Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-14

NANNY FRY sat at her spinet
- desk looking over the months
accounts. She nibbled the top
i OF her pen refectively, aware
that she had committed an ex.
travagance in buying another rug
which she did not need. She seemed
unable to resist rug If 1t had Per
sian design and came within the
means of her purse.
Fanny Fry was 46. a slender wona-
an with touch of gray in her black
hair. but with still youthful sparkle
in her black eyes. She was an old
maid, not a bachelor girl or even
spinster, just an old maid. And she
was not ashamed of the fact. al
though she sometimes wished.
Her glance. lifting from the pages OF
figures before her to the blue jar,
rested there wistfully. Spring was in
the blue jar, at least SO much OF
Spring as may be expressed by a big
bunch of catkins slowly coming to
willow consciousness. Mrs. Halls lit
tie boy had brought them to her that
morning Now it would take a lively
agination to invest Harry with the
witchery of a cupid, for he was tow
haired and minus his front teeth. yet
in presenting the catkins he had of
fered Fanny Fry Spring--and some
y
that was teasing her at this instant.
The door opened and sClementine
North entered. Clementine was
widow of long standing. plump, sandy.
haired, rosy. For some years now she
and Fanny had lived together in the
old Fry house Clementine had been
out that afternoon doing d bit of shop
ping, and she brought a breath of the
spicy air in with her.
Say, Fan" she exclaimed. What
do you know about that? Lancelot
Otis is here in town"
Client Fanny started, violently
She turned pale face upon her friend
and housemate.
II met him just now" Clementine
sat down. He is staying at the Cen
trail House. I asked him up tonight
to dinner. He wanted to see you"
"Ciem" repeated Fanny in fainter
tones.
There is plenty of chicken and
cream and a fresh cake. / stopped in
at the grocery and got a head of let
tuce and some tomatoes. Guess Wen
have a plenty even for a man who
looks as much like enjoying victuals
as he does"
'Has-has he changed much?"
whispered Fanny.
"Who wouldn't change in 80 years?
He has filled out and got little bald.
But for all that he's the same Lance"
she sighed.
Fanny sighed, too.
How queer-for us three to be to-
gether again." she said.
How nice, you mean, how like old
timesr' Clementine studied her friend
thoughtfully. Tell me, Fan. Did
you stay single on his account"
Fanny flushed. "Well--nnavbe
did" she confessed.
"Awfully silly in you. I got mar
ried." Clementine tapped the rug with
her neat foot. "Out of spite, I wasn't
going to let Lance Otis find me wear
ing dust and ashes for him If he came
back"
He is back now. And he's coming
to dinner" Fanny sprang up. Il
must set the table. There are thou
sand things to do" She rushed
out of the room, while Clementine fol-
lowed more slowly. a serious look on
her pink face
Fanny. flying from task to task
with nervous fieetnesS, had but one
thought. Lancelot had returned.
What should she feel at sight of him?
What would he feel at sight of her?
Or-her heart sank-perhap he would
prefer the plump and coy Clementine.
WIDOWS were always FASCINATING, eS-
pecially to bachelors. Lancelot was
still a bachelor-he had told Clemen-
tine so. Strange that he had not mar
ried. But, then. neither had she mar
ried. Could 1t be that he remembered
her as she remembered him? Love was
a curious thing. It crept into ones
heart. there to lie until some trivial
happening-spring and a bunch of
y-willods-brought it forth.
''Tn wear my beige crepe" thought
Fanny. "And I'll put on a lot of
rouge, so no matter what happens
shan't look pale" She called Clemen-
tine to look at the table.
Meanwhile Clementine had had