The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-12-22

ana OF this number perhaps half
awaited themselves OF tho privilege, /
drifting in upon her at any time. re.
naming only while tho spirit moved. |
and departing unceremoniousiy, per.
haps. n the hostess CHANGED 20 be
away nt the moment. with no fare.
wells at all. when any pleasantcr
prospect offered
Mrs. Niilaionga was large. coarse
voiced woman, with a heart OF gold,
and the facial characteristics that Ia
certain unfortunate persons suggest
nothing 80 much as n horse. She
sent a troop Of servants up TO the
woods every year. following them In
week or two with her first do
taohment OF guests. She paid her
chef $1,000 a year. and would have
paid more for better chef. II there
had been one. She expected three
formal meals every day. including IN
their scope every dolicacy that could
be procured at any city hotel. ana
also an indefinite number OF lesser
meals. to be served In tennis pavil'
ion, or after cards at night. or when
ever guest arrived.
Iiy the tlmo abe reached the camp
everything must be complete for an
other summer. awnings tapping gen
tly outside tho striped canvas tents"
that were really roomy cabins pro
vided with shower baths and wide
pihxzas Tho great oofnont-wailed
swimming pool must be cleaned. the
courts rolled. the cars all In order
the boats and lighthouses In readl.
ness. A miniature grocery and drug
store must be established In the
building especially designed for this
use. the little laundry concealed far
up In tho woods must b. operating
briskiy.
Then. from tho middle Of jun o.
the first Of September. tho camp was
In full swing. There were dances and
campnrea and thcatrioais and fancy
dress affairs innumerable. leo and
champagne and California peaches
and avocados from Hawaii poured
from the housekeeping department In
an unendlng stream: there were new
tooihbruHhes and new pajanas for
the unexpected guest. there were new
bathing suits In boxea for the girls
who had driven over from Taramnc
house and who wanted a swim. there
were new packs of cards and new
boxes OF cigars. and there were maids
things when they were wanted. and
carry them away when their brief
Use waa over.
Than IL would be September. and
everything would end an suddenly an
Il began. The villalongas would 10
20 Europe. or 20 Newport. Vera loud
~. joyouaiy. insist~ntiy urging every
one TO visit them there II Il were
the latter. In November they would
be In their town house with new
paintings and now rugs 10 show their
guests: a portrait OF Vera, rug
stolen from n nuitans palace.
Everybody naid that Vera VIA
Tonga did this sort OF thing partich.
larry well. indeed. she had no rival
in her own particular field. The
weekly society journals depended
upon her 20 supply them with spec
tacular pictures OF Chinese bail
every November and Micaremo
dance every spring: they sent pho
tographers all tho way UP 20 her
camp that their readers might not
mins n yearly glimpse OF the way
Mrs. Vlilalonga entertained.
But Rachael. who had spent a por-
ton OF six summers with the vllia,
iongas. found herself. IN her newly
analytical mood. wondering just who
got any particular pleasure out OF u
all. Vera herself. perhaps. Certain.
~ her husband. who would spend
all his time playing poker and ten
mis-. would have been as happy else
where. Her two sons. dark young
men. in connection with whose char.
actors the world In general con,ented
Itself merely with the word wild"
would be there only for week or |
two at most. Billy would wait for Joe |
Pickcrinr's letters. Clarence would |
drink. aud watch Billy. Little Nina |
yillalonKa. who had minor nervous
ailment. would wander about after |
Billy. The Parmalees would come up
for visit. and tho Morans would |
comic. Jack Terrence. spoiled out OF
all reason. would promise a week and
como for two days, Porter Plnckard |
won;d compromise upon a mere hour
or swo, charging into tho camp In his
racing car. introducing hilarious
friends. accepting sandwich and
a 1pttle OF beer. and then tearing
OF again. Straker Thomas, silent.
mysterious. i'll. would drift about for
week or two. Peter Pomeroy would
80 up lato in July. and be adored by
every one. and take charge OF the
thcatricals.
The maids probably get any
amount OF fun out OF IT," unused Ra,
chael. Vera was notably generous
TO her servants: a certain pool was
reserved for them. and their mum
bers formed a most oongenial society
every summer. 81 don't believe I'll
20 10 vcra's this year" Mrs. Brock.
enridge said aloud 20 her husband
and step-daughter.
I'm not crazy about IT, Billy
agreed. freifully.
Might as we'll" was tho mans
enthusiastic contribution.
"oh. I'm golng~ Billy said. dis
contcntcdly. But ! don't see why
you and Rachael have TO co.
Don't your" her father said. sig.
nificantly.
ZOO Pickcring's gong to be In
Texas this whole summer. II that's
what you meanr' famed Billy.
I'm glad to hear itr' Clarence
commented.
Anyway. you might depend upon
Vera 10 take absolute good care OF
Bill" Rachael said. soothingly. TITS
timo you both got away TO some
cooler place. IL you are going 10 fight
so nhnIIt nnfhlnni ANhN do YOU do L