Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-03-05


LET HIS TIRED EYES LIGHT IF
WITH ENTHUSIASM.
of it adjust chasing around town
with me. or now and then with Barry
along. when I could ring him in as
an escort. Those soft brown eyes of
Clara's were beginning to have dis
appointed. hungry look in them.
Some day." 1 suggested. you'll
be going back to Tonowanda."
NO. no." she protested quickly
oh. l couldn't do that-ever."
We'll. what will you do them"
asked. Il mean. after this sort of
thing has grown to be bore?"
will it?" she demanded.
Absolutely" says l. "Oh, not this
month. nor next. But later on you'll
get so sick of picking your three
meals from a menu card that you'll
be boiling your own breakfast eggs
smuggling in things for luncheon
from the delicatessen store. You'll
get tired of tipping walters and
chambermaids and watching the
lights in the Metropolitan tower
blink the half hour. You'll work up
a longing for some of Aunt Abbie's
hot biscuits and strawberry jam.
Then spring will be coming along.
but you'll hardly know it unless
And you'll get to wondering if the
lilac bush by the kitchen door has
quit booming and if the syringia and
bridal wreath are out yet. and il the
robins are singing in the big elm"
Don't" says Clara.
"Homesick already" asks.
"A little" says she. But l
couldn't go back-alone. Besides.
I've given the use Of the house to
Abbie and Esther as long as they
live don't know what 1 shall
do. Anyway. / mean to have some
more good times here. And
want to meet some more people,
lot more"
co. being a high-salaried social Sec
~ rotary. 1 did my best to fix it for
her. I used all my own friends and
most of Barry Platts. I arranged
dinner parties for her and accepted
any invitations that came our way.
And 1t was at a studio tea down in
Washington News. which Is the
swell part of Greenwich Village. that
there appeared on the scene this tall,
distinguished looking party with the
near-English accent and the tired
eyes.
1t was about the nearest to a real
social function that we'd been able
to edge in on. getting a bid to it
through Ames Hunt. my late theat-
rical manager. who'd come back
from his Florida tarpon fishing spree
full of pep and enthusiasm and had
sent word that he thought he had
a splendid part for me in a new
piece he was planning to put on
next fall: Anyway. there we were,
mingling with a. few people whose
names you see in the social notes and
others who are trying to make the
grade. So Julie and I had taken a
lot Of pains to have Clara looking
her best. and I'll say we'd done rather
a good job.
When we first came in had noticed
this man with streaks Of gray in his
front hair and the weary eyes and
I took it as rather compliment to
our work that he stared. at Clara
Trueman. even while he was chatting
with Mrs. Jimmy Van Lear. But I
was a little surprised to find Clara
returning the stare.
who's your tall friend?" 1 asked.
Tin not sure that l know him. -
said she, land yet there is something
familiar about his face"
There is about the way he's gaz-
ing at you. anyway" says I.
1t was only a few minutes later
that I left her to speak to Ames
Hunt and when I came back I
found her sitting in a corner with
the stranger and he was holding
one of her hands. Which struck
me as fast work for Clara. Also
she was a good deal pinked up and
her eyes were actually brilliant.
L,
II beg pardon"
What do you think, Trilby May"
says she. This is Mr.. Staples"
r
T SAID was charmed. but at the
same time 1 gave her a nudge and
lifted my eyebrows inquiring.
"It-it's Rob Won know" she reea
on.
what" says I. mot the one from
the-the-"
"Oh, yes" he chimes in. "From the
gas ONCE in Tonowanda. Clara must
have told you OF my first and only at
tempt to earn my own living. I hope
she didn't add that.it was a sad fail
ure."
II didn't know" says Clara. WAS
it,"
Utterly" says he. Il suppose /