Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-09

It would only have made you UNI
happy. I couldn't have sat at home
and done nothing all the time YOU
were away l tell YOU, I'm fed up
with these girls. Martin
TN fed up with the Maisie type"
Martin aSSented
we treat EN- too seriously. my
lad" Percy Quilland continued "They
amt worth 1t, the way they behave.
The whole bally things turned round
Years ago II was the girl who had
romance and sentiment and that sort
of stuff Now I'm hanged II the man
hasn't got more than the girl Shes
for pleasure with capital p and
shes out to pay the price. I'm think
ing of starting life on a new method.
take en- out for the night and have
Jolly good time and have done with II.
Look here, must be off What about
turn around the town tonight?"
Martin was suddenly rueful. The
whole vivid picture of what "a turn
round the town" meant with Percy
0uillansi seemed to loom distastefully
before his eyes. II was the sort of
thing which he had determined should
And no place in his new life.
I'm afraid II can't be done Percy"
he said, with an unconscious note of
apology In his tone.
"Oh. rubbish" the other expostu-
lated. You're not going to put on
airs with me, old chap. even II you
are q millionaire, Wen have a little
dinner at the Cosmopolitan, drop in
at the bally old Empire~-it isn't what
H. used to be, but it's something that
it's going again at all-then I know a
snug little haunt. where l can get in
on the nod and take you. too-~unless
you've Joined any of the swagger night
clubs?" ne added. little hopefully.
Il haven't Joined anywhere" Martin
admitted. AS matter Of fact have
scarcely been out
We'll there's going to be beano to-
night" Percy Quiland insisted. TIM
going to drink your health in a bottle
of the best Gee, was thirsty When
I left America Didn't dare 10 trust
the stuff there. The Cos, at 1;3o
sharp. then"
Martin hcsitated. hating the un-
righteousness of refusing and yet strug
cling against vehement diState for
the proposed evenings entertainment
A month ngo IL would have all seemed
perfectly natural: he would even have
looked forward to II with certain
measure Of enthusiasm 1t was i'm
possible to change so completely in
month. he told himself His aversion
to the whole idea was unnatural and
unworthy. Besides already sense OF
shame was making his cheeks almost
hot. He had never before found any
thing to criticize in Percy Quilland'S
clothes or manners-rather the con-
trary Standards couldn't alter like
that.
"An right Percy. I'll be there" he
promised with strenuous affection OF
cheerfulncss. It's my dinner, you
know"
The young man was not In the least
disposed to dispute the point.
All right. old chap he agreed.
Have II your own way.
We'll celebrate in style, Ell? Dress
clothes and hit the town hard!"
Martin nodded
IAN right" he asserted briefly
His breezy visitor lit another cigar
cite and departed Martin. left alone
in his armchair. took himself almost
savagely to task for that queer sense
OF distaSte with which he contem-
plated the evenings program After
ell. Percy Quilland had been--still
must be--his friend. He belonged 20
his own class, the class among which
he had lived all his life, the only class
to which he had any pretenSions 10
belong Money couldn't really make
any difference He was still Martin
Barnes. cx-commercisl traveller, instead
OF commercial traveler--the same thing
in effect II not In circumstance.
He picked up the Times and turned
without any conscious effort of will
to the society column, scanning list
OF guests at a great ball on the previ-
Gus night Yes. she had been there
Lady Blanche Birmingham. with her
mother. the Duchess of Andover"
farther down on the list "the Honor
able Gerald Garnham He threw the
paper on one side II was three weeks
since he had met them both in the
park and been marched off to give
them lunch and afterward to put him
self under Gerald Ciarn1am'S tutelaQe-~-