Evening star., 1922-11-19

That's so." said Jimmie, now COM
pletely under the spell Of the brown
eyes And what pretty little hands
and feet she had! And what q sweet
little mouth! And how cleverly she
talked!
Those old-time salons must have
been lovely" said Nan regretfully. II
wish there was something like that
nowadays. People Just make me sick.
they're so unliterary. Why. hardly
anybody knows who wrote 'Endym-
ion.' and Ill bet l could ask every
man, woman and child in town who
was the author of Roll On. Thou
Deep and Dark Blue Ocean. Roll and
nobody would answer right, unless,
maybe. one Of the teachers at the
high school. / think it's awful"
Fierce" sympathized Jimmie. hop
him.
IF girls wouldn't sit around think
ing how they can be popular maybe
they'd have some time for culture"
Mans voice fairly vibrated scorn.
"Sure thing" assented Jimmie.
"Say. what's the matter with going
for a little spin in the car to cool off
and think it over?'
That would be simply lovely" said
Nan. with an upward glance that ri
vailed Mar.belle's in effect.
PRESENTLY. when they sat side by
l side in Jimmie's runabout. she
went back to her grievance.
Il get 50 tired Of such foolishness
amongst the girls, Jimmie. You can't
think how dull it is for anybody who
really wants to make something out
Of her life. And mother won't let
me do anything l really want to. She
said I might have class in Sunday
school. but she fairly shrieked when
wanted 20 go down In the factory
district and teach the women cook
ing. She said I might catch smallpox
or something"
Jimmie. thinking with alarm Of Mans
complexion being eternally ruined.
"Oh." she cried, II did think you
understood me. Don't you understand
that I can't bear to be wrapped in
cotton wool all my life. l have to
go to luncheons and teas and piffle
around the country club when Pm
dying to do something really fine
something that will justify my being
in the world"
ITS pretty tough" said Jimmie. not
sure that he got the point but anx-
ious to please. But say, I thought
Of something. Why don't you try to
reform the girls?"
ITO reform those girls" said Nan
firmly, I'D have to have started when
they were infants-and most of them
are older than I am. remember that.
No; I thought Of that, but gave the
idea up
We'll. there must be somebody In
forming" persisted Jimmie. Some
woman, mean. I'd hate to see you
wasting your time trying to reform
that tough bunch of fellows" (Oh.
artful JimmieD
II might try Mrs. Malleson." said
Nan dreamily. Il don't think she's
a bit discreet, the way she lets that
young Lieut.. Crary tag after her. OF
course. her husbands awfully fat and
horrid, but don't think that excuses
her exactly"
DO you like Lieut.. Crary? asked
Jimmie, as casually as he could man.
age.
II don't like any Army men," said
Nan primly. Their noses are too
short-it indicates no strength OF
character"
Gosh, what lot Of things you
know" said Jimmie admiringly, and
relieved. But. say, how will you go
about reforming Mrs. Malleson"
WELL" meditated Nan, "rll first
cultivate her acquaintance and tell
her a lot Of things tactfully about the
power for good and evil that lies in
a woman's hands, and things like
that-1 don't know exactly what"
you might put in some anecdote
about young men who have wrecked
their careers for women" offered Jim
mie.
YES. that would be fine: but don't
know any"
I'll tell you some. Why, a fellow
was in college with got SO crazy
over a girl that he hunked in his
exams. and his father was SO mad
he sent him of west on q ranch; and
he's expected to study law"
How awful! Was the woman older
than he WASP
"She was q regular college widow
old enough to be his mother. that's
what"
"Then, for heavens sake" said Nan,
Tets hurry back to the Country Club
and Til begin with Mrs. Malleson
straight off. There's no time to lose."
After a somewhat hazardous turn
ing of the car they spun eagerly
clubward. They were both thought
ful-Jimmie because he was thinking
what a nice girl Nan was, while Nan
viewed with appropriate gravity the
task of recalling Mrs. Malleson from
the error of her ways.
Il wish," she suggested at last,
that we'd thought of some one we
knew better. Mrs. Malleson's such
newcomer. and she's 50 awfully good
lookins-I never saw such beautiful
teeth and eyes as she has. And then
she seems so sure of herself. Can't
you possibly think Of any one else.
Jimmie?'
Jimmie thought hard. It was nice
to be appealed to as q being of supe-
rior wisdom. Il can't think of any
one else right now." he conceded at
last, but I'll tell you what we'll do.
Well Just scout around and see how
the land lies and II Mrs. Malleson and
her Johnny don't turn out to be prom
ising material we'll turn our attention