Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-13
THE EVENING STORY.
LIGHTS OUT!
BY MRS. DONALD SHAW.

nel-clad youths.
WHO'S Layton got in tow" he queried
his lazy blue eyes resting on the figure
OF a tall dark man in gray flannel suit
who was strolling across the officers
lawn beside girl.
Two or three voices eagerly answered
Bobby's question.
Fancy old Layton falling in love at
last" remarked the young man as the
explanation came to an abrupt end. Il
thought he never looked at a woman"
She's got money" said one of the
boys, and at the words the demon of mis-
chief who lay dormant in Dennison' s
eyes leaped to attention, as he watched
the pair approaching the bank on which
he lay.
Dolly Carwithen's eyes rested with ex-
treme appreciation on the newcomer.
noting his length of limb. his sleek shin
ing head, his laughing mouth.
she paused as she reached the bank
and murmured audibly to her ascort
that she was little tired. The row of
lounging suhalterns spranH TO their feet,
some one offered her a chair ami some
one else introduced Dennison. laydon
turned away feein:, that he was no long
er wanted.
Up to that nc ment the path OF his WOO
ing had run straight and smooth enough.
RE was a senior major. Il mar WHO was
ALREADY spoken OF rs one likely 20 so to
the top. and in addition he Possessed; con-
siderable private means. No opposition
was likely TO come from DGlly's parents;
In fact, Mrs. Caru'ithen had already con-
hded to several dearest friends in strict
confidence that they were all delighted
at Doliys capture Of the hitherto unap-
proachdbie major.
"A most suitable match she beamed
NO. 1t is not given out yet; in fact l
don't think he has actually spoken to
he. 1aH iF fl,,
eral So nice OF Inn, don't You think?
80 different tc most young men of the
present day, who seem TO ignore girls
parents
Dolly herself was spoiled little
coquette with an irresistible desire to at
tract every thing masculine that came
near her; and although in her own mind
she had quite decided to marry al Lay
don as soon as he should ask her, she
was still not at all averse to entering
INTO little Irritation with a younger
and less taciturn admirer.
There was good deal of gossip over
the teacups at Westlea during the
weeks that followed the Introduction on
the lawn The friendship between Dolly
Carwithen and Bobby Dennison increased
with leaps and bounds, and Maj Lay
and more set as he found himself ousted
from his accustomed place at Dolly's
side. More than one of Dennison's
brother officers warned him. as they
don's brow. that it was a pity for a
subaltern to run up against a man in
Layton position. who was noted for his
implacable and unforgiving disposition
But Bobby only laughed and continued
his game undeterred by warnings.
And so the play went on.
come to tea, was the penciled scrawl
that brought Dennison's opposite neigh
Dor across to his quarters one afternoon.
He found his host balanced on a chair
ana two cushions, mailing a large and
Sartsh embroidery on to one of the blank
white walls. He also noted that the het-
erogeneous collection of pipes letters and
photographs which usually adorned the
mantle piece had been swept away, and |
IN their place was a strip of crimson |
cloth. In the center of which rested a !
large. framed photograph of Miss Car
withen. thanked by two vases filled with |
flowers.
Leigh dropped into the only armchair
and asked:
Who's coming?' In as casual a tone
ss II ne were not already aware what the |
Dennison descended from his somewhat |
Perilous perch and regarded his effort at |
decoration with approving eyes.
Miss Carwithen and one or two girls"
ne replied. lightly. And. say, old man,
can / have your armchair. and your lamp,
and some plates and things?"
or course. Send your man across for
9nn cr you like" responded Leigh; and
order to collar anything in Mr.. Leigh's |
room that might come in handy.
You're playing q risky game. Bobby"
said his friend as the door closed behind |
not the sort Of chap to stand 1t, and |
every one knows that Miss Carwithen is |
practically engaged to him.
Rot! said Bobby. CURLY. ''If he can't |
hook after his own girl, don't see why |
he should expect me to do 1t for him"
Leigh shook his head.
Take my advice and drop it before it !
goes too far. he said. sravely. Other |
won't do you any good in the long run |
It's fools game, anyhow" |
"Oh. well. 1 shall get tired of it before |
n lens n no doubt Ss,n replied Bobby in his
desire to marry her: in fact. can't al
ford to marry anybody. AS far as I |
know. Miss Carwithen hasn't the least
desire to marry me. either, but 1 don't |
q little
Leigh's intended protest was cut short
by f1uttering tap at the door, which
was Immediately followed by the entrance
OF Miss Carwithen and her party.
An uproarious tea followed, and as the
little party were exchanging farewells
outside the entrance to the subalterns
quarters a couple Of hours later Laydon
PASSED them on the way to the mess. He
merely raised his cap and walked on.
ana FOR moment a shadow fell over
the laughing. chattering group. Even
Dolly's laughter sounded forced as she
hurried her friends away
'Confound him. growled Dennison
as the two men re-entered the building.
HE casts an absolute blight on eyery-
thing with his ugly scowling face"
But Leigh's face was grave and he did
not answer.
The annual officers ball at the bar
racks brought matters to a climax. and
the opinion was openly stated that Den.
nlson had gone altogether too far Not
content with obtaining for himself a
large slice Of Miss Carwithen's proeran
he deliberately carried her off into the
most secluded sitting-out corner and In.
duced her to remain there until she miss
Cd the only two dances against which
MAJ. Layton had penciled his initials.
The ballroom talked In scandaIized
whispers as the pair appeared, and Dolly
was whisked of by her Indignant mother
TO spend bad quarter of an hour in the
carriage, from which she emerged tear
ful and rerentant, while Dennison was
plainly warned by one OF his senior off,
GERS that he must drop the Irritation.
The fr1gld greetings which were accord
ed him at breakfast did not tend to raise
his spirits; even his inseparable friend
Leigh was cold and disinclined to talk.
and fatty declined Dennison's invitation
TO play singles in the afternoon. For the
first time in his life Bobby found him
self condemned to solitary meditation
and as the week passed and Leigh did
not attempt to cross the passage which
separated their quarters and showed no
Inclination to renew their intimacy his
spirits sank to zero.
"Cathcart has a bet on that he x,,,I,