Evening star., 1923-12-02

burne's paying guests, assem-
bIed at dinner. were aware OF
1t, and ate their delicious orange GUS
tard in silence. They had heard the
custard cups being thumped down on
the serving tray out in tine pantry.
They had seen the scared eyes OF
Regina, the colored waitress. as she
came in. Even the lovely quiet OF
the June evening and the majesty
of Mrs. Cleburne herself did not reas-
sure the guests.
The custard being finished. Miss
Edwards and her married sister Mrs
worell. hurried away TO the movies.
N. Pentz thought he'd just step down
TO the store and look up one or two
bad accounts.
Mr.. Bert Green simply disappeared.
Mrs Ogleby, the high-school teacher,
also vanished. II have some themes
TO correct" she said.
Remaining at the table, therefore,
were only Mrs. Cleburne, her daugh-
ter Marie and Alec Lowden, who
had eaten his custard and stayed for
coffee, with no apparent cognizance
of the human storm raging so near.
At twenty, Alec Lowden lrad set out
TO become the great American painter.
Now, a: thirty-two, he was CONNER
cial artist on the staff OF an adVer-
tising agency. For three summers ne
had come out and spent FIVE months
a, Mrs Cleburne's, committing to the
city, and was. therefore. almost like
one Of the family.
Marie Cleburne rolled her eyes sig
niflcantly toward the pantry ana
said: How did she find out?'
"why-you sec" hesitated Mrs.
Cleburne-'I had the dress sent out
c. o. D., hadn't quite enough money
with me; and when it came. 1 simply
said to Martha: Let me have ten dol
lars, dear. will your And at once
she began to be disasreeable.'
But she gave it to your
"WeIl-I've got the dress on" Mrs.
Cleburne glanced down complacently
at herself. My dear. l had to have
something. ! was in rags. literally In
rags This is only a cheap little
thing; but after your peach bloom
taffeta sEifelt that 1 couldn't afford
anythingh better. We mothers must
be unseffish, Mt. I.owden." She gave
Alec Lowden smiling. sweet glance.
II don't know why she's so set on
going to this dance, anyway" pur-
sued Marie.
Martha takes fancies like that
sometimes. And it worries me to
death to persuade her out of them"
But Mrs. Cleburne's placid face didn't
show a line.
.rd be glad enough to have her
co. conceded Marie. But she's got
no dress, and nobody to take her, and
simply can't have her hanging along
with me now that Gus Kramer-you
know what I mean, mother"
* X *
MARIE got UP slowly. If she had
AfA ever applied to any theatrical
manager for a job. she would have
been described technically as 'big
blond, good show-girl type
Her mothers gaze dwelt on her
fondly as she disappeared.
Its my greatest delight just to
look at Marta" she explained to Alec.
shes exactly what l was at her age,
exactly. With her face-and her
fgure-she could marry any one
any one! If we could only afford to
go to some really fashionable sum-
mer resort for just one season."
She rose, with just a. hint Of haste.
You don't mind if I leave you? 1
want to speak to Marie"
What she really wants is to get
from under before Martha steps in."
thought Alec. Aloud he said "Oh, l
mind, Of course, Mrs. Cleburne, who
wouldn't? But under the circum
stances" He rose and bowed.
He did not sit down again but
walked over and flung open the
pantry door. "Come on in and get
your dinner. Martha" he said.
you've scared 'em all away but me.
Come in and tell me all about the
row."
The girl who entered and dropped
down wearily at the table was neither
big nor blond. nor near to beauty.
She was OF no type, nondescript, me-
dunn height, with dark, untidy hair,
a determined little chin, and lips
drawn tight. Her pink calico dress
was faded. Her sleeves We're rolled
up, her collar open. Only her eyes,
almond shaped. with hecks OF green
and brown in their shadowy depths.
fringed with heavy lashes, intensely
alive, intensely unhappy, redeemed
: her from insign.ficance.
IT don't want anything but a cup Of
coffee, Regina" she said to the the
waitress.
"Oh, eat some SOUP" urged Lowden.
%'That was wonderful soup tonight.
You made it, didn't you?"
81 got the whole dinner. Amelia
Ann has gone on strike"
How come"
"Ah, there you have it, said
Martha. my. that soup is good"
Bring some chicken and some rice
and the fruit salad and hot rolls for
Miss Martha, ReginA' ordered Low
den.
What was all the row about?"
asked Lowden presently. "Why are
you on the war path? Everybody
sat here trembling, expecting to see
you enter with war cries and toma-
hawks"
~Td've liked to. have got 'em ter
r6rized, haven't I? But they stay
they stay That's my cooking-mine
and Amelia AIMS"
You may as we'll tell me. It's
something about your mothers new
dress-and that club dance Marie's
going to tomorrow night