Evening star., 1926-11-07
H KS

the snort time II took the ele-
vator to ascend to the twelfth
floor Of the magnificent pile that
i sheltered the James FORESTS.
Katherine Cathaway was occupied
with its striking contrast to her bed
room. They were about the same
size, but there all similarity ceased.
The elevators address was Park ave
rue, somewhere in the Sixties. Her
bedroom was in one Of the less pre-
tentious apartment houses of the up
per West Side. and was. in fact, moth
ing but a converted kitchen. for
which she paid Mrs. Hollins $40 per
week.
Looking over the elevator care
fully, Katherine decided 1t would be
more acceptable in every way as a
sleeping compartment than her little
nest. 1t didn't have a dumbwaiter
running through 1t, with loud creaks,
every morning from o'clock on. But
why worry? She proba bly, couldn't af-
ford the elevator. anyway. so better
be content with her kitchen. Which
thought brought her to the door Of
the Forrest Apartment, and James
Forrest. jr.. who had apparently been
spending the afternoon there waiting
for her.
Darling, how are you?" Jimmy
asked her.
Fine. ! was just wondering how
much ! could rent your elevator for"
Jimmy didn't pay any attention to
' that remark. Katherine was always
. saying things that didn't mean any
thing and besides he supposed she
was nervous. He'd he nervous, too. If
he were going to meet his mother for
the first time. He kissed her again
and pushed little button in the wall
In no time AT all a vision of true ele-
gance appeared around the corner.
Jennings" said Jimmy. tell Mrs.
Forrest Miss Cathaway Is here.
Jennings bowed and withdrew.
Katherine took him In with a flick of
an eve. She had known that Jimmy's
family had money. but she hadn't
been prepared for a jennings in but
tons and white stock. She decided
then and there not to tell Mrs. For.
rest she had had designs on her ele-
vator. A wise decision, she was con-
vinced. when Mrs. Forrest made her
entrance. One does not Jest with
large. regallooking women. whose
figures. despite the most modern of
corsetry. give one an inclination to
hum. why Do They Call Me Glib
son Grip"
Mother" said Jimmy. this is
"Ah"' said Mrs. Forrest. 80 this
is katherine?"
Yes" said Katherine. and hoped
that was the right answer.
katherine Cathaway. isn't it,"
said Mrs. Forrest, getting away to a
new start.
Yes. Katherine Cathaway." That
sounded all right.
"Ah, yes! James has been telling
me what an interesting person you
Ia
ring for tea. Sit there. Miss sCatha.
way"
JIMMY rang. Katherine sat. Mrs
Forrest arranged her person on a
small sofa. in the manner of the ell
derly daughter of a hundred earls
about to he photogra phed.
Now. Miss Cathaway," she said,
do tell me all about your work.
MY work?" asked Katherine feebly.
Yes. James has been telling me
that you are taking mp that most fas-
cinating of careers, the stage"
oh" said katherine. well. at
present I'm not taking 1t up exactly.
It seems to be letting me down"
II beg your pardon. Letting you
down." Mrs. Forrest was frankly
puzzled, with a suggestion of being
slightly outraged as well.
II meant guess Jimmy hasn't told
you. I'm looking for a job and I
don't seem to have much luck"
Katherine smiled what she hoped was
. wistful smile. If she could only
manage to be wistful enough. the aft
ernoon might be a success. But the
smile was difficult to maintain. Mrs.
Forrest was not one for whom wist-
fulness had any appeal. she feared.
Katherine turned and smiled at
Jimmy. 1t was his turn to do some
thing about the conversation.
You see, Kate" he said. VI told
mother YOU had studied in Paris
''Ah. Paris There one truly learns
the art of elocution," broke in Mrs.
Forrest. Katherine started to explain
that she had studied in Paris az the
tender age of g.. and any elocution at.
tempted on her part had been con-
fined to reciting such deathiess lyrics
as Je suis, tn es, il est. but Mrs. For
rest was going on and. Il seemed a
shame to interrupt her. "Ah. Paris.
There is no place like it, is there"
No" said Katherine, there isn't"
Such beauty, such chic--" Mrs.
Forrest paused for thought Oh, yes:
she had it now. Such ioe de Nivre." :"
Yes" said katherine. II agree
with YOU absolutely. But, then. l find
London almost stimulating"
If she could only keep to the capi-
tails of Europe. Katherine thought,
Mrs. Forrest might forget tne stage.
for something told her that the lady
would rather never know how unsuc-
cessful an actress her future daugh-
ter-in.law had been. One brief sea son
as a cockney maid. and a brilliant
performance as one of the eight la
dies in waiting in q third road com
pany of a musical comedy playing
one-night stands in western Pennsyl-
vania were her achievements to date.
They had exhausted the converse
tional possibilities of Rome. Madrid.
st. Petersburg. when 1t was ST. Pc
tersburg, and Katherine was trying to
remember the name OF the capital of
Rumania, when the light of inspira-
rests hitherto gleamless eyes.
Why. my dear child" she said,
for a girl of your age you do seem
to have travelled a great deal"
Yes. l have been around a lot.
You see, fathers work took him all
over. He Was-was-
Katherine's pause was only momen-
tAry, but when once Mrs. Forrest was
on a scent she was not to he confused
by any shifting of the wind.
"Oh"' she said. He travelled?
Fer some FIRM
Harmless enough words, but there
was a bland quality OF tone in Mrs.
Forests very cultivated voice that
made Katherine feel as If she had Just
rinsed her face in some strong astrin-
gent. II. two minutes earlier. Mrs.
Forrest had had Jennings bring in a
nicely sharpened pencil and printed
form beginning Name. Age.
Color. 80" Katherine would cheerful
~ have filled il in. But questioning
done, no matter how subtly, in the
guise of idle chatter over a cup of tea
would lead Mrs Forrest nowhere with