Evening star., 1923-03-25
" early March there comes a day
when the sun lies warm in shell

ana puSSyWlllO"S seem " uoHiihato
florists windows. On such day al
most any sequence of events can be
set in motion, whether the victims of
the cos1nic sorcery be young and i'm
petuous, as were Kay and the ltneal
descendant OF kings, or middle -aged
and fat-encas sed. as was he who called
himself Alphonse.
This year." Alphonse assured him.
self, IL sell the old flivver and buy
me a real car. I guess there'n be no
more snow now. anyway"
Alphonse was fifty; she who insist
ed that she be called Kay rather than
Katherine was but twenty. To her
at noon Alphonse graciously vouch-
safed sixty minutes for lunch and
recreation. On the former she had
spent ten minutes and fifteen cents.
on the latter forty-fve minutes and
forty-fve cents.
You simply must see that picture"
Gladys Dineene had assured her.
you'll simply love it,"
Tho girl of the picture had had a
car of her own-it had landed her
in a cell, but she had had a lovely
time!
IT wish l had a car" yearneG Kay.
Engrossed in her thoughts she
reached fremont street. The lineal
deScendant of kings she never no.
ticed. He was accustomed to being
noticed: millionaires hung upon his
glance; his nod was as Jove's.
Now. with his eyes everywhere, he
saw Kay. She was pretty enough to
have need OF not single artificial
aid and pretty enough to faunt all
the daring artif1cialities of the period
without loss of charm.
But against charm he was proof.
Abruptly, peremptorily. he spoke to
ker.
''Stay where you are" he COM
manded. with the add ID insult of a
forefinger levcled directly at her.
Yes, you-you're the one I mean
This she may have deserved. yet it
was not the way for one OF his sex to
address one of hers. She simply ele-
waited her pretty nose and gave him a
look. But he merely grinned, as.
when the traffic ceased from traffick
ing, she passed him.
"Clothed. She quoted sweetly,
"in a little brief authority" She
had seen il on a movie film.
Better that than in few brief
skirts" he retorted.
OF the birth OF hate, instant and
Irresistible. there can be no doubt
Kays eyes still snoldered as stand
ing before a long mirror she fluffed
ker hair blue black. bobbed and
waved. And Gladys came up.
'Didcha see the picture?" she de-
manded Amt it simply grand?"
Then lowered her voice.
Say. grille" she advised. take a
tip from me and get back from lunch
prompt. 1t is lucky. Alphonse is
late
1T would have been on time" Kay
announced. but that fresh traffic cop
over on the corner held me up. just
70 be smart"
"The red-headed oneo" demanded
Gladys. "Oh, I'm crazy about him! /
think he's the cutest thing"
He thinks so. too" Kay assured
her.
He's got reason to! There was
piece in the paper about him. He's
descended from Brian Boru--'
"T never heard of an Irishman chat
aAnt-unless they claimed some one
better. My aunt used to say that the
Kilkennys lived in Tara's Hall when
the Borus were bogtrotters."
And besides" Gladys went on,
''when he took the strength tests he
pulled out all the machines by the
roots. You wouldn't think TO look at
him, sort Of slender like. that he was
that strong, would your"
What l think when ! look at him
wouldn't be fit to print" Kay assured
her.
THERE was a rustling activity in
i the beauty and hair-dressing
parlors of Alphonse, Inc, that bore wit
ness to the approach of AIphonse him
self
Alphonse spoke broken English
with what he believed was French
accent He was an optimist. His
business was good, as Is any business
that depends upon a patronage of
heavy middle-aged women dutifully
living up to their husbands increas-
ing incomes.
ment. and Alphonse wheeled to greet
her.
"Ah-Mrs. MacIssacs" he exclaim-
ed. bowling in his best Partisan man
ner. "And what Is your pleasure
today?"
Informed as to this he bowed again.
Most assurement!" he replied. And
summoned Kay. Miss Kilkenny
Madame desires a manicure. most
Queekly"
'rToot sweet, old top" affirmed Kay
but to herself.
AS she slid into her chair with
swift businesslike smile for her
patron, Alphonse let his eyes follow
her In her youth was a positive
quality, not a mere negative lack Of
years. Even her artifcialities-thc
flashes that had been assisted to a
thickness that marvelously set off
the blue eyes between, the impossible
yet alluring scarlet of her pretty
mouth. seemed but a part of the
frankness Of her years, worn not as
a mask to hide deficiency, but as a
Haunting adornment that intrigued
even while 1t amused.
Even Alphonse was intrigued-and
amused.
Me-" he thought, twirling his mus
sache, ct like that grill She's smart
and pretty-and not so slo. I'll bet!''
The breeze that rustled the sun
ytrippled curtains breathed spring.
Sure I get myself car" he
assured himself. Right off-to-
morrow!"