Evening star., 1914-08-20
THEEvEN|NGSTORY.
COMMONPLACE.
Copyright. 1914. BY W. werner.)

her home Within, her motnef was Ify
ing fish for supper. Without. sky that
had shed the gaudy blue Of day and
slipped into twilight's gray neglige
seemed to radiate peace and happiness.
Some people might have enjoyed the COM
bfnation, for the fish were fragrantly en-
ticing, but Harvey Buckrum scowled, and
the scowI was Of the variety called sullen.
Lilly added a scowl to her snir. Her
scow, was the kind known as petulant.
She looked disparagingly at Harvey's
long. shabby figure and tanned face. No
man cares to be looked at disparagingly
by the girl to whom he has been en-
gagged for many years: ever since he and
she were In the seventh grade at school.
''oh. I don't know!" he sneered. "Just
because we don't wear socks that match
our ties
Scarves" Lilly corrected patronizing-
,y. 1t infuriated Harvey. that correc-
tion. "Oh, you don't have to make 1t
any palmer" he snapped. II don't need
brick house to fall on me; I'm plain
rube. and Mr.. Rapp, the new cashier OF
Coviifes new bank" mincingly. 'is Just
the kind you read about in magazines.
Good-bye" Then Mr.. Buckrum tragically
stalKed across the road to the shabby
white house where his mother was broil-
Lilly leaned her chin in her palm and
watched him. He slammed the door.
'Fm sorry he takes 1t this way" she
murmured sadly. But" pensively, I'm
glad it's over" Then she hurried inside
TO eat supper-and plenty. for she was
hungry-before Mr.. Rapp called
What was Harvey saying? her moth
er asked casually. "He talked so
Were through said Lilly briefly.
Lilly"
Hes commonplace" Grossly. "and SOS
this town. I wish I had better clothes -
ished. and in the weeks that followed
she ignored Harvey's sullen glances. The
other girls envied her. Charley Rapp had
the dapper. tan tweeded figure that calls
for the word natty as flowers call for
the sun. Lilly-and the other girls-had
conned the advertising pictures of too
many magazines not to recognize the
combination Harvey, indeed. What
main tied to him when the most he would
ever get in the railroad station wouldn't
be as much as Mr.. Rapp was getting
now. And even If Mr.. Rapp was poverty
ings would be the same. Lilly instead OF
resenting Harvey's resentment took to
speaking to him kindly and pityingly OF
course he couldn't help being raised In q
small town and so having small town
ways and appearance.
II was then that Mr.. Rapp's sister came
to visit him Immediately Lilly wished
her hair was pale silky brown, too, and
her shoes a shade that matched. Lois
Rapp was the kind that made other girls
discontented. She was even natter than
to girls. She was supercilious and almost
rude, and she did not pretend that she
didn't consider herself superior in looks.
clothes and that state Of mind which
some people call savoir faire and others
call egotism.
Lilly felt small and countrifed beside
her.
Il have some sister, haven't To-
blandly inquired her brother.
Lilly wanted to say that Dragging was
not in good taste. but she murmured a
polite assent.
'1 guess this town never saw any one
Wen Lilly knew that the town hadn't
but he would better have let some one
else say it. She retorted coldly: Maybe
not. Ws are an4ssd Ms sapD
ing his natty tan legs. Except you." he
added politely Lilly wondered II his
voice was really patronizing.
drug sstore and she was enjoying her
favorite food. ice cream and nuts. But
she pushed the plate back. IT have to
hurry home" she said coldly. ut is after
why. that isn't late" he said. but
don't mind. promised Sig I'd get
back to her early.
Liliys eyes snapped. 1t was new
to be relegated to the rear for a sis
newest dress. a pink-striped wolfe. and
tried to recut the skirt SO that 1t re-
sembled one of Lois Rapp's She
The next day Edna, her best friend
came rushing IN to tell her-Would
you believe it? Harry Buekrum had
Lilly didn't believe it. and said So
It was as improbable as that straw
berries should ripen in November
for Lois Rapp to see anything in Har-
them together. They were in the cor
ner drug store-the town had only two
and Harvey was buying her a maple
sundae.
for her mother. Manifestly 1t would
have been silly to walk out because
Harvey Buckrum-in whom she posi-
lively felt no .interest-was sitting there
panied her. Lilly wished irritably that
Edna wouldn't stare at them so! Edna
had no idea Of propriety.
Miss Rapp bowed carelessly to them.
Edna bowed carelessly. Harvey nodded !:
also carelessly. Lilly was amazed. How
could he appear so unconcerned? Really.
any one would think that he never had
cared for her. Not that she cared. Of
course
"I don't see, though" Lois Rapp said,
her shrill rather sweet voice coming clear
ly across the narrow store. how a man
of your ability can be satisfied in this
commonplace environment. And the peo-
pie here" She lowered her voice,
throwing little smiling glance over her
shoulder.
What did she say?' Edna inquired
Gracious. Edna" snapped Lilly. 'T
don't go around listening to other folks
talk. The idea. To make him think
she thinks he is somebody
Gee" giggled Edna isn't 1t funny? ?
You threw him over for her brother, and
maybe II she'd come first he would have
thrown you over
Nonsense" flashed Lilly MY. how
slow that clerk Is! / shan't trade here
again. I'm sure" haughtily. that she's
welcome to Harvey. He's nothing to
me-"
"Of course not" soothed Edna, friend
ly. IT'S just funny"
IT don't see anything funny" Grossly.
Edna was silent. Lilly. in the swinging
reflection of the glass door, saw that
Harvey's shoulder was SO close to the
girls pink linen one that 1t touched
''The idea :" coldly. II really think that
girl isn't nice"
As the days went on Lilly was
ams zed. for Lois Rapp and Harvey were
constantly together. Somehow Harvey's
sullenness had completely vanished and
Lois did not seem to care that his
clothes were ready made and his hands
unmanicured She made no secret of
the fact that she enjoyed his company.
She heightened her visit from three
weeks to two months, to ten weeks
"She must like the place" said Lilly to
her brother.