Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1923-08-24


20 by Mcclure Newspaper syndieate.)
CLAIRE was industriously trying to
~ make the shabby living room look
like the pictures in the latest furniture
advertisement.
THE only thing this furniture Is
good for is the junk heap" she grum-
bled. why on earth won't dad let US
fix things up little2 The trouble
with him and all the rest Of you Is
that you lack refinement" and she
flashed naughty look ut Mag, who
was watching her from the doorway.
"Oh, can the culture Sis" Mag re-
torted. Pops all right and SO are
most of the rest of us. The trouble is,
you're trying to be high-brow. Why
the decorations just because you're go
ing to have beau2" and she pointed
to vase holding two rather wilted
home from the store.
But Claire was too busily engaged In
placing some books carelessly on the
table to reply.
Books surely do lend an air, Mag"
she said wish I'd had time to stop at
the library to get book by George
Elliot. Oswald mentioned one last eve
ming and said had read some Of his
books but had forgotten their names.
These two books of poetry will make
up for it, though. How does my hair
look? These jade earrings are the
very latest.
Sara loaned them to me. You see,
Oswald Is real class. He has charge
of the gents furnishings and makes
good money. Mother gave me her
word that all the rest Of the family
would stay In the kitchen tonight.
They would only queer me; you know
that"
Being one of the family designated
for the culinary department and the
time near at hand for the arrival Of
Oswald, Mag took her sewing and
Joined the less refined members Of her
family. Claire heard them laugh up
rOariously on her arrival. She knew
that they were having some fun at
her expense. But that was her trial
in being different from the rest After
locking the door against Bob's possible
entrance to queer" her, she settled
herself on the old-fashiOned sofa, the
light rather low, with the poems and
thoughts of Oswald
Good-loollng oswald. No more
clerking In stores, If he married her.
Fine clothes. Thus the time slipped
by.
Oswald, meantime, tapped on the
door in a gentlemanly way, but the
loud rendition of the Deep Sea Blues"
on nearby neighbours player piano
entirely drowned out his tapping.
Claire had drawn the shades to the
lowest possible point so the impress
sion made on the outsider was that the
house was In darkness. Seeing Il
bright light In the rear Of the house
and hearing merry bursts of laughter
from partly open window, Oswald
walked around and tapped just as gen
tlemanly on the rear door.
"Come In" called dad, rather ex-
pecting II friend for his evening game
of checkers.
MAY / introduce myself" said the
polite Oswald. you surely look like
a happy family. Being alone In the
city / don't often run into anything
like this"
"Have chair and help settle some
of our disputes" said the hospitable
dad, Offering him cigar. Bring
more coffee and doughnuts, mother"
Oswald seemed quite at ease.
"That looks like work Of art, Miss
Margaret" he said. May l ask just
what-T
ITS new paisley blouse" respond
ed Mag with display Of white teeth
and pretty dimples. I'VE have to hand
It to old King Tut for these swanky
oriental affairs. He sure made US all
get busy and follow his styles. But,
say dad show Mr.. Oswald that book
| brought from the library. You see,
dads quite up on archaeology him
self, and 1t was OF Egypt we were
talking when you came in. asked the
librarian for book on oriental col
lections. Incidentally | copied this
blouse from a picture OF Pharaoh's
wife. Dad thinks"
But what dad thought was not what
Oswald thought and the argument was
hot.
Mother brought u fresh supply Of
doughnuts and coffee and time slipped
by.
A noise as II n hlgh-heeled shoe were
thrown viciOusly on the floor reused
them a little from their conversation.
Another followed at a short interval
and there was pause In the talk.
Its Claire getting ready for bed.
That's the way she acts when she's
peeyed at something" said Bob his
enunclation being as distinct as was
possible without doing an injustice to
large red apple, the third he had
devOured that evening.
why can 1t be bedtimeT Looking
at his watch, Oswald verified his own
question. "But Miss Claire he
gasped 81 came to call on Miss
Claire. Perhaps, though, she forgot
and went out for the evening I'm
afraid I've lntruded on you folks too
long. But I've surely enjoyed the
evening. Learned lot, too Mr..
Dennis.
"And, Mag--Miss Margaret, how
about looking over those Egyptian
specimens ut the museum on Satur-
dav2 And no tho vvav ~ tho IIttia