Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-25
AS LUCY LEE PASSED BY


a soft needle. Thanks Now IL
you'll turn out all but one bulb
In the old rose-shaded electrolier and
pass the chocolate marshmallows
maybe TIL try to sketch out for you
this Lucy Lee-Peyton Pratt version of
the sweetest story ever told.
We got Lucy Lee on the bounce, as
as 1t were. She really hadn't como
all the way UP from Atlanta to visit
Wee. even IL they were old boardin'
school chums. No. she was on her
way to a house party up in Lenox and
was allin' in the time before that hap
pened by making duty stay with an
old maid aunt who lived on Madison
avenue. But when 1t develops that
auntie ia taking the buttermilk cure
for dyspepsia, has grown too deaf to
enjoy the theater, and Is bugs over
manipluatin' the Ouija board, Lucy
Lee gets out her address book and
begins callin' up old friends.
l. don't know how far down vee was
on. tho list, but she seems to be the
nrsti one to fail easy When she hears
how bored. Lucy Les ID on Madison
avenue she insists on her coming right
out with US. So get my orders to
round up Lucy Leo when I'm through
At the ONCE and tow her out homo.
Hence this openin' scene in the taxi.
whore 1 finds myself being sized up
coy and curious.
There's only one way Of describih'
Lucy Lee. She's q sweet young thing.
Nothing big or bouncy about her. No
One of these half-portions. But cute
and kittenish from the tip Of her
double A pumps to the hoppy hat brim
which only half hides a dangerous
pair Of eyes.
80 good Of you, Mr.. Ballard" says
she, shootin over a shy look. "to' take
all this trouble for poor little me"
TITS a gift" says I. Comes natural.
What about baggage?"
1--WE sent few things by express"
says she. Thank you SO much Mr.
er-Do you know, I've heard such
lot about you from dear Wee that
simply must call you Torchy.''
"If it's case of must" says I, then
60 to it."
I'll admit it was bit sudden. but
Lucy Lee is such a chummy young
party, and SO easy to get acquainted
with, that it don't seem odd after the
first few times. First off she wants
to know all about the baby, and when
I've shown her the latest snap shot,
and quoted q couple Of his bright re-
marks, translated free, she announces
right on that he must be wonderful.
simply wonderful" is Lucy Lees
way Of putin it, as she gazes admir-
in At me.
Course, I don't deny it, Then she
wants to- know how long we've been
the house Is like. and about my work
with the Corrugated: Trust, and az
give her the details she listens. with
them big eyes gettin wider and
wider.
Simply wonderful" says Lucy Lee.
And somehow, Just by workin that
system, she begins to register. First
OF was, only kind of amused by it.
But before we'd driven a dozen blocks
I was being rapidly convinced that
here, at last, was somebody who real
1y understood. You know how 1t is.
You feel that you're a great, strong,
noble man, SO wise in the head that
there's no use tryin' to conceal it
from eyes like that; and yet SO kind
and generous that you don't mind
talking to any simple young person
who might be helped by it.
Oh, yes. A half hour with Lucy Lee
and you're apt to need an elastic hat
band. You never knew you could reel
OF such entertainin chat. Why with
out half tryin' I could start that rip
ply laugh of hers going and get the
dimples playin' tag with her bushes
BY the time we gets home feels like
q regular guy.
Cute little thing, amt she? I re-
marks to Wee durin' the forty minute
wait while Lucy Lee dresses for dim
ner.
"Oh,, yes" says Wee, with a KNOWN
smile. THAT. is, her specially, l be-
lieve. She's a dear though. even, If
she doesn't mean quite all of it,"
'Oh, why wake me up!" says l, grim