Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-24
THE EVENING STORY

In time for a hot bath before dinner
hot bath always rested l1er-and she
hated to have Mr.. Clarity see her look
ing tagged out. A little glow came
TO Letty's heart as she thought of big.
successful Tom Clarity, who roomed
on the same floor with her and who
often suggested a movie as they met
In the dining room. He worked for an
| important firm of architects and had
confided to her his hopes of getting a.
substantial raise before long. Lettys
heart beat fast every time she remem-
hered the look in his eyes when he had
| told her that.
| The downtown crowds we're strur-
| Cling to get home as she pushed her
way through the street Jam and stood
| snlYering IN the raw, damp air, waiting
for car. The Soles of her shoes were
worn thin and she felt the dampness
| OF the pavement penetrate them. Life.
/ at the moment. seemed hard and
dreary for girl who had no special
| talent, unless il were one for home
making. II it weren't for Mr.. Garritv.
/ she thought she'd give up and go home
/ TO the little village that she had left so
| gladly only year ago. But the warm
/ glow made itself felt again.
! Sorry to have TO let you out. Cats
| rity, but, IS you know. Mr.. Sayage's
| son is back from Europe. He's been
| there ever since he finished at Yale
/ last June, and the cid man feels that
| the boy should be given a chance TO
work ont some Of the ideas he's brought
/ back. The business simply doesn't war
/ rant our adding to the force. so-any-
/ thing We can do for you in the line OF
/ recommendations of course"
/ The fog was cold. Big Tom Clarity
felt. the chill of it as he left the Office
/ jobleSs AS he forced his way relent-
/ lcssly through the throng the thought
/ of Lefty. tired and cold, no doubt-lle
/ had noticed that her coat was light
/ weight one--added to his rebellion. He
/ had hoped 10 be able TO free her from
! this daily grind. He could take care
/ OF himself easily enough, but had
/ always maintained that a man was a
/ coward who asked a woman TO share a
precarious living. Confound the luck
/ Why was fate 50 unjust, anyway?
| He managed a smile when he met
her but Lefty saw at once that some
/ thing was wrong. lie suggested a
/ movie, as usual, but she refused 70 go.
InStead-vfor the first time--she invited
him into her tiny back room, converted
/ (by means Of couch in place Of the
| ordinary ugly bed) into a sitting room.
| It looked coy and homelike by the
/ light OF the inexpensive rose-shsded
lamp and big Tom heaved a sigh Of
| relief as he settled down in the shabby,
oldfashioned armchair that Lefty had
/ found slowed away in the basement
and had covered with gay, if cheap. Gre
/ tonne.
"Goshl but it certainly seems good
to stay in out Of that blasted fog
/ tonight"
Lefty opened g neat little sewing
basket and busted herself with thimble
/ and thread.
II can talk and mend at the same
/ time" said she comfortably, "snd, you
/ see" showing the burst-out thumb
/ Of pair of worn chamoisette gloves.
Say. how has It happened that I
never knew there was q spot like this
| in this abode for tine h0meless?" asked
| Tom abruptly as he watched her care
/ fully mend the pathetic looking thumb.
A wistful look crept into his eyes Last
week, he thought bitterly. an evening
spent with her in this coy room would
| almost certainly have precipitated his
plan to ask her to make a home for
him. But now-what had he 10 offer
her? Unconsciously he muttered the
! words aloud and Lefty looked UP.
startled
| Offer? What ofTer?" said she, think
ing he referred to the raise that he had
mentioned before.
| Il didn't mean 10 mention Il" said
Tom, flushing darby, "hut YOU must
know hoT I feel about you, Lefty, and
all that I've hoped. Now-now it's all
off. was told today that I'm to be
let out instead of getting the raise that
l expected. I haven't thing to offer
sou now. You see. / may have to begin
at the bottom again." Toms head went
down in his hands
"Oh. Tom I'm SO sorry" said Lefty.
longing to put her hand on the rousn
| thatch OF hair. "but-but you've still
| got yourself TO offer, and I-have my
faith in you TO give in return"
Roster than the lamp shade, Lefty
wondered fearfully If he would think
that she had made him a horrible leap
| year proposal
| do you actually mean, Lefty" said
/ Tom. raising his head. more rtlmplsd
even than usual from his plowing
| hands, that you'd be willing to take a
/ long chance on my making go0d?"
I'D not be taking a chance. long or
/ otherwise" said Lefty proudly, for I
know perfectly well that nothing in the
/ world can beat YOU
! Then" said Tom. pacing the small
room with two great strides each way.
/ with the faith Of the best girl ON earth.
/ with my hope of 8 home and with
| the Clarity grit we'll land en- top yet"
| THE end
| tCopyrtGht, l926l
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