Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-30
THE EVENING STORY


giles, vet he was gentle and considerate,
though still lacking in the little en-
broideries OF life that make up so much
of it.
That Ruth should set a rather I'M
due value on these outward and visible
signs was not unnatural. They were the
shibboleths of her class of which Ralph
Troop was also a member. Ralph had
beautifully furnished apartment,
houseboat and a stunning car. He was
an adept at small courtesies. 1t was his
proficiency in this respect that made
Homer Norton appear so WoefuLy lack
ing
Did Homer really love her? She set to
thinking. but soon heard the toot, toot
Of motor and there was Homer coming
I'D the front walk. He sat down with
the air of a man, who. having brought
off a difficult task successfully, feels en-
titled to his reward.
You got tic parasol?" he asked
eagerly Did you like it?"
TITS pretty enough" Ruth regarded
the toe of her shoe But ii happens TO
DE the wrong color. particularly ask
ed you to get yellow"
Ruth, dear, I am sorry" Homer's
tanned face was full of contrition.
Homer was essentially the empire
OuuQcT bypSs SqudIC JdWcus Will a AhAay
sensitive mouth. ITO tell the truth
was so ratified I could not remember
whether you said blue or green or pink
and as the saleswoman showed me
green I grabbed it and ran. II you
do not like it l will get you another"
1T is not the parasol I mind, but
the forgetting. / am afraid you are
not very observant of my clothes and
my favOrite color"
II never notice what you wear. You
look charming in anything"
That's just It," Ruth's eyes flashed
fire. You don't care fig about my
likes and dislikes. You don't care
whether I wear silk or sackcloth;
whether my favorite flowers are roses
or violets. / wanted the parasol for a
picnic this afternoon" She finished
with a pout Now must go and give
orders for our dinner. Gcod-by."
Homer went back to his hotel and
had not returned when Ralph moored
his punt alongside the landing Of The
Elms for Ruth. She greeted him warm
~, but there was constraint In her
manner as she turned to meet his
cousin, Rose Cook-wl1o was so OBJ
servant.
What pretty cushionsl" Ruth turned
to Ralph. You have recovered them
in my fayorite shade of yellow"
Ralph smiled. Il chose it purposely.
Won't you come with us, or don't you
dare desert Homer"
Wouldn't II" Ruth laughed. Homer
deserved to be punished.
Just as they. were pushing of, Homer
appeared on the bank. He controlled
| his annoyance admirably. but there
was wounded look in his eye which
| Rose Cook saw.
How lovely for mel said Rose to
Homer. II want chat with you, Ruth
and Ralph can go en-
Homer gave a rather faded assent.
soon they were seated in a shaded nook
and Rose began: What is the trouble
| between you and Ruth? There Is
| something, know, tell me-"
Homer thought Rose a good sport so
he told her about the parasol incl
dent
1T Is just such little things that
| count in a woman's life" replied his
companion Ruth has fair for yell
! low What is the use Of her looking
just June rose If you don't mention
| the fact?'
"Ruth knows that to me she is the
prettiest thing in this world. l love
| her in any color"
just must be told those things
II never thought Of it before" owned
| Homer. trifie grimly.
Ruth was still in a peryerse mood
when they landed for the picnic. Homer
| and Rose had gone by motor
| After that everything was Ralph.
Homer thought If only something would
| happen.
Something did happen. Ruth was
| driving Ralph's big car one morning
and ran over farmers dog in the road.
| Then there was conlrnotion: the farm
er was angry and Ralph was frightened.
Ruth was shaking all over. and said:
II am terribly sorry. Is there anything
can do?"
The farmer was bending over his dog;
| tears running down his cheeks. Ralph
began laughing and Ruth saw how CAL
oused he was. She gave sob Of relief
when all of a sudden Homer appeared
in his roadster. He took in the situa-
ton and said: Let me look the deg
over. I know something about broken
comes" He knelt down and made
swift examination.
The dog seemed to understand. "a
few splints and / will fix him up" said
Homer
Ruth brought some twigs: she tore
Homer's handkerchiefs into strips and
assisted all she could shall take him
70 a surgeon now" said Homer. as he
finished.
II am going with you." said Ruth.
That evening when Homer came UP
the walk he had huge package under
his arm.
There! See how you like those" he
said. II never knew there were so
many shades of yellow. Seven at least"
"Oh. Homer. you didn't" Ruth was
so ashamed She opened up the pack
age of seven parasols
Ruth was thoughtful for a few min
utes and then said: They don't mean
so much as I thought they did--not
since this morning. There are other
things far more important. Seven para
solsl Homer. you are a dear but I
shall keen but one for myself and the
othcrs--the others will do for my
bridesmaids"
Homer bent over her, well, let's use
them next month, for parasolS are Of
no use after September"
THE END.
tcopyrixht. 1897
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