Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-24

and beautiful soft coat, seemed to Brandt to be
Mrs. Page led them through the narrow hallway
to the sitting room which at the far end of the
fat, and then disappeared. very stout old man
sat in rocking chair by the window and read the
evening paper. He was in his shirt sleeves, and
smoked heavy pipe and rocked continuously.
Just beyond this there another smaller
one, where they found Maize Page. She had been
doing a lounge, which had been arranged
coy corner, and received them sleepily and with
evident surprise The walls of the room for
the most part covered with net, in the meshes of
which had been arranged many photographs of
actresses and actors and of few who were not
actors. There many flags and long streamers
of nearly all the colleges, and tin horns and great
wooden rattles, decorated with varicolored ribbons,
and cheap fans and souvenir dolls from the restau
rants. From window opening broad court
the afternoon fell in broad, unbroken shaft of
soft orange light. Surrounded by this riot of color,
Miss Page, dressed in pink kmono, continued for
some moments to gaze with undsgused wonder
ment at her guests.
But how was it you came together" she said at
last Il didn't know you knew Arthur
Il didn't until this afternoon" Miss Cawthorne
explained hurriedly. {" He came to about
another matter and it occurred to me you might
want to fix these buckles before you started for the
theater, so 1 asked him to bring up in his cab"
Miss Page wide awake now, and Miss
Cawthorne fa1tered through her speech, the young
girl looked directly into the older womans eyes 1T
was good of you" she said. Did you say you had
the buckles with your"
Miss Cawthorne fumbled nervously with the clasp
of the reticue that she held in her hand while Miss
Page stood waiting quietly her thn colorless lips
pressed into straight line At last the package
containing the buckles found and Miss Cav
thorne nervously gave it into Miss Pages hand The
girl walked over to closet, and opening the door,
placed the package on high shelf, which was lit
tered with many soiled silk slippers and discarded
sailor hat Against the wall of the shallow closet
and on some hooks on the inside of the door were
several flmy dresses and silk petticoats. In the
daylight the clothes seemed to look particularly
unfresh, and the tiny spangles and embroidery very
cheap and tawdry. Miss Page looked over her
shoulder at her guests and then pushed the door wide
'There!" she said do YOU see them, Arthur?
Those are the Cinderella clothes that wear after
dark
From one of the hooks the girl pulled white
batiste skirt and waist and flung them out in front
of her. that they fell directly in the shaft of
yellow sunshine. The skirt was badly crumpled,
and the seam binding of the waist far from fresh
That" she said, lis the dress l going to
to your party this evening 1t doesn't look
very well now, but it'll be fine tonight under the
asgn She e ahs girl Tasd to ys hs
you to come in here for moment"
Mrs. Pages voice came indistinct1y from
down the hallway, Il can't just now, dear
once; just as you are, please
The mother came slowly down the hallway and
hesitated at the door, until her daughter took her
hand and led her into the sunlight Her black hair,
streaked with gray, hung loosely about her bent
shoulders, the sleeves of her striped flannel wrapper
were rolled up above the elbows, and on her feet
hand she held the gaping, soiled wrapper together.
and with the other brushed loose strands of hair
from her eyes.
You must pardon me, Mr. Brandt" she said.
I've been getting the supper ready in the kitchen
my old man gets hungry very early"
I'm very glad indeed to meet you - said Brandt
Mrs. Page wiped her hand on her apron made
half bow, half courtesy, and then shook her guest
warmly by the hand Then she glanced at her
daughter and got nod of permission to leave them.
Miss Page glanced into the next where the old
smoking. ,-4es~,
:. I'm afraid I'd better not introduce you to my