Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-20

He hoped he'd never hear that adele tune again
as long as he lived.
And it was a stupid dinner. After Summer left
Wentworth yawned with an unaffected width and depth
that did not make for comeliness.
"Poor Alec he's aging, he said as he finished
Il feel if I've been trying to digest wet sawdus!
his wife snapped It'll take special massage to get off
the hard grin I've had hooked on all night
Summer went home through the sush. With his
overrpe maturity heavier thought than ever he was
now conscious of new, sx-year-old desire to bawl
out hard lump of misery that defed the swallowing
spas1n.
Il won't forget this birthday in hurry he was
thinking, and he slipped getting out of the taxicab
He was even more of this as he stepped off the
elevator at his floor. His Victroa was playing the
adele waltz That is-it seemed to be playing it,
but of course it wasn't No He just going silly
that was all. Dotage was setting in ahead of
time As he opened the door he in a gentle per
spration.
II stood before him in eecy draperies. Just beyond
in a shadow angle he elderly fast asleep
in an armchair The aroma of fresh coffee was in the
air
Summer stood in the radiance Of the room and be
fore the radiance of the girl and bnked If the spring
time that he had been hankerng for all day had taken
on body, it must have looked like her. She was
blowing green furry of young boughs! She was the
slenderest of new moons! She the damp, earth
scented arbutus whose pink like lamp lights up the
March woods.
No hint of these fancies from him.
@Youo Miss Twiggo" he questioned with impressive
courtesy.
Is that the best you can do?" she asked, her smile
engaging her eyes starry but determined "A year ago
YOU got as far as Dorothy, twice. Once-on the last
nght-it was Dolly Can't you erer thaw?" and the
rose-leaf chin, its dmple inset like jewel was lifted
to him.
~The surprise-seeing you SUDDENLY
That's nothing these days We got back from Italy
Yesterday. I've always remembered your birthday.
We came-Aunty too poor dear, dead tired though
she was. Job made stay, while he got some coffee
ready for me. Now let me take your hat2'
She seemed the hostess. Summer aware Of being
petted As if under the spell Of some fumes that
frightened fancy and sent the real scutting, he al
lowed Miss Twigg to make him very much at home in
his place.
They were before the fire. she footstool, her ell
bow the Of his chair, and Auny still sleeping,
when the amazing thing happened
Il knew said Miss Twigg in sad little voice,
"that trying to get up courage to ask to
marry year ago tonight-our last night"
He was clearly that the statement was false;
yet he somehow comfcrted that she should have
seemed to believe this.
Il was fool not to give you helping hand she
sighed
He thought of the bescechng little face from which
he had run almost rudely. Yet in a hypnotized way
he gazed at her with touch of wistful reproach.
Il made up my mind not to be silly tonight She
looked at him tenderly but steadily. "Now-there's
no mistake
you really mean and he paused. 1t was true
she appealed to him as never before; but he not
sure that captivity ultimately desired.
"Oh don't be afraid to say no, said Dorothy. Say
it if YOU must 1t won't hurt for you see I've more
brilliant offers than really attend to- It's just
that l happen to think you-a perfect duck! You've
got the other boys looking like the bread line!'
That last phrase settled matters for Summer,-the
other bows So he was included with her boys.