Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1923-08-02

hdu the slightest expectation of hear
ing from. 1t was a man-George could
tell that from the quality of her voice
and he seemed to be throwing her
into good deal of fiutter.
"Why-why, yes" she was saying.
'oh. but we'd love to have you!
Yes. That'n be fine We GER
fainly will. Only I'm afraid you won't
ind 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
couple of long breaths, resumed her
knife and fork, and then asked, "Did
you hear any of that?'
"Not much," he told her. II thought
you sounded sort of surprised"
Il should say was" she admitted.
when 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
priSed!"
who" George wanted to know.
II 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. 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 it was another
moment before she answered it.
"Why, it's Charley Hawkins-Haw-
thorn Hawkins-George, you know
who he is!'
II 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 us?''
"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 it was-so he
ph"ned to ask If he could come"
"But why Avonia, and why us2 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 1 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"
It was from preoccupation rather
then obedience that he let her alone
until she rang for the maid Then
"You haven't been writing to him
have you-te.ling him he was great
and so onT'
Her eyes flashed at him, but the en-.
trance of Anna procured him a polite
answer. Il couldn't very we'll write
| 10 him when I'd never seen one of his
| plays"
Ever read emp" he asked. ""They
are published, suppose"
She shook her head and waited until
Anna went out; then she swoOped
upon him. II never thought you'd be
so silly" she declared, "as to be jeal.
Gus. And about man I haven't
thought of for twenty years.
"Jealous!" he retorted furiously.
"T'm not"
"What are you Them she asked
with an alkaline sort of smile, and he
| found the question unanswerable
''Well, I hope you will be decent to
him anyhow"
81 don't know whether will or not
he told her. ''That depends" She
didn't sneak to him again that night.
Two days later, coming home from
rather strenuous bout of shopping,
Emily found her hushand-home from
| the office a good hour earlier than
Misunderstanding a small green paper
covered volume, which he put down
hastily as she came in, and then took
UP again and held out to her.
"'Three Plays by Hawthorn Haw-
kins,'" she read. "Why, where did
that come from? I tried to get it at
Streets, but they'd never even heard
of it,"
'Came in the mail" he said. 81
found it when I got here"
Addressed to me?' she asked.
"Why-yes. l believe it was. /
opened the package without thinking"
Charley sent them on, of course"
she remarked; $50 that I'd have some
thing to talk to him about"
IT don't believe he did," George said
decidedly. "Not unless he's an
unusual ass"
! She flushed angrily at that, but he
went on before she could speak. 81
said l thought he wasn't an ass. not
that l thought he was. There'd have
been card or an inscription If 1t
had come from him. Anyhow. I
wouldn't thank him for 1t unless he
| gives you lead. Read 'em and say
nothing. And don't leave 'em out on
the sitting room table where they'll
be the first thing he sees, either"
Her smile conceded that this advice
was both friendly and intelligent
"But where did they come fromT' she
| demanded.
Search mel" he told her. "They
don't postmark this fourth-class stuff.
No. 7 didn't mean anything uncompli-
mentary. AS far as read in the first
! one. 1t seemed pretty good. l thought
you might have sent to Chicago for
them" She pointed out that there
wouldn't have been time "Oh, WELL"
he concluded, II don't believe it's much
OF a mystery. Some old friend, most