Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-06-29


lie mad had time to think as far nc
this, his mind slipping rapidly past the
familiar landmarks just as his eve eIid
down the columns Of the newspapers
before he perceived that Emily was
not, this time, talking to any member
OF her drama committee, nor 10 anv
citizen Of Ayonia, nor to anyone she'd
had the slightest expectation Of hear
ing from. 1t was a man-George could
tell that from the quality of her voice
and ne seemed to be throwing her
into good deal of a futter.
'Why-why. yes" she was saving
"Ch, but we'd love to have YOU!
Yes. That'll be fine We GER
tainiy will. Only I'm afraid you won't
find US very exciting. Four
o'clock Saturday then"
George, as she returned to the table.
fastened his gaze upon the paper.
When she was ratified she liked to be
allowed to take her time. She sat
down bit heavily in her chair drew
a couple of long breaths, resumed her
knife and fork, and then asked, Did
you hear any Of that?"
"Not much" he told her. 81 thought
you sounded sort of surprised"
II should say I was" she admitted
when l hadn't heard from him for
nineteen years. Calling up on the
long-distance to ask if he can come
and spend Sunday with us Sur
prisedl"
"Who" George wanted to know.
Il don't know why he should want
to. He certainly won't find any ma
terial for play in US. Still, it'll be
nice to see him again. 1 don't sup
pose I'll know him."
Look here" George demanded,
whom are you talking about?"
| "Oh." she said, as If she had Just
heard his questions; but 1t was another
moment before she answered 1t.
"Why. it's Charley Hawkins-Haw-
thorn Hawkins-George, you know
who he is !"
81 know who Hawthorn Hawkins
is. but why do you call him Charley?
And why does he call US on the long
! distance and propose to spend Sunday
with usY'
"Why, he's giving the Sheldon lee
lures down at the University this year.
and he looked up Avonia on the map
and saw how near 1t was-so he
phoned to ask if he could come"
But why Avonia, and why US? If
you know him as well as that, why
haven't you ever told me anything
about him?"
George" she cried, scandalized, 81
told you all about Charley Hawkins
when we were first engaged-and you
didn't even listen. He wasn't famous
then, of course. And l haven't heard
from him since the note he wrote with
the wedding present he sent US. Now,
for goodness sake, don't ask any more
questions, but let me eat"
1t was from preoccupation rather
than obedience that he let her alone
until she rang for the maid. Then,
"You haven't been writing TO him,
have you-teIling him he was great
and so on?"
Her eyes flashed at him, but the en-
trance of Anna procured him a polite
answer. 81 couldn't very well write
to him when I'd never seen one of his
plays"
Ever read emp he asked. "They |
are published, l suppose"
She shook her head and waited until |
Anna went out; then she swooped |
upon him. 81 never thought you'd be
so silly" she declared, "as to be jeal-
Gus. And about a man 1 haven't
thought of for twenty years"
jealous !" he retorted furiously.
am not"
"What are you then?" she asked
with an alkaline sort of smile, and he
found the question unanswerable.
"WelI, I hope you will be decent to
him anyhow"
81 don't know whether l will or not
he told her "That depends She
didn't speak to him again that night.
Two days later, coming home from
q rather strenuous bout of shopping,
Emily found her husband-home from
the office good hour earlier than
usual-reading a small green paper
covered volume, which he put down
hastily as she came in, and then took
IN again and held out to her.
".Three Plays by Hawthorn Haw-
,ins.'" she read. "Why, where did
hat come from7 | tried to get 1t at
streets. but they'd never even heard
# It."
"came in the mail" he said. Il
ound II when | got here"
Addressed TO me?" she asked.
"Why-yes. believe it was.
nened the package without thinking
sCharley sent them on OF course
ne remarked $50 that I'd have some
hing 10 talk 20 him about"
~ don't believe be did" George said !
ecidedly. mot unless he's an G
nusunI ass"