Evening star., 1926-06-20


~ a charming manner, ward
robe OF correct fashions, q
epeaking acquaintance about the dip
lumatic corps of her cOuntryS Capi-
ial, and a promise OF eternal friend
ahip from three of her schoolmates
~ho were socially registered III the
RUNNER colony Of her town.
With the brightness Of cardinal
she famed into the shabby house
which her mother had striVen TO make
Eiad for her return. There were gar
eion roses in the tall silver vases
Shich had been her Grandmother
Walters in the nicked Coaiport bowls
which a Burton had brought to the
Middle West in prairie schooner days,
in the glass holders which Char
iotte Burton had bought in the ten
cent store, in the basket which
presidents wife had given to Aunt
Frances LorIng. The ole maple four
poster in LuCie'S room Haunted a can
diewicked spread so initiative of the
original, long since worn to ShredS.
That the girl knew ii Tor her mothers
patient handiWork. The floors shOne
with polish the windows with clean
.ineSs, but the Stretcher table at
which Burtons OF Concord had en-
tertained resident philosophers and
visiting potentateS could not cover
lue NbGH SpOtS III the rug, ana the
silver service which had once cleaned
for Lafayette could not hide the peel
ing of the wall paper.
AS she glimpsed the details of that
shabby genteel poverty from which
school had removed her for a little
while Lucie'S brightness clouded. but
she turned to her mother with sure
realization Of the desire for praise
which she knew to be hiding behind
the stiff skirts of Charlotte's pride.
You We made ii beautiful" she
declared. but her eyes again took
stock of the rundown place of the
Garnered treasures with the terrible
franknesS of youth.
How can l ever let him see this?"
she thought. her cheeks flushing in
knowledge that she was measuring
the familiar place by the fear of
Mark Bramley's reaction to it.
Beneath the current of her answers
to her mothers questions her mind
ran in remembrance of the settings In
which Mark had seen her. the spa
ctous Long Island house where she
had visited his brothers daughter. the
yachts. the motors, the assured back
ground of wealth such as the DoaneS
and the WishartS and the Spencers
had brought to their summer homes
on the lake. but which the rest of
The town could not hope to copy.
How was Mark going to accept this
ShdmblinC house, these dull rooms
# he came? Dared she let him see
these glaring evidences of her poverty
until she was sure that he loved her?
Il can't let him come here" she
decided
She had spent the Christmas holi-
days with the Carringtons in Bermuda
and had gone with the Bramleys to
New York for Easter. The Bramleys
had taken her. too, up TO New London
for the races.
They're going to Alaska in July"
she told Charlotte. trying to make her
tone casual. and they plan TO stop
over here for a day to coax you to let
me go with them
Il suppose We could manage" Char
lotte tried to say without terror, but
he look Of panic. which had been
effaced in the first JOY Of Lucie's home
coming, flashed out again. II wonder
if
Il told them I couldn't" Lucie
said, because I'm going to visit
Cousin Julia"
But she's abroad"
II know that, but they won't"
But perhaps-" The introspec
tive gaze which Jud and Waller called
the "dollar-and- cents look" deepened
in Charlotte's eyes.
II didn't want to go"
Really, dear?" Charlotte's voice
lifted in relief.
Really" She turned away lest her
eyes betray the lie. "HoW's Dad?"
she demanded. And why didn't he
come to meet me?"
He'll be home early" Charlotte
said. "He hasn't been very well, and
he's been having trouble at the plant
He's losing money on it, and it worries
10 him about it, though she warned
Lucie. He wouldn't want you to
know it
Il won't" the girl promised. I'm
going up to see Aunt Frances" she
said.
You'd better" Charlotte advised.
You know how sensitive she is about
everything"
THE old woman, however. bolstered
by countless pillows in the center
nf the room she had chosen for her
own when she had descended. bag and
baggage. upon the Burtons a dozen
years before to become a non paying
and continuous guest, seemed testy
rather than touchy at her grand
niece call. 1t S q wonder you came
lome at all she observed. We'll,
what are you going to do this
Summer"
Stay home"
It's about time. | suppose your
mothers told you that your fathers
lost a lot Of money. You wouldn't
be In the house five minutes without
hearing it from her"
''He hasn't failed, has he?''
Not yet. He will, though, if he
has to keep up this spending for YOU"
What spending"
Did you think you were going to
charity school? You didn't know,
[ SIInnnSe that ShirlnN'S axnAnSiYe?n