mother had never let her have them before. Some time later she encountered Dan in the hall. He seemed to be not a little surprised and even dazed. Funny, isn't it? he asked. Mother gave me some toilet water. She said that the boys in New York liked to put it on their hair. And did you see her shoes? They had high heels. She always did say that they would ruin one's feet. But then, it won't last long. It did last, however. Mother was cooking breakfast the next morn' ing in a bungalow apron with a shower of pink flowers in embroidery upon it. She had always worn gray calico before. Maxine felt instincf tively, however, that the clothes, gifts of her aunt and the result of long saving on her mother's part too, were in good taste. She looked around brightly as the girl entered. Good morning, dear. How is my little helper this morning? They talked happily together for a long while. Then, out of a clear sky, came the thunderbolt of surprise. Nearly all of the girls in New York have their hair bobbed. I have seen so much of it that I have decided, if you wish, you may bob yours, dear. Your father doesn't care. After breakfast you may get hfty cents out of my purse and go and get it done. It was a very excited girl who went to her mother's purse to get the money which she felt would change her whole future. Almost as soon as she saw the money she saw something else which caused her to jump. In the very bottom of her mother's purse lay live brightly colored cigar bands of-a well known make. To whom did they belong? Mr. Curtis never smoked, and if he did how did the bands from off them get into her mother's purse? She could not, she would not believe anything of her mother on such mere circumstantial evidence. There was probably a very simple explanation of it. Then why not ask her mother about it? She knew that this was one thing that she did not feel like asking even her mother about. Snapping the purse shut, she departed with shaking knees for the barber shop. It was almost noon when she returned from the barber's, feeling like a lamb just straight from the shearing. Her father looked at her often and her younger sister spent the time asking that she too might have Twenty-five

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things. She smiled suddenly. I guess that we don't need to worry over Mother though. Do you know what Muriel Marne said the other day, Sis? He asked her cautiously. No, what? Muriel Marne was still a novelty in the little town of Marshville, for with her dashing city manners and her flashy clothes, she differed greatly from the usual belle of that small town. She said that the women in New York nearly all smoke if they Want to be in style at all. They smoke cigarettes. His voice lowered to a whisper. She said that some of them didn't like the flavor of the cigf arettes, so they have tiny cigars, or little handfcarved pipes. Dan! Horror was in her voice. Do you suppose Aunt Em smokes? Oh, I guess so. She always did tell Mother that she believed in keeping up with the times and the styles. He flicked a bit of dust from his sleeve with a nonchalant air and strolled out into the yard. A few moments later the sound of the flivver groaning its way out of the yard, entered her dazed senses. Dan had gone after Mother. Would she be changed? Of course not. But Mother, her Mother, had always said, When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Even then she would not continue such a habit when no longer among the Romans, or New Yorkers in this case. Then came the remembrance of an article she had once read which said that the cigarette habit, when once started, was a difficult one to overcome. In a very short length of time she heard the old car rattling its way up the driveway. Little jimmy hurled himself upon the dainty and exf cellently dressed little woman alighting from the car. Yes, the woman was citified in her dress, but it was the same little Mother who had left the farm for her first vacation in twenty years, that gathered her into a strong embrace. It was after dinner that the little mother, her pale blue eyes smiling happily, led her little brood up to the bedroom to see what her suitcase contained. There were gifts for every one. Maxine gazed incredulously at a silver case, much like one that Muriel Marne carried. In it was a cake of oncefforbidden face powder. Mother certainly had changed. Maxine wasn't sure but that it was a likable change though. She fondled Twenty-four

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such a privilege. Dan alone kept his eyes on his plate after the first glance. The girl felt that he was worried deeply about something. As she was doing the dishes he sauntered into the kitchen and leaning against the wall gazed at her meditatively. Do you like my hair bobbed? she asked. Yes, I guess so. Mother looks awfully well. Doesn't she? Yes Well, out with it Dan. What is the matter anyway? she asked him at last. Nothing . Don't tell me that. Cut with it right now. Well, it's Mother, he said. Put your hand in that apron pocket of yours. She did so curiously. The apron was one that her mother had worn that day. Suddenly she drew forth a brightly colored paper and gasped as she looked at it. Upon it in brilliant letters were the words, Chesf terfields. They Satisfy. It was nothing less than the empty package of cigarettes. How did you know about this? she asked him breathlessly. u. Found it in there when she asked me to hang it up for her this noon.' What does it mean? Oh, I really can't imagine, he replied sarcastically. You mustn't think of such a thing for even a moment, she exclaimed. Well, you don't look exactly happy yourself, he ventured. 'Tm not. I found something today too. I-Ialtingly, she told him of her discovery. Don't dare say a word to anyone about it, Sis, he warned. We'll do a bit of detective work and see if our Mother is-fl The sight of his mother on the porch hindered him from finishing his sentence. They worried along for a week in this way. Dan, ever watchful, discovered but one thing to convince him further of his mother's guilt. He reported this to his sister in the following words: I was walking along in the hall by the door to her room, and when Twenty-six