Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-23
THE EVENING STORY

II am going to Mrs. Cady's. dear. to
play bridge"
Hope you get the prize" They
moved on. AS Corabel turned from
the window sharp young voice came
back to her ears.
Your old maid auntie Is dear.
Corabel. But isn't she a horse for
size?'
Within Corabels. bosom something
leaped. Shep put her hand to her curv.
ing coat front. A curdly chill ran up
her back. Her breath seemed to be
shut off.
1t was true. She was an old maid
and a horse for size. That young
bobbed-haired thing with 20 years
between her and her first bridgework
had spoken cruel truth.
Suddenly Corabel realized that she
couldn't go on to Mrs. Cady's bridge
party. She couldn't face those IS
other women who might all be think
ing what she had just heard ex-
pressed Especially Mrs. Gordon. Yes,
she was sure that Mrs. Gordon re-
| garded her as distinctly too aged for
| that gay young group. And she was.
1t had taken courage to hang on to
youth as represented by the Thurs
day afternoon bridge club.
She hurried home and from the Sc
an excuse to her hostess. Then she
had the hardest hour In her life-an
| hour OF stern contemplation which
| ended in still sterner resolve. She
would diet until the too solid flesh
melted from her bones. Never again
should she be called horse for size.
| Jemima called her down to dinner.
Jemima, Aunt Bellas trusty maid,
had come to Corabel along with the
l IL
She had cooked chicken. mashed 10.
tato and dumplings and had in re.
serve a rich pudding. At sight of the
table Corabel shut her eyes.
Take it all away" she gasped.
And bring me tea and-and toast
without butter"
Terminals strong black brows went
up and her mouth went down.
SO you've started in to diet, eh?"
she said. II expected as much. Let
me tell you you won't keep it up, not
after the hearty way you've always
eaten. Your Aunt Bella didn't. She
started 40 times on toast and tea
L mean toast and tea-and ended I'D
with roast pork and dressing.
Scarlet with discontinue. CoraDss
dashed back to her room. She knew
that Jemima would go or and on and
she couldn't stand it. She preferred
TO go GinnerleSS.
An hour passed. Corabers stom.
ach began to fell cavy and queer. She
saw visions of chocolate pie with
whipped cream. 1t was then that Je.
NINA ce.z,e up stairs, with fresh
invitation to come down and partake
OF dinner. Corabel gritted her white
} teeth.
Somebody to see you." said Je.
NINA.
I'm not at home tonight"
4 well, he's in the parlor waiting"
HE! Who?"
'Mr: Fenton. If you want him dis
missed you can do it yourself" Je.
NINA cAp-clopped down the back
stairs.
Will Fenton was in the parlor. Cora.
Del hadn't seen him in five weeks
since she refused him the last time
she had thought him too old for such
a bright young blossom as herself.
VIII was stout and bald. She liked
slim, dark men like young Mrs. Cor.
don's brother. Ernest Granger. She
realized now that Ernest was not for
her. In fact, Will seemed like the
only friend she had in the world.
She went downstairs. Upon the
table was 5-pound box of candy.
She looked at the candy, she looked
at WIN. If she married Will she
would never again have to go hungry.
because he liked her as she was
Neither would she be called an old
maid.
Her lips trembled. her eyes swan
with tears.
Next instant she was in his arms.
THE END.