Evening star., 1928-03-25

v OCAL opinion differed as to why
MontroSs Magruder. Sd, was {
snob. Some held it was borr
L. in him, along with his fine
bearing. his Magruder nose. anc
his good, though overimpreSsive. looks
Others maintained that 1t was due tt
his upbrinaing which was founded
upon the rock OF what was possible an6
what impossible to great-grandson OF
the Hon. MontroSS Magruder, chief his
torical pride of the stifI. old, TRADITION
crusty City Of Manchester.
And Manchester is forever committed
To the dedication Of the historical Ma
eru6er and the reverence OF his statue
in Magruder Park. posed stateSmanly
end surrounded by the gilded lettering
o. the DeathleSs Phrase which almost
msde him Vice President Of these
United States For 80 years MontroSS
MsSruder. Sd. had absorbed the at
moSphere Of ancestor worship. with
never 8 hint or suggestion TO trouble
his faith or taint his satisfaction till
He wondered what on earth she could
have meant by il, In fact, he was
awake at 2 o'clock of q Spring morning.
wondering what she could have meant
By it
She had referred to the Hon. Mon
troSS Magruder-Magruder Of Hsrches-
ter-as a plumber, Outrageous and in
credible
The scion Of the family rolled out of
bed snd grsvitated 10 a window Of the
Mszruder mansion overlooking the
statue. His gaze wandered from the
austere ana lofty viSage TO q moonlit
area below. and he almost fell out of
the window
For he incredulously behel6 his trouble
cf mind assume alluring reality before
his aSionished eyes. in the form of Miss
Polly Wade. seated alone upon a park
bench and contemplating the simula-
crum OF. the mighty dead. The de-
scenoant Of the mighty dead yanked
down the shade. He jammed on the
light. He rushed to the Settee where
upon his garments were neatly folded
and. after q series OF contortions in
compatible with the Magruder reputa-
ton for orderly procedure. sauntered
forth in the nonchalant imperSonation
q: o young gentleman taking the air
for his health. The girl spoke first.
Hello. Couldn't you sleep either?"
Il happened to be awake" he ex-
planned. And I thought saw you.
And so I"
you did see me" she confirmed
I'm real Don't be nervous"
Il am never nervous" He gave fit-
ting emphasis to this important fact
But thought would come down and
Zee whether anything was wrong.
Yes" said Miss Wade, there is,
Anything that can set right?"
IL you can't. don't know who can.
It's your necktie. II is hanging under
your left ear, and. while it gives you q
carefree and unconstrained aid"
Can't you ever be serious with me,
Miss wsde?"
What do you want me to be serioas
about"
why. this" He made q comprehen-
sive gesture. Your being out here
alone"
I'm not alone any more" said the
girl pointedly.
If you mean that you would prefer
me to leave you" he began and left
It so mournfully in the air that she re-
Tented
"rm furious, II you want to know.
80 mad couldn't sleep. So came out
20 look at Grandpa and see IL could
figure out how he got that way"
What way?"
Il seem 70 recall from the dim Ano
distant past Of week before last chilly
voice saying: I think we need not pur-
sue the subject further.
Montrose Magruder.
You mustn't take these things too
literally kindly explained Miss Wade.
Plumbing. in the modern sense, WASH
invented in his day. I suppose. only
meant that ne was the bunk"
Really. Miss wade."
How many times have We metz" she
INQUIRED. Her mildness alone should
have put him on his guard.
Five believe"
Right. And how many times have
you handed me that Really Miss-wade
line In just that fade-away voice?"
Really
That makes "a"
He breathed heavily through the i'm
posing MagrIder nose. Il shall endea-
ror not TO let II happen again"
That's better. OF course, that eve
ming being the first time / met you, ]
didn't know you were In the family, or
I shouldn't have called him plumber.
II was very kind Of you" she continued.
'-to take compassion On stranger and
explain 70 her all the beauties OF Hsr-
chester and the glories Of the Magru-
DER history. haven't felt lonely since. "
LIE looked up at the statue and down
IL a. his companion. Although the
TOPIC may be an unpleasant one
Unpleasant Is right" she confirmed
"Its particularly unpleasant Just now
n you mean the Hon. Msgruder."
why Just NOW. II may ask2"
i've Just learned that my paper on
Nsgru6er Of Manchester and MS I'M
rooY4sl hokunn has been hunked.
That's TOO bad" ne returned, In tns
manner Of one who COMEDIES ~ltn
~-.u eA~sfx e.gey n bruised finger. "I0ul