Evening star., 1917-10-28

ringlet cascade on one side of her head.
saucy little pancake lid pinned over one
ear, and what must have been bustle
effect.
That" explains Claire. was my Aunt
Clara Lamar: not my real aunt. you
know, but near enough for me to claim
her: This was taken in u. believe"
Realty says Wee. "She must have
been quite pretty"
That doesn't half tell it, says Claire.
"She was charmer. simply fascinating
Not beautiful, you know. but she had
way with her. She was brilliant. daring.
one OF the kind that men raved over At
twenty she married a congressman. fat
ton six months before her receptions were
crushes She fiirted industriously. A
young French aid and an army ofncer
fought duel over her. And. while the
capital was buZZing with that, she
eloped with another diplomat. a Russian.
For year or two they lived in Paris
She had her salon. Then the Russian
got himself killed in some way. and she
quite wealthy. He brought her back to
New York. and they lived in one Of those
old brownstone mansions on lower Fifth
avenue. Her dinner parties were the
talk of the town-champagne with the
fish, vodka with the coffee. cigarettes for
the women. cup-up stunts afterward.
forget Just who No ; was. but he sue
cumbed. Couldn't stand the pace. ] sup
pose And the1 be, Well . Aunt rsc1a claaa
person. 1 wish I could find out what ever
became Of her"
Maybe Mrs. Parker Smith could give
you line" I suggests,
Her" says Claire Fat chance! But
waiting"
We did get bit restless durin' the
next half hour. but the wait was worth
while. For, believe me. when Claire
comes down again she's some doiied.
That boudoir cap had concealed a
permanent wave that was work or
art all in itself. Then. when she'd add
ed coat of spotlight blush. stuck a
beauty patch on one cheek. and hung
pair Of three-inc jade danglers in her
ears-well, not girl on Broadway
could suggest any more speed than
Claire.
/ don't mean she was any home de
stroyer That face Of hers Is too long
and heavy for the front row OF song
review But she has plenty of zip to
her get-up. After one glance l calls
a taxi.
The way I'd left it with Mrs. Parker
Smith, we was to land Claire at the
hotel first: then call her UP and pro-
ceed to order dinner. So we had an
other little stage wait. with only the
three of us at the table.
Il hope you don't mind il ] have a
puff or two" says Claire. 1T goes
here. you know"
Anything to make the evenin' sue
cess" says !. signalin' garcon. My
khaki let's me out Of followin' YOU"
so. when the head waiter finally tows
in Mrs. Parker Smith. costumed in the
same gray dress and lookin' meeker
and gentler than ever among this
rather giddy mob of diners out, she is
greeted with a sporty tableau. But she
don't faint or anything. She just
springs that twisty smile of hers and
comes right on. I don't think any
elaborate introducin act was called
for.
The missing one!" says I. wavin' at
Claire.
All" says Mrs Parker Smith.
beamin on her. $50 good Of you to
come"
Wasn't it," says Claire. removin' the
cork tip languid.
Well. as get-together I must ad-
nit that the outlook was kind of frosty.
Claire showed plenty of enthusiasm for
the hors doeuvres and the low-tide
this volunteer auntie. who starts to de-
scribe the subtle joys of the butter
business.
Perhaps you have never seen herd
of registered Guernseys." says Mrs.
Parker Smith. when they are MUNICH
ing contentedly at milking time. with
their big, dreamy eyes
Excuse me-" says Claire. IT don't
have to. | spent a whole months vaca-
tion on Vermont farm. where the big
excitement of the day was going out
to the barn and listening to the hired
man do the milking stunt. But he'd
been a cook on a coasting schooner.
and before that he'd driven truck in
Boston, so his vocabulary was equal