Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-10-15

erary Society had been studying them
entrance into intellectual circles had
Cuthbert Banks come nearer to
throwing in the towel.
Vladimir specialized in gray studies
OF hopeless misery where nothing
happened till page $50. when the
moujik decided to commit suicide.
1t was tough going for man whose
deepest reading hitherto had been
Warden on the Push-Slot. and there
can be no greater proof Of the magic
Of love than the fact that Cuthbert
stuck to 1t without a cry. But the
strain was terrible. and am inclined
to think that he must have cracked.
had 1t not been for the daily reports
in the papers Of the internecine strife
which was proceeding SO briskly in
Russia. Cuthbert was an optimist at
heart, and it seemed to him 7that. at
the rate at which the Inhabitants Of
that interesting country were muir
dering one another, the supply of
Russian novelists must eventually
give out.
One morning, as he tottered down
the road for the short walk which
was now almost the only exercise to
which he was equal, Cuthbert met
Adeline. A spasm of anguish fitted
through all his nerve-centers as he
saw that she was accompanied by
Raymond Parsloe Devine.
Good morning. Mr.. Banks" said
Adeline.
Good morning" said Cuthbert
hollowly.
such good news about Vladimir
Brusilof'
"Dead?" said cuthbert with a
touch Of hope.
Dead? OF course not. Why
should he be? No. Aunt Emily met
his manager after his lecture at Car
negie Hall yesterday and he has
promised that Mr.. Brusilof shall
como to her next Wednesday recep-
ton"
"Oh, ah" said Cuthbert duly.
II don't know how she managed
It. 1 think she must have told him
that Mr.. Devine would be there to
meet him."
"But you said he was coming"
argued Cuthbert.
II shall be very glad" said Ray
mond Devine, "of the opportunity Of
meeting Brusilof."
"Tm sure" said Adelines "he will
be very glad Of the opportunity Of
meeting you"
possibly" said Mr.. Devine. "Pos-
sibly. Competent critics have said
that my work closely resembles that
Of the great Russian masters"
"Your psychology is so Deep"
Eyes, yes"
"And your atmosphere"
quite"
Cuthbert in a perfect agony Of
spirit prepared to withdraw from
this love feast. The sun was shining
brightly. but the world was black to
him. Birds sang in the treetops, but
he did not hear them. He might
have been a mou1ik for all the pleas
ure he found in life.
you will be there, Mr. Banks" said
Adeline, as he turned away.
"oh. all right" said Cuthbert.
\ + +
WHEN Cuthbert had entered the
w drawing room on the following
Wednesday and had taken his usual
place in q distant corner where,
while able to feast his case on Ade-
line, he had q sporting chance Of be-
ing overlooked or mistaken for
piece Of furniture, he perceived the
great Russian thinker seated in the
midst Of q circle Of admiring females.
Raymond Parsloe Devine had not yet
arrived.
His first glance at the novelist sur
prised Cuthbert Doubtless with the
best motives. Vladimir Brusiloff had
permitted his face to become almost
entirely concealed behind a dense
zareba Of hair, but his eyes were visi-
BILE through the underground, and
It seemed to Cuthbert that there was
IN expression In them not unlike that
Of Q cat In Q strange backyard sur
rvunAed ~ small boys. The man
lAAlAA RnR4ADA and hnTanlA0a. n0d