Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17


"But the other ladies and two officers sitting on
the stoop. Somebody might see"
"Oh, WE'LL Tell the boys to wait, please She closed
her door Sleepy black eyes dancing she read the note
Peterkin my honey, heave dress into suitcase
Won't come ashore till late Make yourself stunning
natives reception tonigh hit Wear that little white
wampurn Dear You don't need them IT. to suit w.,
Berthne packed his suitcase deity. Then, after
cautious recOnnoter she started down the bare empty
hall Midway Miss Abby popped out, open eyed.
"Why, Mrs. Townsend! Let me take that bag, quick!
Mercy And two officers right on the stoop"
RERTHINE pumped the bag into her hands. Her
- tart New England prudlshness was all very anus
ing Yet hurt red pulsed in her round, childish cheek
She stared gloorny round her ugly little room.
With its stiff dull furnishings its naive waXwork
caelas and pale emtalmed starsh it rasped her very
his orders had for coast Berthlne had
promptly decided to stay at Hampstead Court the WIDE
gay the hill; but Wayne insisted that she live at
this dull beach house instead.
well be anchored right in the harbor," he urged
Il can run to lunch with you every day"
Bertbne and so iov and CAV, WAYNE! That tire
beach house will be packed with navy Women the
Pyramid and the Grasshopper and the whole pussy
footed crew. Yes ashamed But, Wayne, I'm so
deadly desperately tired of trying to mix in! And never
will mix never I'm rank outsider. You see"
Waynes kind, handsome eyes couded "Well, do
make more try at mixing in my honey. Yees, the
Pyramid is a pill that's a fact. Yeti wish you
could be in touch with the other wives of the
service. One has to play the game, you know
That enough. Wayne's wishes were as fine gold
Week on week, Berthine's chiffons had traed these
spintery floors. Week on week, she had bowed her
arrogant young head and curbed her mpish tongue,
and toled faithfully to propltlate the Pyramid, the
GrasshOpper, the whole pussy footed crew. And now
The hurt flush deepened. Again she heard the Pyra-
mids high, drawing voice, drenched and Greatness
she climbed the porch steps after her wild SUIT rOmp
with Jimmy Curtis. Again she felt the elders woman S
bland, rebuk1ng stare.
~Whv, Mrs Townsend! When saw you frohcking
in the surf with Ensign Curtis thought you We're one
of the hotel children did, ndeed How amazingly
you keep your youthful spirits! And you have been
married-four years.:
Four wears Berthine crisplv assured her. Then she
had fed but too late to escape the Pyramids irate
snort the Mousetraps swapping little laugh NO, the
game not always fair!
Her window framed of beach, then square of
ocean, CLASSY blue Ranked white and stiff like big, cut
paper paythings stood five huge battles1ps, SO near
that her trained eye could read the single star of the
Adirals pcnnant. And yonder third from the flagship
reared the white cliff of the Kentucky, Waynes ship.
Berthne head lifted Her eyes flashed, dark
Waynes ship, indeed Waynes the squadron
Wayne's the navy, in all its splendid whole; for the
service Waynes own, his very being Idol of his
men, trusted confdant C his superors comrade treas
ured guest, erthine counted his trumphs with angry
joy She herself could mix in. For all her eager
efforts, she forever stumbling in that labyrinth of
custom, rank aluson, which the born navy eye is
No. she could never school herself to please them,
these grim august others. But what could that NATTER
when, infalibly, she knew that she suited Wayne?
There lay the heart of her secret. What else could
count, indeed. when in every word and thought and
act she knew that she suited Wayne?
THE sunset breeze grew stronger. The voices from
the stoop rose distinct and clear. "GOing to the
Citizens Reception? Deadly bore; but the townsfok
mean it kindly: We really must turn out and make EN-
proud-what!"