Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-09-11

She drew small modish hat snugly
about her ears, swept wave of dark
powder across her face, touched her
lips with bit of rouge and said she
was ready. AS they made their way
carefully down the dark and winding
stairs, MINIS silken voice drifted out
to them from behind closed door.
"Oh, you bad boy, believe you're
trying to make love to meY'
Theresa laughed. Little fool" she
said. Come in any time you like, day
or night, you'll get dose of that from
Mimi She runs them In relays, like
the six-day bicycle race. Lord knows
where she gets them-there don't seem
so many men to spare"
Theresa took her to a small, quiet.
basement room, where they had gen.
erous, quiet, italian dinner. They ate
in silence. Theresa was hungry, very
tired, and Jerry was stirred ami
GREATNESS. There were others in the
dining room. mostly girls, smartsy
dressed, all thin, all weary-eyed, ali
smoking.
Don't you know themY' Jerry
asked. 81 thought every one knew
every one else-in the Village"
ST don't know anybody" said
Theresa. 81 used to be way up on the
West side. came down here to please
Mimi. But like II"
The days that followed were happy,
dreamy, fascinating days for Jerry.
Rhoda telephoned to her twice, with
profuse and tender apologies for her
neglect, and said she was coming to
see her right away. But she did not
come. Jerry spent great deal of time
with Theresa, but Theresa was always
working, always tired to distraction.
Mimi, although she continued as warm
ly affable and friendly as at first, had
little time or inclination for pretty
young students of art beneath her roof.
She slept until noon every day, had
callers to tea every afternoon, and
went out with some one every night in
the week.
Jerry made proper arrangements for
her lessons. and was enrolled In one of
the beginners classes Of Graves Nc
Dowell, who, having previously ac-
CURED a reputation, was now eking out
a hard existence by instilling the rudi-
ments Of his profession into young as
pirants. Jerry attended his classes
with nice regularity and prompt
tude, and patiently did her utmost to
follow his instructions. He told her
kindly that she was doing very we'll
indeed, let her come and go as she
liked, and paid as little attention to
her as possible.
She bought an easel of the most
elaborate design and arranged it pref
tily in her small studio, where 1t quite
overshadowed the modest, plaything
bits of furniture already there. And
she painted little every afternoon,
pleasantly, comfortably, complacently.
without any Of the hectic excitement
which throbbed about her.
Even with all that, she seemed to
have a great deal of time at her dis
posal. On the fifth day of her calen-
dar desolation. she telephoned to her
Aunt Comics residence in Englewood,
hoping to thrill the household with the
news of her presence, and joyously an
ticlpating a merry weekend In the
lovely suburb with tender aunt,
friendly uncle, and two frolicsome
young cousins. She was greeted with
the cold information that the entire
family had gone to Europe on hasty
business trip, and the maid left in
charge of the house did not know when
they planned to return Jerry felt
quite saddened and abused. She was
sorry she had not sent word in adj
vance of her coming. She was sure
Aunt Connie would have waited for
her, would have postponed any kind
of business trip to Europe for the
sake of being an oasis In the desert
for "Prudence's baby"
Left entirely to her own resources,
she managed as best she could. read
ing great deal, riding solemnly about
town on the busses, visiting the shops.
1t was the climax of her loneliness
when she went to the movies, alone
Finally, on happy thought suggested
by a timely advertisement, she rented
small piano and paid fabulous sum
to have it raised to the studio, where
she gave 1t practically her entire floor
space. showing the easel ignominious-
ly into the background.
Jerry was fond of music. She played
the piano extremely well, and sang
also with real feeling and much sweet
ness. She was beginning to wonder If
perhaps she should not have chosen
music in preference to painting as a
career. There seemed to be so much
drudgery about art, thing she had
not before remotely suspected.
Then, one afternoon. quite without
warning. Rhoda La Faye ran in. caught
her in both arms and kissed her a
dozen times with fervent protestations
of delight at seeing her. Rhoda was
nala with favarfoh uvnfo NJ crimson