Evening star., 1925-04-19

THE Summer morning was sc
brilliantly fine, the populac'
popped to and fro in so active
and CHEEKY a manner an(
everybody appeared to be 81
absolutely in the pink that casua
observer of the City or New York
would have said that it was one o,
those happy days. Yet Archie Mof
fam, as he turned out of the sun
bathed street into the ram-shacklt
building on the third floor of which
was the studio belonging to his artis
friend, James B. Wheeler, was family
oppressed with n sort of a kind o,
feeling that something was wrong
He would not have gone so far as tC
say that he had the pip-it was more
a vague sense of discomfort. And
searching for first causes as he made
his way upstairs, he came to the con
clusion that the person responsible fol
this nebulous depression was his wife
Lucille. 1t seemed to Archie that, al
breakfast that morning, Lucille'S man
ner had been subtly rummy.
Musing thus, he reached the studio
and found the room empty. The stu
dio had seen the last of j. B. Wheeler
for that day: but Archie, not realizing
this, and feeling that a chat with Mr.
Wheeler. who was a ight-hearted
bird. was what he needed. sat down
to wait After a few moments, his
gaze, straying over the room, en-
countered a handsomely framed pic.
ture, and he went across to take a
look at it.
]. 3. Wheeler was an artist who
made a large annual income as an
illustrator for the magazines, and it
was a surprise to Archie 10 find that
he also went in for this kind of thing.
For the picture, dashingly painted in
oils, represented a comfortably plump
young woman who was plainly in
tended to be the goddess Venus.
Archie was not much of a nib round
the picture galleries, but he knew
enough about art to recognize Venus
when he saw her; though once or
twice, it is true, artists had double
crossed him by ringing in some such
title as DAY Dreams" or when The
Heart Is Young"
He inspected this picture for a
while. then, returning to his seat,
lighted a cigarette and began to medi-
tate on Lucille once more. Yes; the
dear girl had been rummy at break
fast. There had been in Lucille's
manner that curious, strained sweet
ness which comes to women whose
husbands have failed to match the
pIStS VI Sllh oI " posi- al
important letter. If his conscience
had not been as clear as crystal,
Archie would have said that that was
what must have been the matter.
But when Lucille wrote letters she
just stepped out of the suite and drop
ped them in the mail-chute attached
70 the elevator. 1t couldn't be that.
And he couldn't have forgotten any
thing else, because
20 my Sainted aunt
Archie's cigarette smoldered. neg
lected, between his fingers. His jaw
had fallen. and his eyes were staring
classify before him. His memory was
weak, he knew; but never before had
II let him down so scurviiy as this.
This was a record. For a man may
forget many things-he may forget
his name, his umbrella, his national
ity, his spats, and the friends Of his
youth; but there is one thing which
your married man. your in-sickneSs-
and in health lizard, must not forget
and that is the anniversary of his
wedding-day.
REMORSE swept over Archie like a
~ wave. His heart bled for Lucille.
No wonder the poor girl had been
rummy at breakfast, He groaned
hollowly and sagged forlornly in his
chair, and as he did so the Venus
caught his eye. For it was an eye
catching picture. You might like it
or dislike it, but you could not ignore
It.
Archie had the whole binge neatly
worked out inside a minute. He scrib-
bled a note to Mr.. Wheeler. explain
ing the situation, and promising rea-
Sonable payment on the installment
system: then. placing the note in a
conspicuous position on the easel, he
ieaped to the telephone-and present
1y found himself connected with Lu-
Giles room at the Cosmopoiis.
"Hullo, darling he cooed.
There was a slight pause at the
other end of the wire.
"Oh. hullo Archiei'
Lucille's voice was duh and listless,
and Archie's experienced ear could de-
tect that she had been crying.
Many happy returns of the day,
old thing
A mufled sob noated over the
wire
Have you only just remembered"
Archie. bracing himself up, cacllled
gleefully into the receiver.
Did I take you in, light of my
home? Do you mean to say you really
InOuenI L Hdu lOISOlleI. L OF nedN-
ems saker'
You didn't say a word at break
fast"
"Ah. but that was all part of the
devilish cunning. L hadn't got pres
ent for you then. At least, I didn't
know whether it was ready"
''Oh. Archie, you darling" Lucille's
voice had lost its crushed melancholy.
She trilled like a thrush. or a linnet,
or any bird that goes in largely for
trilling. Have you really got me a
present."
IT'S here now-the dickens of a
fruity picture. One Off. B. Wheeler's
things. You'll like it,
'Oh, 1 know l shall. I love his
work. You are an angel. Well hang
it over the piano"
"I'll be round with it in something
under three ticks, star of my soul.
III take "a taxi
1t is not far from Washington
Square TO the Hotel Cosmopolis. and
Archie made the journey without mis-
hap. There was a little unpleasant
ness with the cabman before starting
Aug M