Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-09

'" HE Misses Russell lived In q
lovely old house surrounded
by an iron fence with scrolled
Il gateways. The house and the
ladies had come into being at
that period when exclusion was the
thing. Very proper, very sedate, but.
secretly. very romantic were the
Misses Russell. They would have died
before they let any one know that the
wonderful electric photograph played
anything but saCerd music and grand
opera. Alone with the aid Of the soft
est needle they reveled in jazz and
that order of music which may be COL
lectively designated under one title
"Oh, come, my sheik, to my waiting
arms 1t was the same with their
literature. The bookcases were filled
with classics. the library table groan-
ed beneath weighty reviews, but be-
hind cushion was kept the naughty
novel that made Emile and Minnette
forget that they were waxing old and
must behave accordingly.
In their youth they had been con-
sidered too proud for the young men
who might haev taken a fancy to
them. for their parents had been of
the high-nosed order And when the
time came when they might have
chosen for themselves nobody wanted
them. So thew had arrived at middle
life unmarried. but teeming with de-
sire for the one thing that had been
withheld from them-romance.
'My dear" Emile said to NIinnette
one morning just after Bessie, their
ugly but efficient maid. had placed
their breakfast before them, II notice
that our new neighbors have arrived
next door. can see from where l sit
that the shades are up and people
moving about. Therei They are just
coming into the dining room for break.
fast"
Minnette turned to look and saw
through the large double windows of
the nearby house two men sitting Op-
posite each other at the table and be-
ing waited upon by third man, who
was evidently servant.
"Oh, my dear!" Minnette breathed,
"just look at that young man. He is
perfectly handsome"
Dscreetly screened by their lace
window, the two women gaZed at their
neXt-door neighbors. The young man
was handsome in stunning black
and-white way. He seemed full Of
vigor, too, for he talked a grea deal,
with many gestures. Smilingly his
companion listened. This other man
might have been the father Of the
first, for he was plain and white
haired, and looked ulninteresting. The
servant, too, was elderly and plain.
But the Misses Russell were only at
tracted by the delightful younger
man.
I'VE must make their acquaintance
invite them over to dinner" Min
nette said.
Poor things, without q woman in
the house! l think / will have Bessie
take them a tin of her Incompatible
biscuit for their lunch" murmured
Emile.
Bessie was reluctant to present the
biscuit, but at last she was persuaded
to do so by Emilie's bestowing upon
her the gift of an old gown she had
found that morning in the bureau
Observation-Disclosures, IS feet around,
and Of a gorgeous crimson color. 1t
was a relic Of younger days, and
Emile thought that it might be dyed
into suitability for her handmaiden,
but Bessie loved red.
She returned with q courteous mes
sage of thanks from the older man.
SO far, good.
For a long time the Misses Russell
had been wondering who would rent
the vacant house next door, which was
to be let furnished. Mrs. Tucker. who.
owned it, had lost her husband and
gone to live with a married daughter.
The house was very coZy, and the
Misses Russell had been certain that
onll nice people could afford to live
there. but people with children or
dogs-or depredating cats. The fact
that the household was of the gentle.
manly, unoffensive kind predisposed
them in favor Of their new neighbor.
That afternoon as Miss Emile was
wedding her garden she heard a slight
cough and saw the handsome new
neighbor smiling at her over the fence.
He had a gift of red roses for her, and
when, rather f1uttered. she entered
into conversation with him he imme.
diately took her into his confidence.
His name was Harold Frederick De-
laney, and he was writing a book en-
titled metaphysical Aspects of the
Universe" He was interested in the
Einstein theory of relatively, and
thought that the extensive use of ex-
plosives in the last war had made our
planet change poles. So deep was he
and so charming that Emile lost her
head as well as her heart Immediately.
The next morning Minnette had a
similar experience. onlyk she received