Evening star., 1922-07-09

course. q great many OF those present
had heard Owen before this winter.
but it was splendid. excellent"
Dolly Cavour preferred to walk
home alone in the cold, thinking The
sharp air deepened the color in her
cheeks. but it also cleared her mind
and deepened the color of her opinion
Some time in March Jamison was
debating a telegram to Miss Shaw.
his perennial stenographer. whose
hair was white even at thirty.
Regret exceedingly that previous
engagements prevent my speaking at
banquet of your association on April
second. My regards"
You never speak," said Miss Shaw
lightly over her thin lips.
Never"
He took up the letter from the
president of the Hardware Manufac-
turers' Association and read the para
graph. beginning: I'VE feel that Mr..
Bovine is already too well appreci-
ated by our members. who. Of course.
have listened with great pleasure to
his words on many occasions, to urge
now that he be placed upon our list
Of speakers. which is already too long.
But, my dear Mr.. Jamison. II you
could find 1t possible"
Jamison looked about at the chaste
marble wainscoting Of the presidents 8
room and threw the letter into the In
laid mahogany file basket.
Never" said he. BOVINE has been
great success"
'Oh. Mr.. Jamison, you do know
men," said Miss Shaw on that occa-
sion. Her face was stony. 1t had
learned to be.
In April the board Of directors held
their meeting. and old Canford burst
forth. He is a peppery. aged marti-
net. whose old-fashioned, conserva-
tive bank stills holds its own. His
face is the face Of dyspepsia.
Whats this increase in the over
head expenser' he snarled. TT ought
to be pared OFF instead of this damna-
BILE distention."
Jamison said patiently. I'VE would
be glad Of suggestions. sir"
THE old man caught the satirical
import of the presidents words
and the flavor of challenge. He
sprang to the fray.
Well. I'll make one" he barked.
Here's thirty-two thousand q year
for Owen Bovine. Owen Bovine?
owen Bovine? I'm sick Of the name,
and SO is every one else. It's got so a
man can't go to dinner without hear
ing the outpourings Of a man who
never did a thing in his life. I'd
rather have the toastmaster call on
one Of the walters for q change. The
world is full of talk. There is q pas
sion for talk. It's all talk and no
action. That's the trouble with the
world-talk, talk, talk; words, words,
words! So bring on Owen Bovine!
I'm tired OF him-every one else is
tired Of him. II you 60 to . dinner.
you hear him; 1t you happen to be
absent, you get what he said In .
pamphlet that costs money to print
and is read by no one. Owen Bovine
is like the anvil chorus from II
Trovatore'-he's been played too
much"
canford saved last breath for .
, snort.
I'm inclined to agree" Palmer Of
the Occidental Ship and Trading
Company said quietly.
VERY we'll, gentlemen" Jamison
said. II rather suspected that this
would be your opinion In the end"
He added under his breath, II think !
know men,"
1t was not altogether . mere coin
cidence that Margery Bevans and her
invalid husband gave a week end
party 1t the villa on the Long Island
shore. Tho warmth Of an early spring
had its effect. There would be q
moon. Furthermore, San Jamison had
badly suggested 1t. He had said:
"Do you remember that other-it
was quite wonderful"
The night Of the dinner great
dark cloud had hovsred threstsningly
over the sunset, and Margsry Revans
had said they would have to feed in
side. But the wind dropped. the
thread Of the cloud fell over the edge
Of the west, and while the candles
burned above the white linen. the
spsr<ling glass ana the pinks and
gresns es her famous hort d'ssasrsa