Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-08

- couldn't imagine that they ever
had dirty dishes standing in
the sink. 1t was hard. even. to
imagine that such wonderful
place could have sinks at all.
| She was sure that the tablecloths
would be of the snowiest white
| in the world. She was also sure that
there would be no ends of cigarettes
| on the piano, on the window stills, be-
tween the cushions on the couch.
anywhere and everywhere. She hoped,
she earnestly hoped that cigarettes
were never smoked in the Darien
| house.
| On this Spring morning, after run
| ming down to the store to buy a loaf
of bread that Honey had forgotten to
| get, she took the long way home in
order that she might stop and look at
| the Darien house.
! And marvel of all marvels' For
the first time since she had paused to
look through the great iron gates there
was a small boy in the garden, And
for the first time the great gates were
! unlocked! One OF them stood very
slightly ajar! Judy laid down her loaf
Of bread carefully and then settled her
self to stare at the boy. She stared
and stared. He was such a funny
| boy, all in a clean white suit. His
hair shone like a piece of metal. She
| liked to look at him. He seemed so
exactly to belong to the house the way
/ she had imagined it. He would be
nice to play with.
| Then suddenly, walking quietly and
gravely he came down the steps and
on down the curving driveway toward
| her.
|. Hello" he said. and smiled.
4 l.
| flung back the heavy name of her
hair.
you looked so funny when you got
your hair in your mouth the boy told
! her.
! 1T felt funny"
| They came to a pause a little shyly,
considering each other with sort of
/ usefulness. Between them was the
! barrier of the iron grilling.
| Together he Juggling and she push
/ ing, they got the big gate open and
Judy came in. 1t was lovelier inside
| than she had thought 1t would be.
She stood perfectly still for a moment
staring around her. The boy stood
politely and anxiously silent.
! do you like it," he asked, at last
81 love it, She barely breathed
the words Then, with a darting
! glance, But what do you play in
| here? Do they let you run on the
grass"
! They'd let me if ! wanted to.
guess. But l don't care much about
running"
| Judy opened her eyes wide at him.
| ooh, / love to rum she cried. 1T
makes the wind whistle in your ears.
And you feel all hot and nice" She
paused. What do you play?" she
/ asked.
! II don't play much in here i just
walk around and look out the gate"
| "But-but that's no fun. Where's
your sand pile?"
"Sand-pile?" His tone was con-
temptuous. II don't have a sand
pile. Sand.piles are for babies."
They're not. either! / play in the
sand. Only it isn't really sand. It's
| mud. make dishes. Didn't you ever
make mud-dishes?"
! No"
We'll. 1 do. And make people in
mud. Dolls"
DOLLS? That's silly thing to do.
| Mud is dirty Why don't you play
with china dolls?''
II never had a china doll"'
Now the boy stared at her in ear
nest. A girl without a china doll,
why not?'
"Well. you see Honey and Dabs are
always so busy, guess they forgot to
get me any
Honey? Dabs?''
II call my mother Honey"
How funny
what do you call yours
Mother, of course"
What do you call your father"
Daddy"
IT calf mine Dabs.''
That's funny name. too
~ think Daddy is just as funny as
Dabs"' Judy's color rose a little. II
could call my father Dabby, 1 sup
pose! There! See how funny that
sounds
That's because it isn't real name.
Daddy is a real name for a father"
''It isn't!''
cit is. 1 don't think he can be
your real father if you call him Dabs!"
''Of course he's my father! Why.
he's an author. And he says that
maybe some day I'll write things that
will be printed like his are. But
Honey says maybe I'll be an artist like
she is. Honey paints pictures. Does
your mother paint pictures? Or does
she write stories?"
MY mother Is a lady. She doesn't
do any work.
"Dabs says only lazy people don't
work.
Your Dabs is silly: My mother
isn't lazy!'
"Dabs isn't silly! He's nicer than
any man I KNOW Judy's voice
trembled with anger.
MY father is the finest man in the |
worldr' the boy announced calmly
Judy's pride would not let her be |
still under this. The honor of her own |
beloved, gay Dabs was at stake. She |
flung up her small head.
He isn't" she said sharply. MY |
father is famous
my father is more famous than |
yours! Everybody knows my fatherv |
Suddenly. wistfully Judy said, "Oh, |
do let's play"
The boy looked her steadily in the |
face. After you say my father is
the finest man in the wOrld.'
Judy recognized decision. Her heart |
ached, but she made her choice. Mo-
she said obstinately. "Dabs Is better
than your father"
Get out of my gardenr'
II don't have top' She stuck out
her small pink tongue at him and
screwed up her nose.
"Get out.'
Il won't!'
Marie! Marie.' The boy turned
toward the house, screaming.
The big door opened and q woman
catne running. tall thin woman with
a long nose. She cast Judy one glance
as she knelt by the boy.
What Is 1t. Jack, darling?"
Make that girl get out of my gar
den! She's dirty little girls'
Anything but that Judy could have
borne! She gave u little cry. Her
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