Evening star., 1927-05-08

two husbands differently. Howa rd
whose temper was quick and violent
had forgotten now that he ever had
been angry, and was utterly at a loss
to understand the change in Marion.
His thought, if he had been cold.
blooded enough to put it into words.
was that she was making a complete
fool of herself, and he wondered
char1tably whether, without his motto.
ing it. she had taken cocktail before
dinner.
Even a mild bum" he said to him,
self. ought not to make clever
woman say such idiotic things"
But Bill knew that Lucy was stag
ing a hostile demonstration, and.
though he admired it's perfection, he
knew that if she succeeded in keeping
it up all evening. his influence and
power would be decidedly weakened.
Dinner was announced, and Lucy.
with a mute gesture of her hand
indicated the way to the dining room.
Howard, fearing that his wife might
not be able to negotiate the stairs.
sprang forward and offered her his
arm. but Bill thrust him aside and,
tucking Marion's hand under his arm.
said:
"How have you been all this long
time. Marion-you're looking well. md
/ can tell that you are we'll by your
life. your spirits"
They were just sitting down at
table, and Howard gave quick
glance about to see if it were possible
that Bill did not suspect.
He caught a stern, angry look from
Lucy. who opened her mouth quickly
but shut it again. She had not counted
GNvn Ard 111y Oh
was once more flowing along.
Il have never seen YOU as full of
snap, Marion, as vivacious-well as
talkatiVe--"
Y ESOLUTION and the number five
fled from Lucy's mind. and she
interrupted her husband. Il thought
you liked silent women" she said.
oh" cried Marion, who began to
feel terrible symptoms of running
down, and knew that she had already
been silent too long, 'how strange
that You should say that, for
Howard"
But what can an amateur do with a
professional? Marions feeble, though
praiseworthy, efforts were swept aside,
as Lucy's practiced performance
began.
oh no, Howard" she said. at
appears that the last time you dined
here / interrupted you. Well, all that
is changed-every one in my presence
is to be allowed to finish their SEN
tences to the last preposition--yes
dear, I meant it for a crude little
joke-that a proposition is a poor
word to end sentence With know
something of grammar, even ].
though from now on l shall have
practically no further use for it. ex.
cept in writing a letter or an occasion
al note. / don't suppose even you.
Bill will object to my writing an
occasional note"
How strange" said Marion, that
you should say this, because
Howard"
Yes, Howard likes them silent, too.
That's why I'm taking you as my
model, as I'm sure you noticed up
stairs. For it seems, my dear, that
not only do / talk too much. but /
also prevent people conf1ding in me-
/ make them, as it were, deceitful and
treacherous. l hope you notice Bill is
growing rather pale at the turn the
conversation is taking, but he needn't
worry. ! shall never speak again."
How strange" said Marion. that
YOU should say this. because
Howard"
THE strange thing to me is" said
Lucy. that men fall in love with US
because we are one way, and then
set about to make us all over and
entirely different. When we were en-.
gagged, Bill thought my livelineas won.
derful-although he tries now to tell
me that he never thought ii wonderful
at all--mine, I mean, not yours"
Five times more during dinner.
Marion, with determination that
really verged on obstinacy, began her
sentence about the strangeness of
Lucy's having brought up this sub.
iect but she never reached the end of
it, although the fifth time Bill tried
to help her out by suggesting to his
wife that it would be interesting to