Evening star., 1925-06-14


the sheer fun Of the thing-and to
whom the prospect OF the social spot
light"however doubtfully acquired)
was quite enhancing
The following evening at Z o'clock
Privacy Robson nervously adorned
himself for the festivities: the ward
robing consisting of donning a clean
white necktie which had lain long
| forgotten in bureau drawer. He
presented himself before Clarry's un'
seeing eyes and hurled the def1--hop
ing against hope that she would break
her studied silence and save him from
himself.
Use gwine to the Champeen The
ayeter with Mallissie Cheesev'
No answer.
"Jes' 1 an Mallissie an not nobody
else"
Clarry was not interested. Privacy
became desperate. Clarry was due to
exhibit anger. But perhaps she didn't
understand
"Mallissie's gwine to be our corr
| spondent."
Still no sign of excitement from
Clarry. Privacy skunk dejectedly
| through the door. Reckon she jes
don b'lieve l Is gwine with Mallissie. y
| Privacy did not enjoy the evening
overly much. Mallissie took care that
all about them should know whom she
accompanied.
COLORED society was properly
~ scandalized. Before, the Robson
VS.. Robson divorce suit had been
merely amusing. Now it was becom-
| ing serious.
| And then a sudden tremor of excite
ment shook the house as the picture
| neared its end. Some one started the
| rumor at the door and it Wirelessed
through the spectators. Privacy was
conscious of a renewed-almost NOR
bid-interest in himself and his COM
panion.. Then some one Topped be-
! side him, and through the semi i-gioom
Privacs- found himself peering into
the cheerful countenance of keefe
Gaines, the undertaken. And Keefe
| was speaking:
! "Yo' wife, Clarry. is hangin' roun'
out front waitin' TO you
Privacy went cold all over.
Keefe Gaines lowered his voice.
"If'n anythin' was TO happen to you
right sudden, Brother Robson, does
git the job?"
Which job"
| "Buryin'? an you has always
ben frien's-an' while I hope Clarry
amt as mad as what she looks
! Privacy showed Mr.. Gaines violently
| into the aisle-'Gwan away from me,
cullud man. Git away from heah."
Privacy passed the unpleasant IN.
formation on to his partner. and Nal
lissie. despite a valiant exterior. was
genuinely frightened. At first she
fondly had fancied that no woman
even Clarry-could really be jealous
of the runty Privacy Robson. But
evidently she had miscalculated. AS
| for Privacy-he felt an interior
mingled sense of terror and elation
| Certainly, here was proof of Clarry' 6
devotion. For there was not the
slightest doubt in Privacy's mind that
he and Mallissie were about to be
J thoroughly and completely extermi
: mated.
| The picture ended. the house lights
went up, there was a general. hur-
ried. buzZing exodus. Necks were
craned backwards that eyes might
miss no move of Privacy and Malls.
sic. Outside the theater a mob had
gathered. standing respectfully back
from the mammoth, avenging figure
of Clarry Robson.
EVENTUALLY Privacy and his
- companion emerged. To the ter
rified little man, the figure of his
wife loomed like mountain which
was about to fall upon him.
Mallissie, pale green with horror,
yet tensed herself for the impending
physical clash.-with its inevitable dis
astrous results. The crowd held its
breath.
And then came Clarry's voice
sweet. soft, gentle.
| "Evenin', MalliSsie.'
Miss Cheese merely gasped.
| "T saws eyenin' MailiSSie'
| "E-e-evenin' Missus Robson
| Clarry paid no attention to her quiv.
ering husband. What you is doin
out all alone by yo'sef, Miss Cheese?
"B-by mysef?"
"Uh-huh! You is alone, amt you:
All DON see nobody with you"
Somebody in the crowd laughed
Privacy felt himself flushing hotly
Sudden death would have been pref
cradle to this ignominy.
Somebody done tol' me. Mallissie
that you was down heah with mar
which useter be related to me by
ma 'iage. But 1 don't see no man
an I knowed it never could of be r
Privacy, on account of gal like you
has got too much sense to go traip
sin 'roun' with shrimp like'n tc
what he is. Amt it the troof?'
"Sho'ly is, Missus Robson"
/
lissie-s'pos-in l an you goes down
to the Col Crown TO a ice cream
| soda?''
Mallissie hesitated, suspecting a
ruse. But there was no mistakine
the amia ability on the face of Clarry
Robson, nor the atmosphere Of gen
uine good humor which hovered over
the spectators. And then Mallissie
did the only thing possible under the
1 n G CT
and linked her arm within that OF
Clarry.
| Alright, Clarry. Us drinks
Together they walked through the
lane which was opened for them.
utterly oblivious to the dilapidated
little man who stood gaping at the
| spectacle.
Then the human gap closed again
and a cloud Of spontaneous humor
who them ladies' was, Privacy?'
Seems like they amt neither OF
them never sawn you befo'."
Mary one of them useter be re
lated to you by ma'iage. was they?
Did you want to separate yo'se'l
away fun Clarry, you has sho' sue
ceeded."
Privacy writhed in the nethermost
depths of degradation. Had Clarr5
pulverized Mallissie and himself. his
position would not have been en-
tirely ignoble. But now-this was
worse than the disgrace of being
ignored In his own home.
That night he stationed himself
outside Clarry's locked door and ate
a large chunk of humblest pie. HI
demeaned himself absolutely and ut
terly-calling himself all the names
in her vocabulary. begging for for
| RiyeneSs and Reinstatement But
Clarry heard motor If she did hear
she paid no heed.
/