Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-24
When the Bridge Was Up.

ful life. She had means. not excessive
enough TO render her a slave TO sec
retar;es and vicariouS bencvolenccS but
enough 10 give her opportunities for
being pleasant To many and indulgent
to her fastidioUS tastes.
Mrs Virginia Smollett was Wild
ow. not young A year of married life
had left merely the marks of an extra
assurance of manner and seemed al
most an eSCapade of extreme youth
something that might be best discreet
" forgotten. Not that the late Forsyth
Smollett tin oils and we'll done. in the
dining room, and i'll a fooled leather
frame OF the table near the window
&C the living rooml had done any
thing whatever 10 deserve polite for
gc'iulneSs: he had been merely in
cidcntal Greatly older than Mrs. Viz
glria. he had bowed her into the best
social group OF his Gay and made a
6ignified exit.
And now She was distinct and
approved entity III a small company
q rather unusually intelligent men
and women who often went abroad
and sincerely believed in their cos
lnopolit6niSiH. They all wore delight
FIJI cloths were apt 10 collect things;
were not young enough TO be unduly
y
;aliS;ic optimism.
Little Mrs. Smol!e;t usually break
tasted in her sun parIOr at 9 O'Clock.
This morning her chocolate. half grape
fruit and toast lay before her and she
was adrl;v;ng the effect Of the lace
,utfcs that fell ovcr a hand still fluent
81 lis curves when her telephone triiled.
She called softly 10 the maid. %
Margaret, l 50 dislike telephones at
breakfast time. Do please take the
message and have whoever calls call
again"
The pleasant brown face of colored
Margaret was rather concerned as she
returned and informed her: Miss
Agnes. It's Miss Agnes. madam"
Mrs. Slnollett froWned. oh. Mar
message perfectly straight What IS
the matter with Miss Agnes?"
Please. madam. she's very sick. And
will Mrs. Sm0llett come right away?
That's exactly the message, indeed,
madam
on. Margaret! This is dreadful
Make me a cup OF coffee. / need
coffee If have 10 so up North 10
that dreadful place Q why was Rose
50 foolish and obstinate. Going to
live Up there. o we'll get my
things ready. Margaret. and have the
Car come around. I must cat some
thing or I shall faint Yes. toast and
coffee. Q that poor child. What can
be the matter? Agnes always seemed
50 strong. always playing golf and SWIM
ming. Now Well, luckily its
beautiful cay. Lovely"
All this time. the little lady was
eating her toast and drinking her
sr-r.s = -Yrt f,,fIy
the chocolate that she felt unbecom-
ing 20 one slnlrnarily summoned 10 a
sick bed Not that she deliberately fit
TED her food 10 the occasion. but there
Is, after all, a certain frivo!ity in
chocolate, the beverage alike OF heroines
IL 4lashy fiction and OF authentic bellies
c. the decorative eighteenth century.
In a mauve frock, with long and
silveTy squirrel coat and a rather large
velvet hat Mrs. Snollett descended the
stairs 10 her car, looking like an
admirable copy o. a directoire picture
a creature TO talk epigrans and write
her memoirs. In reality she was quite
a worried little woman. for she had
q large. warm, and tender heart.
Her sister-in-laW. also a widow. with
three daughters. lived precarious
existence in a faded fat near Sheridan
Mrs Smo!lett when the high cost of
doing nothing or perilous adventures
IL reality brought incoherent anguishes
upon Rose Cressy. A large acquaintance,
plus a gift OF soothing 10 hypnotic point
the less gun-Shy eiigib!es Of her world.
had enabled Mrs Snollett TO marry of
STACY. the eldest girl (and the least
attractive and this stroke of genius
sootned her as her car purred through
the city toward the troublesome, but
pltifui Agnes.
Now. Agnes was undoubtedly pretty
She vas q large blond girl. good al all
outdoor games: the kind that has large
eyes, classic features, soft pale hair and
generally freckles trifie on the nose
a good sport. but rather apt TO be too
pally Hlth men 10 make the pace in
t.-S difficult age. Her aunt wished
sometimes that she was more subtle.
but she was such a dear, Absolutely
reliable. good. kind and clean, a crea-
ture ot sunshine and baths: one who
would prefer yerTain 10 yioiets: not
caefer. but perfect wife for almost
sEyoooy Il only men were
not .4ch fools! Why had johnson
chosen 70 drive down Wabash! She
must get man with more driving
se:lSe. He never realized what time
meant. Of course he always stopped at
the oou.eYards and was safe "Peaiizes
he's driving az Old woman. suppose, :"
she ceciced. Bat when one is in
hurry. Try!ng-So trying. Poor Agnes
il must be from eating nuts. Agnes Is
- fond Of nuts. Perhaps, on, We'll II
was 10 Use wondering what was the
mater. She would know soon enough,
Only Randolph! Another
pa4a@. The FIRE department. A con-
aIJ.racy ~ make her late. The poor
ch--c. There WAS George Tracy. He
va greet golfer Agnes has
Ie'ff MT MN +. She must make
q nCte II that He vas absolutely ell
R.pif-- lkec women who cid not run
arr hin ard grab him. How awful
20 were Their tactics, pia IN for all
W. Epi.9 u %-e. That night al the
opera shanle.ul, WHAT Another atoD2
~ HIsAtr'l and irritating ringing o!
L4r +" u =! cpufbe. The bridge was up.
'f'~-1 anything be H1oTe annoying?
- F&S very giad she lad drunk coffee
Ere !rreYl;5efed hearing that cnree
- -@-i.ec cIe-Dr 1zE i fyJcga2 II -,
- 't-F4jc Lave drunk her chocolate
WEI % D-at j,eysgu say who lefslred
-. t-@2.pD "fc nerves ara things
*F@ ,&Ir .sctpyc And the coysrts
''.'f.'5-t'4Dt1 were simply wonderful
a.@@t "'.e ai,s9!u5eIy hlpless. poor Agnes
|l.s'-s v - LeFet ~. Nta, could ii b.9
4'g-', iI9le. Tlnglr Would that
- HS|"f pas Ust0gYn2 Ee.ch!ng
",.fN h-Hna]a, !ikr az E,lantic liner ~
~ !i4al reminds ne ] must Nyii..
t - @!.'1 isnF vas ~ ce!!phtfgI
Ni.eA ! Yas u Eeg'Iaro ntyrt /. ,.s',oa -.
i,@l7Dn WAY On k3.Y3lcL un,l.,, '', 49,,
t>'h 'ht'1 soles ~ tne.r sa...s -,
E}s'>" y Was ~ tie u.fsyry IN, I,
H.RE TRY must have beeg. st.,r,,et
i''ypF hRnes Her feei are ,-nt
",a., E5t a4ch Z bjY p!fi
|Aaf'T Gppc..c>A' yi4e Dslcge ,n,l.,
= arm tn a.p2.y tie car nlyEts