Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-14
The Energetic Dufs.

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TT was Charmian's idea. AS a mat
ter of fact, Chairman had most
of the ideas. She was the more
II sprightly of the two Duff girls.
Edwina was prettier but less con-
vincing. because she was less agrees
i've. CHAIRMAN not only furnished the
ideas. but the impulses, and both idea
and impulse carried her younger sis
ter along.
Chairman said to Edwina:
Now. look here, Ed. We've finished
housekeeping and got the garden
made and all the little necessary odds
and ends of business attended to.
There isn't another really interesting
thing to do. And SO propose that we
give Aunt Why a birthday party"
"All right" agreed Edwina.
"This is Monday. On Thursday"
went on CHAIRMAN with growing en-
thusiasm, shes going over to Mrs.
Rice's to spend the day. When she
canes home she'll come home to a
party, It shall be a complete sur
prise"
"Iovely, Charm. Now let us plan"
So they planned, sitting there on
the back steps of the small gray
house. while the wrens warbled like
miniature prima donnaS and the lilacS
sent forth delicious fumes OF
fragrance.
For a long time they had wanted to
do something for Aunt Why which
would show her how much they APP
preciated her presence in their house
hold. Aunt Why was their only avali-
able relative. and when their mother
died she had moved over to live
with the young Duffs. She was a lei
surely, serene old woman who GRO
cheted a great deal in bright wool.
loved a little harmless gossip and
cup of Japan tea. OF negligible utility.
she was vet considerable of an orf1a-
ment. and the Duffs loved to wait on
her. They crimped Aunt why's
snowy hair and piled it into a regal
heap on her head. They would nave
fed and dressed her if there had been
anv need. AS it was. they petted her
to their hearts content. and Aunt
Viny. who had never enjoyed any too
much affection. basked beautifully in
the warmth of so much alteration.
Without Aunt Why the girls would
have been quite distraught. for Pine
Vile permitted Of no outlet for their
Astounding energies.
sitting there on the back steps. one
in pink. the other in blue ginghan'
they looked as much alike and as So
ciable as a pair of twins. They We're
blond girls with light friZzly hair blue
eyas some color and a large mouth
full of dazzling teeth. For the test:
their noses We're too obtruSlVe anu
their chins iutted too far forward anu
their figures We're too fiat. But much
is forgiven the young ana hght-
hearted.
Hello said F,dwina. Whats
Bill Singer up to?'
Chairman shrugged her shoulders
What do care?" she retorted pet
tishly.
well. but look. Charm. I believe
he's going to paint his house! l
wonder if that means anvthing?'
what could it mean?"
well. it might mean that he was
going to marry Norah Morse
That's nothing to me. Ed, as long
as 7 didn't want to marry him.
want somebody better than mere
painter and paperhanger.
They'd be kind of handy to have
in the family said Edwina. bills
a nice fellow. There. He's got his
eye on YOU"
Then I'm going in said Chairman
rising. Her blue bingham fiirted as
she went disdainfully through the
door. Edwina. as matter of course,
arose and followed her sister.
The two girls We're soon absorbed
in preparation for the party. While
Aunt Why composedly crocheted
they planned in whispers and worked
surrepttiously.
"NVe'll have freezer of strawberry
ice cream" said Chairman, land we
can decorate with peonies. l think
chicken salad would be nice, don't
you? And angel food cake! I'm going
to take a plunge on angel food, even
if eggs are high"
Mercy, Charm. you are extrava-
CANT" breathed Edwina.
well, it's only once in lifetime.
And it's for darling Aunt Why. Oh,
Ed. I've got an idea
"Another?" Edwina smiled.
"a brandnew one. You remember
that can of stuff we found down Gel
lar when we cleaned there? Must
have been left from the time we had
the floors finished. It's varnish: it
says varnish on the can-clear var
nish. I'm going to do the parlOr fur
niture over before the party"
"Win it dry in time?" asked Ed
wilma.
"Of course It's got two whole
days"
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