Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-11

L
though. for pictures. and I begged
that old print from Dick. Simply
begged It, for he was determined to
buy Bill a radio with the money. A
radio would only draw lot of boys
into the house, too-look how they
all flock to the Salmons. So 1 made
it plain that this room had to be
! right.
"Yes-if you'll step out first III
draw the shades again--these drap-
cries will fade I'm perfectly sure, al
| though the decorator assured me they
would not. You'll stay for supper.
| Dora?"
| NO. Dora would not. Somehow
| the air of the house seemed like
/ funeral. That closed room with its
| long sweeping draperies of lavender
| silk. its shining tables and tapestried
| chairs and made her unconsciously
look about for the hearse and
mourners.
Supper? No. I'll be getting back
| home. It's quite a drive over to Lees
| burg and / might have an accident
| after dark-the new road isn't nearly
/ finished, you know
| Accidents and evil chances doomed
| high after that depressing best room.
| Living room? Dining room, Dora
gloomily thought.
She was still coming over the
| dreary things which trooped through
| her mind as she steered her little car
down the side street which led to
Leesburg. She would need to hurry
bit TO reach home by even bed
time and she had planned to stay all
night with Minta and have a good,
old-fashh,4led visit.
ITO think she could change so over
a few hundred dollars spent in fur
nishing that room. 1t was such
coy place before, with the faded,
humpv sofa and the sleepy-hollow
chair that petted every tired bone to
rest as soon as one dropped into 1t.
And now they sit in the dining
| room
mo more of those jolly sings they
| used to have. with the photograph
| leading the way. A radio would have
been ever better, too. And Bill and
Belle-just the age to need fun at
| home
With an added burst of speed Dora
/ turned into a smoother highway that
would be better travelling and almost
collided with a car parked half-across
the road. Stopping as soon as she
| could, she alighted and went back to
see what was wrong. for IL was ap-
parent all was far from right in the
great touring car.
Anything 1 can do" she began.
Then:
bill Bassett, And Belle-what are
you doing here? Why, Belle, it's not
more than half an hour since I saw
you at home. What's going on, any
I, way?"
Belle had a queer. flushed look, but
| Bill was clear-eyed, and, indeed, the
only member of the party who was.
| He had been trying to arouse the
others from the half-sleepy, half.siuy
mood they were in and now he turned
with relief to Dora.
why, Auntie Hilton, you know Ed
| here came along in his dads car
a while ago and Belle was so mad at
moth for not letting us have any
fun at all any more and so she hoped
in when he asked us. And she doesn't
know any better-she took a drink
| when he dared her-I know better.
Dads warned me. Anyway, who
wants to be fool I came out, too.
because when Belle gets those tan
| trums you can't reason with her. And
| these others all had had some out of
Eds f1ask--seems they've all passed
out. / got the steering wheel away
from Ed Just in time-I'Il get them
all back home safe, but when Dad
sees Belief
Its all because mother won't let
us play at home now---that old room
with its curtains that fade and the
flowers that the sun will chase out
of the tapestry. 1 wish we had our
old parlor-and fun. and candy-makes
and dances! Belle never listened to
these fast guys beforehand there S
plenty decent ones If we could stay
at home
Dora resolutely forced back the
tears that came to her eyes as she
helped, Bill get Belle from the large
machine into her own small roadster
I'll take her homeland I'll make
sure that her mother sees her first.
You can bring that car. if you like,
I Bill. Only keep on being as sensible
as you are now"
Sensible? Dora fiercely wondered
| If there was any sense in the world
any more. Lavender hangings, hya-
cinth tapestries. imported rugs were
of greater value than the immortal
souls OF boy and girl.
| She said something like that and
| a great deal more to Minta Bassett
| while she was helping get Belle to
bed. What she said hurt. but it
cured, as such things do. When she
went home the next day she had the
satisfaction of seeing the living
ROOM door wide open and a crowd
| of jolly BOYS and girls admiring and
envying Bills new radio set, Just in
stalled that morning.
! Bill hurried out to her car with
her and, as he gave her a farewell
| hug, whispered:
Gee Auntie Hilton. You're the
| best everi Not only on account of
| tat dandy set, but because moth is
/ human again. She never said a word
when l spilled the candy box on that
! chair"
| You bet you, homes good nowl''
! 1t sounded like it, Dora reflected as
she started away to the tune of happy
| laughter. And it was worth doing
without that new set of chintzes and
| paper for her own living room. Even
! in an old maids rooms, she though.
| there should be only unfading flowers.
THE END.