Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-15

Even the envious were forced to concede
that women liked Dick Henley.
| 1t had been reluctantly but persistently
| noted by many eyes that Winifred Harte
| the acknowledged beauty of the season,
never split her dances with Henley. 1t
| was whispered, and not denied, that Viz
| ginia Deane, the girl from Louisville. who
had made such hit with the hunting set
| had declined the box seat on Hardy $
coach in the spring parade In order to 20
on Henley's drag, and. too. when she knew
| that he must give the place of hoEor to
the Countess di Lezza. who was visiting his
| mother.
| AS a whip Henley wasn't in Hardy's class
| He wasn't in the running with Jac:, Leon.
ard. or Townsend, or half iozen others
| of his set in the matter Of looks He didn't
| know enough about polo to explain to al
| admiring bevy of fair spectators Just where
he would have done differently had he been
| in the match. And as for the Henley for
| tune, it took only six figures 10 estimate it.
| 1.-The fellows clever" announced Town
send very early one morning after pro-
| longed discussion in Hardys rooms follow
| ing a particularly triumphant coup of Hen
| ley's at quite the smartest of The Easter
| cotillons.
You are right" said Hardy, with an air
| of gloomy finality. so clever that no che
| suspects it, but what can we dp about it?"
why, give him away without seeming 10
| do it, chimed in Watkins, who craved a
reputation for diplomacy. Start a report
| that he's writing a book or play or soi'le-
| thing of that Sort"
| Leonard regarded him pitylngly, and os-
| tentatiously held his coat for him.
Come on, Watty," he murmured co1sol-
| ingly "I'n help you home I've noticed
| all evening you haven't been very ht. l
| haven't heard that Henley's looking Tor 4
| press agent, but If 1 should I'll give y1u
letter to him" g..
Watkins only reply was look of with
| ering scern. but Townsend came TO his
rescue.
'~"Oh, come now, Len" ne protested,
"Watty's not so far off, after all. You re-
member how the literary pose Gueered Al
| kinson? Why, he isn't asked to thing
| scribble any old initial in the empty spaces
| on their dance cards when they see him
coming"
There are persons who can't read a
signboard when there's an are light over
| It," retorted Leonard. becoming excited.
Atkinson was all right until he went
around presenting every one he could Out.
| tonhole with the lavender and gilt book OF
verse he bribed the publishers 20 PIT their
| imprint on. Henley can't do that, and you
know there isn't one girl in million VINO
doesn't absolutely adore an auIhor, 50 long
as she doesn't have to read what he's writ
ten. No, there's only one way to dag
Henley off his perch"
Whats that?' inquired a jeering cho-
rus.
why, it's simple enough Get some girl
to turn him down-some star, you know
and the rest will follow fast enough.
They're nothing but flock of sheep any
way"
eerated. enthusiasm. Suppose you ask
Frankie Morrison to do it. She's one Of
his most devoted satellites and the
change would be conspicuous. OF course,
she'll do anything for you"
Leonard flushed angrily, but before he
could speak a diversion came in the shape
OF mild war-whoop from Hardy fol-
lowed by prolonged mt OF apparently
uncomfortable laughter.
"You fellows go home and go to bed"
he chuckled. finally. "Fll AK Henley"
Second the motion" said Watkins, ris-
door Leonard followed. chanting as he
went: Behold the idol already tottering
OH his pedestal!'
Hardy, left alone, chuckled again. Then
Longing over to his desk he wrote rapid
ly for fully twenty minutes.
Some weeks later, as he sprawled con-
tertedly in a hammock swung between
two gigantic elms a comfortable distance
send and Leonard came to him with
wrath in their eyes.
lis this your work, Hardy?" inquired
the latter, waving the ceremony Of any
form Of salutation.
Work. he murmured, ecstatically. II
haven't so much as chased a tennis ball
since landed here week ago..
This Is no time for chaf,' said Town
send in a tone that BODIED i'll for trif1ins.
I'VE want an explanation right here and
now"
"ExpIanation?" repeated Hardy, rising
to sitting posture and regarding them
with a look Of utter bewilderment. My
dear fellow, the heat has affected your
brain"
cat any rate it hasn't affected my heart
or my sense of decency," retorted Town.
send, holly.
Hardy simply stared
"Oh, we'll II you want it put into
words" said Leonard I'VE mean this af
fair of Miss Lawrence and Henley"
Miss Lawrence and Henley? What's
the matter with that? Doesn't the game
that to Jane; she'll play it to grand
stand finish all right. Isn't she ripper.
thought"
Townsend could contain himself no
longer.
II never thought you were cad. Hardy"
he burst forth, but this looks mighty
like it-setting a fellow like Henley, who
has passed through a dozen HlrtationS
without scar. to work his wiles on
fresh, sweet, innocent girl, who, Of course,
takes every word he says for gospel truth.
Any one can see that he's completely fas-
cinated her, and you know as well as do
that he couldn't afford to marry her, even
If he had sense enough to appreciate her"
"Of course" supplemented Leonard. the
bunch have fought little shy of Henley
since he converted himself into Miss Law
rences shadow, and Frankie Morrison has
actually snubbed him, but when he calls a
halt, as he surely will before long. what
will become of the girl. She'll go back to
that little town in Massachusetts and cry
her eyes out. She's your cousin Hardy, and
you had her asked here, and steered Hen
ley up against her the night she arrived.
It doesn't seem quite within the code. you
know, to break her heart, just for the sake
of taking the limelights off him for q little
while.'
Comprehension dawned slowly in Hardy 8
eyes, and with 1t came a Quizzical express
sion that added to Townsend disgust.
ut comes to just this" he said shortly.
'"Fhe thing stops today. VIII you do it,
or shall II"
| Hardy yawned.
IT won't ask you to apologize" he respon-
ed somewhat irrelevantly, until just before
| dinner Come to the library at half after
six sharp and the pie will be ready for
YOU"
"Pie2"
Eyes. humble pie"
Then he dropped back into the hammock
and closed his eyes.
Leonard linked his arm in Townsends.
L