Evening star., 1913-11-23
BY SEWELL FORD

Course, she had cinch in way. All she has to do
IS exhibit Veronica in public place. and she has
every In sight twistn his neck They dropped for
her the first glimpse 1t didn't need anv elaborate
scenic effects to stampede either for the SIM
pier she gets herself up the dangerous she and in
plain black velvet dress, with old lace collar
little low in front, all she lacks is gold frame and
number to look like prize portrait at the National
Academy. Say, amt got much of eye that way
myself but the first time saw her in that rig held my
breath for two minutes stretch, and just gawped.
Another thing that helped the fact that Veronica
could sing,-no common paror warblin', mind you, Of
such pieces @The Rosary "Land of the Sky Blue
Water, but genuine operate stuff, such you hear
Louise Homer and Schumann-Heink shootin' the
three-dollar records. Why noto Hadn't Veronica
studied abroad for two years under Parchees who'd
begged her almost his knees do the title role in
opera he goin to try out before the King of
Bavariae Uh-huh! We had that straight from Mrs.
Adams, who want much for boostin' the family. But
stagework for her!
In private, though, Veronica was good natured and
obligin; SO it easy after dinner for young
gent to lead her to the piano and persuade her
off few little operate gems, while he leaned
elbow and gazed soulful at her. And l expect they
didn't have to know such lot about grand opera play
the lean1n part, either.
Just how much tumult was caused under dress shirt
fronts durn them few weeks couldn't say for certain
but at least four five of the young gents had bad
tacks. The odd thing about it, though the sudden
way they dropped out One day they'd be sendin' her
and Dances gain longn at her every chance they got
and dispayin the usual mush symptoms and the next
they wouldn't show up at all. They'd disappeared.
THAT'S what puzzled Sadie much at first. She
couldn't make out what had happened-whether
they'd got rash and gone the rug too soon, had
been by truck while crossin' the street.
F1nly she of the cutters after
as I'm town her down Fifth-ave her way home
from somewhere and she puts me up to give him the
quiz
"There Shortly says she, stoppin sudden. There's
Monty Wllletts, who was crazy about Veronica No
one has him for week. Couldn't you ask if any
thing serious has happened to him.
| expect her idea for me to put him through the
third degree subtle he wouldn't suspect. Well leavn
Sadie gain into jewlry window, overhauls him and
does my best.
@Say, Monty" says l, abbn' him playful in the
ribs, 1how about you and that Miss Adams? Did you
follow her to the frost line, WHAT"
"Thats excellent way put it, AIcCabe says he
"And I'm chilly yet from the experience
Sporty ad' says l. @Did you try to hold her hand,
something like that?'
what" he gasps. "Try to hold hands with the
stately Miss Adamso Heaven Forbid I'm not abso-
utely reckless, you know 1t in first confden-
tial chat that went the rocks. We'd discussed polo
for half hour until found she knew about the
English team than did Why, she'd visited at Hurl-
ngham House during the practice matches So f1oun-
dered about, trying shift the subject, until hit
antique vases-deuced if | know why. But my Gov
dabbled in such junk Bit you know, and sup
pose thought, from having heard him talk, that
up antiques. But, say, hanged she couldn't
more kinds than knew existed Rippled on about
Pompeian art, and Satsuma ware and Egyptian tear
jugs readily Ted Keefe my stable manager, would
about ponies tried again and asked if she many
of the plays, and the next thing knew was bluff
ing through dialogue about Gasworthy and Mase-
field and Sudermann experience strictly limited
to musical comedies and Belascos latest Whee-eew!
l made my escape after that. Say, isn't it shame
girl with eyes like hers shoI know blamed much?"