Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-22

the extreme. However, the lines PADDOCK
taught her seemed to go WELL and she con-
tinued to patronize the old stand.
She looked up now from her conversation
with her dinner partner, and silence fell as
at a curtain ascending.
Il was just saying to Lord narrowly"
Mrs. Bruce began, smiling about her, show
picturesque our business streets are here.
What with the Greek merchants in their
native costumes-"
Bandits, everyone of EN-" growled Bruce,
bravely interrupting.
His wife frowned. 4Only the other day."
she continued, II bought rug from man
who claimed to be Persian Prince. He
said it was prayer rug, and l think it must
have been; for ever since got it I've been
praying it's genuine
A little ripple of amusement ran about
the table. The redoubtable Mrs. Bruce
was under way. People spoke to one an
other in undertones, conversational
nudges of anticipation.
3By the way, Cynthia" the hostess in
quired, shave you heard from Helen Arden
latelyl"
@Not for sometime" responded Miss
Meyrick; although I have her promise
that she and the Duke will be here next
Tuesday"
Splendid" Mrs. Bruce turned to his
Lordship. Il think of Helen, Lord Har-
rowby, because she too married into your
nobility. Her father made his money in
sausage in the Middle West. In his youth
he'd had trouble in finding pair of ready
made trousers; but as soon as the money
began to roll in Helen started to look him
up coat of arms and family motto. re-
member suggesting at the time, in view of
the sausage, "A family is no stronger than
its weakest link ;"
paused now. The ripple became an out
right laugh Paddock slipped dangerously
from his wine glass. He saw that his lines
3got over
@Went into society head foremost, Helen
did," Mrs. Bruce continued. Thought her
self clever amateur actress. Used to act
often for charity-though don't recall that
she ever got it."
aThe beauty of Mrs. Bruce's wit" said
Miss Meyrick into Minots ear, 3is that it is
so unconscious. She doesn't appear to real
ize when she has said good thing"
@There's just a chance that she doesn't
realize it, suggested Minot.
aThen Helen met the Duke of Lismore,"
Mrs. Bruce was speaking once more. 4Per-
haps you know him, Lord HarTowby!"
@No-er-sorry to say don't"
"a charming chaplin some ways. Helen
was a Shavian in considering marriage the
chief pursuit of women. She pursued. Fol-
lowed Lismore to Italy, where he proposed.
presume he thought that, being in Rome,
he must do as the Romeos do
3But my dear lady," said Harrowby in
daze, 3isn't it the Romans2"
@Isn't what the Romans?' asked Mrs.
Bruce blankly.
aYour Lordship is correct, said Paddock
hastily. 4Mrs. Bruce misquoted purposely
in jest, you know. Jibe-japery.'
aOh-er- pardon me, returned his Lord
ship.
Il saw Helen in London last spring." Mrs.
Bruce went on. @She confded to me that
she considers her husband genius. And if
genius be nothing but an infinite capacity for
taking champagnes, am sure the poor child
is right"
Little murmurs of joy, and the dinner pro-
ceeded. The guests bent over their food,
shipped to Mrs. Bruce in refrigerating car
from New York, and very little wearied by
its long trip. Here and there two talked
together. 1t was like an intermission be-
tween the acts.
Minot turned to the Omaha girl. Even
though she was two wives behind on Nat
Goodwin's career, one must be polite.
1t was at the close of the dinner that Mrs.
Bruce scored her most telling point. She
and Lord Harrowby were conversing about
famous English author, and when she was