Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-07

,chcral. She had learned the air from
la volume of popular songs that adorn.
led the rosewood upright OF Mr.. and
Mrs. Adam Rayner, and she rather
tfancied it, Today 1t served very we'll
las an obbiigato for the d!gnitied argu'
Iment that was going on between her
employers.
1T isn't the expense. Elizabeth. -
Mr.. RayEer was saying. Il am Only
concerned for her safety. She Is too
young TO drive alone in a pony cart. -
MIA 'mselle could go with her Mrs.
Rayner argued She is certainly not
too yeung. And Myrtie's been fret
ting" A. glance Of warning &C
companied the words.
Myrtle herself appeared on the
veranda, and her father and mother
b held her with The eyes of doting
love. Their only child! And what a
~Dild. The loVelieSt, most falrylike
little creature, with golden hair and
wide blue eyes and a skin so fair and
delicate that. as Mrs. Rayner boasted
tn other parents, Just to touch it
hard marks it," She was rose leaf.
& sprite. French doll, all In one.
To look at stolid. plain dark. middle,
aged Elizabeth and Adam Rayner and
then at their child was To speculate
on the laws of heredity. How they
ever happened to have n chcrub like
Myrtle for their own. And the truth
is they were as much amazed as any
one else could he.
Myrtle leaned on her mothers lap
with her peculiarly endearing little
manner of affection. When Is Daddy
going TO get me my pony?" she asked
SWettly.
Mr. Rayner cleared his throat:
when Myrtle gets a little older and
bigger. then Daddy will get her tho
pony, he said maEister-ally.
This air Of decision did not deceive
Myrtle Il wan. j. now, she said
with melting voice and eyes glazing
with soft, helpless tears.
Mrs. Rayner looked at Mr.. Rayner.
What could the poor man do? His
heart was attacked by the pathetic
loneliness of his child and he was
lost. will Daddy's little girl promise
Daddy TO let Ma'mselle hold the
reins?" he asked, making a last pre-
tense of reason.
Myrtle climbed on his knee and laid
her cheek against his. ''Oh. yes,
Daddy" she said. The tears were
gone. Her tiny, rosy mouth curved
up in ecstasy, and in an equal ecstasy
did her father and mother behold her.
We'll, We'll See about IL then" said
Mr.. Rayner.
Myrtle knew she had him.
In due time the pony cart and ponv
appeared Perhaps it was with this
victory that Myrtle became aware of
her power in getting what she
wanted. After the pony cart came
the huge doll that could speak. The
doll was succeeded by an erInine coat
and cap
The rarity and beauty of Myrtle's
belongings did not make her unpopu.
lar with other children. Her apparent
fragility. her sweetness and engaging
small ways, her willingness to share
and her blonde loneliness commanded
their attention and interest. Her
best friend, Jessie Whitmore. a black.
haired, sturdy tomboy. who could run
and climb and pitch ball and yell as
we'll as any boy in school, would have
torn to pieces any one mean enough
to rutfie and annoy sweet, feminine
little Myrtle.
AT II Myrtle had a riding horse, q
grand piano, a pearl and diamond
ring, string of gold and pink coral
beads, an imported enameled locket,
a watch. gold bracelets and every
other trinkct she had ever seen and
wanted.
WHEN her school days were over
and she had her trip abroad she
decided to have the whole house done
over. 1t was highroomed, large
mansard of Civil War style, the Ray
ner home. and it was furnished In the
style Of its architecture-carved black
walnut, gilt-framed mirrors, tables
with marble tops. twisted and convo-
tuted WhatnHts, massive chairs and
sideboardS Myrtle laughed at II
heartily.
AT first her father explained that
he thought tie expense too great "at
this time" and her mother exclaimed
with dismay. Not all my things the
L went to housekeeping with, Myrtle"
Myrtle did not insist But she
dropped like a withered flower. She
did not play the piano or sing, and
she ate such little that 1t worried
Henrietta, who, with the freedom Of
an old family servant, urged Mrs.
Rayner TO get tonic for that child
adding, She's just dwinlin' away"
- To all suggestions that she give a
big party and have a new dress for ii
Myrtle remained Indifferent.
Il don't believe | care about u
mother, DEAR she said gent.
though it's sweet Of you to think OF
1T" -
Even the little car which her
rather sent home to her for her very
o"n-a ducky sedan, with brocade
and silver inside and dark-gray paint
outside and her monogram on the
door-failed to tighten her depres.
sion or increase her appetite.
mink. Adam-I really think-we
ought TO have the house done over"
SAID Mrs. Rayner at last. It's too
gloomy and old-fashioned for her sen
sitive spirit. I am sure that's What's
weighing on her. Environment means
80 much to a girl like Myrtle"
"We-elI. perhaps you're right" said
way. l can't bear to see the chiI
like this
so the Rayner house was reno.
Vdted In the newest way-a way
highiy unfamiliar to the inhabitantr
Spring City, who rather went in
Tor homely comfort and, let stvIe
alone, There were cool paneled
walls and amethyst upholsteries. and
silver lighting fixtures with amethvst
ana crystal drops. and all the old
natk furniture disappeared and was
tsplaced by thin. spindly stuff /,
which Mr.. Rayner's bulk felt very -
secure. Myrtle's own room had jvory
paint ana tafreta and glazed chiptz
ana many silver-framed mirrors
II must oe admitted that the house
Hade perfect background for MYRTLE
"hen 1t was done, and never had shs
seemed SO effective. SO rightly placed
she was sender creature now
graceful and plant. not very tall and
WIN tiny hands and feet. Her color.
ing was as fair, as delightful. az II
mad been in her childhood. Her golden
fla1r had not turned a streaky brown.
her blue eyes were eternaIly ultra
marine. And her skin had a babyish
deiicacy, a transparency, that made
her, when she flushed. seem as fine as
a piece of Venetian glass into which