Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-09-27

"A of the Laughing Water" AS
4 Ian encore she gave The Ros-
ary." Afterward Mrs. Howard
Allison. wife OF the president of the
First National Bank, told her mother
that she had heard a world-famous
star sing THE Rosary" and that of
the two she preferred Mabel.
''She said to tell you there was no
comparison. 1 just thought I'd let
you know"
They were in the pass pantry get
ting the creamed oysters ready for
the seniors In the front room. Mrs.
Innis kissed her daughter a little tim
idly. 1t was terrifying to think of
herself as the mother of world-fa-
nous star.
These patties are ready" she said.
Hadn't we better dish up the
oysters?"
Mabel was critically appraising the
cream sauce.
Not yet she said. "They need
pinch Of something"
It was funny that, with all her
art, she was unerring about such ordi-
nary things as flavors. Mrs. Innis
knew that she would get something
off the shelf that would make the
oysters taste better than even Mrs.
Howard Allison's high-priced cook
could make them taste. Whatever 1t
was, she wouldn't learn it out of any
book. She sensed it.
Don't YOU tell them I had any
thing to do with these oysters"
warned Mabel.
No" promised Mrs. Innis. Il
won't
She understood how her daughter
felt. A girl with a future like hers
didn't want to get herself known as
good cook.
MABEL sang for the seniors one
A'A last song before they became
forever alumni. Her mother, looking
around at the wistful admiration on
their faces, knew that not even Isabel
Allison, with all her fathers money,
was SO pretty as Mabel. Yet even
Isabels face revealed no jealousy.
The boys faces were. of course, in
fatuated. Herbie Brooksmith. the best
center rush the high school ever had.
and Mabel's admitted favorite, did
not look more adoring than did the
other boys, as the strains OF The
Rosary" died away for the third time
that evening.
Herbie continued to be an excellent
center rush, functioning thus at the
State University for four years. Mabel
went down to his senior ball. 1t was
nasium that she told him he might
have more than a little hope.
only" she said. as they sat to-
sether in the Turkish corner behind
the fir boughs with which the decora-
ton committee had sequestered It,,
you must be very patient. There is
my art. you know"
Herbie was humble. But she could
go right on taking lessons His
fathers real estate business was boom
ing. He was TO be taken into 1t. AS
his wife she need not lose a day of
art.
Mabel's beautiful eyes saw. not
Herbie entranced before her. but thou
sands of Herbies. There was a dark
ened auditorium, from whose hush the
storm of appreciation presently broke.
"My child" the great Figlione was
saying, wiping tears from his eyes, 1T
is triumph. You are established
Slowly Mabel's eyes came back to
the reality of Herble.
"Ne must wait" she told him
gently. II must go away and study.
] owe 1t to my art"
MRS. INNS. that other proud pos
4VA SCISSOR with whom Herbie now
shared Mabel and her art, died that
Summer. He dared. in the loneliness
Of the little white house where ne had
spent many happy hours, to urge him.
self upon her. Why could they not be
married at once? Almost, he felt, she
trembled into his arms.
Yet at the very brink Of yielding
she drew back. There was some
money now. 1t was too dreadful to
discuss it in this sad hour. But her
mothers life insurance had been paid.
Mabel had received a good offer for
the little white house. If she took 1t
she would have $500. She could stop
taking lessons of Prof. Jimmy, could
90 to New York, study six months
with the great Figlione. and make
the long planned debut. Extraordinary
questions came into Herbie's perplexed
mind. Could Mabel really mean to
sell the little white house? If she
made this debut in New York. then
what? Where, then-he could not
spare her the bewildered question
would be come in?
why, Herbie." Mabel's lovely eyes
reproached his doubts Wouldn't 1t
he wonderful to know that you had
helped me toward what I've always
dreamed OF doing-toward what meant
so much to mother"
Three days later. as Mabel stood
under the soaring dome Of the great
waiting room of the Pennsylvania sta
lion, she felt that she was at last upon
a worthy threshold. The vast imper'
sonal efficiency of this place. with It's
smart crowds, it's uniformed officials,
seemed prophecy of her augmented
future.
Then AIargie fell upon her neck
with gaspings of friendly rapture.
sore eyes,. Pinky, This is Mabel
Pinky was a manly young woman
who gave Mabel a strong handclasp
and assumed her bag.
We'll go over to Fifth and take a
bus" said Margie. Its such nice
way to begin. Oh, Mabel! You're
going to love it.
ITS wonderful" she said and gave
Nargie her beautiful smile. Margie
was Just a girl of no distinguished
talent, who was graduated from high
school two years earlier than Mabel.
She had taken a business course and
had gone to New York two or three
wears ago. She was private secretary
10 some one In Wall Street. She was
in with all the theatrical crowd. AT
least rumor suggested the outlines OF
these facts. Mabel had written to her
for advice about her own Impending
entry. and had received an air-rnail
letter, offering her the freedom OF
Margies apartment. the entree to her
theatrical group and the inside track
10 Fame.
The evenings program, as MarSie
outlined it, between saueezes or
Mabels hand. as they sat together
on top of the bus, was exciting. They
would go to Margie's apartment.
She and Pinky shared it. but there
was room for a third. They had, in