RANSVESTIA

white stockings and slippers with a big buckle on them. Now we'll have to see what we can find. Come with me!" She lead me to her room, a place I had never been allowed in before. "I remember seeing a blue velvet jacket in here,' she said, going into her large, walk-in closet.

I stood back a little, as I was beginning to be afraid of the situation, but I had no control over it. There was a woman, a mother figure, say- ing I must do this, so it must be all right. Anything an important weal- thy lady said must be right.

"Ah, yes," she exclaimed, "here it is. This will be quite good for a jacket, it's the nearest thing I've got, and it will look just lovely on you.' And she held out not a jacket but a beautiful girl's frock with white lace collar and cuffs, made of deep blue velvet.

"But Mrs. Keen, that's a girl's frock," I half wailed.

"Never mind, it's quite like a jacket and will do meantime. Perhaps I'll have a real jacket made for you later," she smiled at me and patted my cheek. She held the frock against me, and for size it was perfect. "Now, we must see to the other things," she said.

We knelt together in front of a large open drawer and the mere sight of all the unmentionable ladies wear there made me go all hot and cold, and struck me silent. She was anything but silent. "I seem to remember seeing all the things we need, now let's see. Here's a pair of white stock- ings which will do. Here, hold them," she said, handing them to me. "Oh, I don't seem to be able to find any blue velvet pantaloons, but these will do just fine to'start with," and she held up a pair of blue locknit bloom- ers. “Oh, you will look sweet in these!" and she threw them on the bed. "Now, I know I have the right slippers, yes, here they are, and specially made with big buckles on them!"

It never occurred to me that all this had been carefully planned, that she had made the slippers and knew just what she was going to dress me in. I at last found my tongue, when I realized I was going to be not a page boy, but a girl. “Oh, Mrs. Keen," I wailed, “I couldn't wear these things! If Mom, or my brothers found out they would laugh terribly at me, please, I don't have to dress in these, do I?" I was half crying with fright by this time.