Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-19
ACTS

HOHu6 nlS <A8 IOE nlH1SciAs "a
ferred his rooms and good book
to the so-called gay life. Ellen
should think that a man who danced
so well would want to be doing It
all the time. It was nice of her to
say that he danced well but really
did She guessed she could tell. Well.
anyway. the giddy whirl made no ap-
peal to him. unless Of course, ne was
in particularly charming company:
His avowed love for home and quiet
Mr.. Bowen a great deal. Only last
night. he remembered, he had been
driven almost desperate by that quiet
Of which he was now SO FOND; ne
had been on the point Of busting
time. He had played canfield till
10. though the book shelves were
grooming with their load.
rHEN'S family kept them busy for
L. an hour and half. 1t was a dear
family and she wished he could meet It.
Mother and father were out playing
bridge somewhere tonight. Aunt Mary
had gone to bed. Aunts Louise and Har-
riet lived in the next block. Sisters
Edith and Wilma would be home from
Northampton for the holidays about the
2oth. Brother Bob and his wife had
built the cutest house! In Evanston.
Her younger brother Walter was case!
He was away tonight and had gone
out right after dinner. He'd better be
in before mother and father came. He
had a new love affair every week and
sixteen years old last August. Mother
and father really didn't care how many
girls he was interested in. SO long as
they kept him too busy to run around
with those crazy schoolmates of his.
The latter were older than he; just at
the age when It seems smart to drink
beer and play cards for money. Father
said IL he ever found out that Walter
was doing those things he'd take him
out Of school and lock him up some
where.
Aunts Louise and Mary and Harriet
did a lot of settlement work. They met
all sorts Of queer people-peopie you'd
never believe existed. The three aunts
were unmarried.
solutely without q sense of humor. Bob
was full Of fun. but they got along just
beautifully together. You never saw q
couple so much In love.
Edith was on the basket ball team at
college and terribly popular; Wilma
shed make Phi Beta Kappa
Ellen, so she averred, had been just
nothing in school: not bright, not ath-
letic. and. Of course. not popular.
"Oh, Of course not" said Billy, smil-
"IIonestly," fibbed Ellen.
"You never could make me believe
it." said Billy. Whereat Ellen blushed
and Billy's unbelief strengthened.
At this crisis the Case burst into
the room with his hat on. He re-
awkwardly advanced to be intro
duced.
'Tm going to bed" he announced.
after the formality.
II hoped" said Ellen. you'd tell us
about the latest Who Is 1t now?
BETH
..Beth nothinsr" scoffed the Case.
game"
what was the NATTER" asked his
'Tm going to bed" said the Case.
TITS pretty near midnight"
by George. 1t is" exclaimed Billy.
Il didn't dream It was that late"
no" said Walter. That's what I
tell dad-the clock goes along some
when you're having . good time"
Billy and Ellen looked shyly at each
harder. It seemed to Walter. than the
joke warranted. In fact. he hadn't
thought It as q joke. II 1t was that
good he'd spring It on Kathryn to-
morrow night. It would just about
clinch her.
The Case. carrying out his repeated
threat. went to bed ana dreamed Of
Kathryn. Fifteen minutes later Ellen
retired to dream Of Billy. And an
hour later than that Billy was dream
Ing. OF Ellen, who had become sud :.
denly popular with him., even II she
hadn't been so at Northampton. which
They saw Se The Fouies" Friday
night A criticism OF the show by
either would have been the greatest
folly OF all It d doubtful that they
could have told what theater they'd
been to ten minutes after they'd left
1t. From wherever it was. they
walked to . dancing place and danced.
Ellen was 50 far gone that she failed
to note the change in Billy's trottine.
Foxes would have blushed for shame
At its awkwardness and lack Of va
rfety. II Billy was = splendid dancer
he certainly did not prove 1t this
night. All he knew or cared to know
was that he was with the girl he
wanted. And she knew only that she
was with Billy. and happy.
On the drive home the usual SUI
pernuous words were spoken. They
were repeated inside the storm door
At Ellen's fathers house. while the
taxi driver. waiting. wondered audibly
why them suckers OF explorers beat It
Side was 80 damn handy.
Eiien's father was out Of town. So,
IN the morning, she broke the news 10
mother and Aunt Mary and then sat
down and wrote It to Edith and VIII
Evanston. and after that she hurried
to the next block and sprang it on
Aunt Louise Harriet. It was decided
that Walter had better not be told
He didn't know how to keep 4 secret
water. therefore. was In ignorance
until he got home from school. The
only person he connded in the same
evening was Kathryn, who was the
only person he saw.
Bob and his wife and Aunts Louis A.
and Harriet came to Sunday dinner,
ont were chased home early in the
and Billy was coming to talk to him.
II would embarrass Billy to death to
md such crowd in the house.
They'd all meet him soon. never fear.
and when they met him they'd be
crazy about him. Bob and Aunt
cause he was SO bright and said such
screaming things, and the rest would
like him because he was so well read
and sensible and 80 horribly good
looking.
Billy: I said. was coming to talk to
Mr.. Mcdonald When he came he did
very little OF the talking. He stated
the purpose Of his visit, told what
business he was in and affirmed his
ability to support q wife. Then he
assumed the role Of audience, while
Ellen's father delivered an hours
lecture. The speaker did not express
his opinion Of Tyrus Cobb or the
kaiser. but they were the only sub
1ects he overlooked. Sobriety and in
dustry were words frequently used.
conclusion, "how much money q man