davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1928-06-17

asked the first member Of the second.
TOO hot" he answered drowsily.
Then they continued resting III the
leather chairs OF the lounge, gently
breathing cigar smoke.
They had chosen a particularly COM
Portable corner of one of tlie Is lounge
rooms OF the More Than Million Coli
Club From the windows their eyes
could roam over 300 acres OF wood
land landscape diversified with bril-
liant greens and elevated tees. But
they didn't need 10 look that way. IN
fact. by telling one of the attendants
10 close the windows they needn't see
the course at all. The excellent acous-
tics OF the building kept out all noise
OF any game.
Don't want game of tennis, do
yon7" said the second member pres
emily.
II don't think so. rather too much
exertion.'
1T Is, IN way, What alsut dip
IN the swimming ponl9"
"oh, thanks. little later II might
Evening star., 1928-06-17

IT want bottle Of Championships
best you have-and I want 1t immedi-
atelyl'
Then he leaned across the table and
took Roberta's slender white hands in
his. The laughter faded from his face
and his brown eyes we're tender. gentle.
Il don't know which of us Is the big
ger fool" he said solemnly. Roberta,
four days ago I cabled Everett Prender-
gast to buy every stick of that furniture
of yours in my name. Yesterday got
wireless that he has 1t all. And was
afraid to tell you! Now you'll have 10
marry me, whether you want to or not,
to keep 1t In the family"
Roberta's face had turned from pink
TO white; now, again, 1t was rose col
ored. Her gray-blue eyes shone mistily
and 1t seemed TO her sister that Is
years had fallen from her; that she was
again a dreaming girl Of 20.
"It's lovely night" said Anthony
Wright softly Come on out on deck
want you to tell me about our fur
niturel"
Dreamily. Roberta rose and drifted
from the room at Anthony Wright's
side.
"Bertal Your coat" Lucy called
after her. but she did. not hear.
"Bertai"
The steward set down frosty metal
bucket beside the table. Shall open
the wine, madame?"
Lucy stared blankly al him. Roberta
was alone with this stranger outside
on the moonlit deck-her little Roberta
"Yes, open it," she said family. She
twisted the slender glass in her fingers
Roberta-and the furniturel It was
too bad. Anthony Wright had said, that
one couldn't eat ones cake and have II,
tool That one couldn't! But Roberta
hadl
Lucy Merritt was a democratl
Please" she said TO the steward, Il
need some one to drink with me. It's
very important. Will you pour yourself
out glass? It's too-oh. don't know.
exactly. Cake or furniture or the
coming generations :"
Solemnly she lifted her glass. and as
solemnly the steward lifted his. and
they drank.
tCOpyright I8,Sl
Evening star., 1928-06-17

Watching the retreating gangplank, q
tall man. with bulky valise In either
hand, stood, grinning. A dock ofiicial
came running from the Office on the
pier. The man turned leisurely, az
though missing steamers was a daily
occurrence I'm his life, shrugged his
broad shoulders and laughed. Across
the intervening space the sisters heard
his laugh, deep and rich and genuinely
amused.
They held their breath as orders were
shouted crcakingly. In the midst OF all
the confusion, the gangplank reversed
itself and slid back into place. Still
smiling, the last passenger crossed II
and stood on deck
Robertas sigh OF relief was 50 ap.
parent that the man, passing, heard IL
and turned the joyiality OF hts grin full
upon her.
n bit ciogeI" he remarked cheer
fully and for an instant before he went
on his deep brown eyes looked full into
her face, lingering there. as though he
found her highly pleasant 10 contem'
plate.
'He certainly ought 10 know you when
| he sees you again" Lucy commented
For mon. Mt she surveyed her sister
WI hShaiyH AUIHS AStNg t1spAI
we're moyingl"
The boat WAS slipping alongside the
dock. In the channel & tug scutLled
Importantly toward them, nosing against
their side as they swung about.
Mice looking, that man who was SO
Iate." said Lucy suddenly.
Il didn't notice. mnrmured Roberta
Yet when an hour later they tinidly
descended the stairs 10 the dining saloon
IN answer 10 the bugle Roberta's cheeks
fIamed AZ the late passenger, just ahead
0f them. turned, smiled and stood ash ,
for them 10 pass. Within double doors
the room was crowded with hesitant
passengers.
Just sit anywhere" the chief stew
ard was directing them. You'll be
given your tables tonight just sit-~~oh
g00dsday, kirt"
The late passenger nodded amiabiy
Pretty full boat this trip2"
Capacity, sir, There's table there ,
Roberta and Lucy Were frankly star
ing. He must be an important person
/ this man, 10 whom stewards spoke Sc
defefenLially, before whom gangplanks
were lifted and lowered,
you ladies" The stewards ges.
ture toward the empty table Included
them, and once more the late passenger
stood aside for them 10 pass,
Evening star., 1928-06-17

that's FTench---Walnut. believe II was
Capt. Ecotto'S son who brought this!"
She loved the furniture. Years ago--o,
10. IS yearg~~-wnen her desire for pretty
clothes had not been dulled by the
habit OF not having them, Roberta had
stiIi laughed At the dealer, Everett Pren"
dergaSt, and the prices he offered them.
Roberta. without the furniture, would
not be Roberta at ALI
We're crazy" she gtoFuied bitterly.
1t isn't as II there was any one lett
Of the family for the things To go 70
when we're dead. Old Pfendergast WIZ
get them all then! And here we ,sat, sat,
Iike bumps On log, hanging on. We
can't take IL With u.s."
Lucy broke OF her thread and COM
menced a new tuck In the wolfe shed
heard all this before, R0berta'g angry,
futile attempts 10 convince herself.
Look at this room The clock and
the desk alone mean France. PafM,
Lucy. and sll the cathedrais and pal
aGesl That table" She glared 81
IT iosthlngly. ITS an original Heppel-
white We could 90 10 England, where
IT was made 8t0nehenGe and tke
Tower VI London, Oh, they're Ike balls
| and chains around our necks~-afld every
day we're getting older and older"
! the things 70 be worth 10 much money,
| just because they're old. Warming
pans and old bottles and sandwich
plates Wouldn't IL be funny, Eerta, II
In a hundred years they hang up rub
! ber h0t~Water bags beside the fireplace
quaint old method of heating E~~afin
| put eatsup bottles IN a row on the
! nlsnteIpieGE2"
! Her sister did not smile. Just about
ss much sense II either of us Wss
ever going ~ be- married and have
children 70 hand IL on to-" Ehs
! LDoked at Lacy tiDidiy
We'll, we're mott" the elder woman
answered fatty. Who'd we marry
/ Who'd marry is7 We don't wear short
skirts or paint our faces or DO any NJ
/ the things men want their wives ~ d.
these days. You make Hle tired
( Eertal" She looked up sharply You
take those dishes out W the Kitchen and
wash em~~thats what YOU dos"
Ordinarily when she spoke In that
tone Roberta wiItAd like a wiIful child
i,FfTe ita mother. There Was Ifgs than
~ years difference IN their ages, but
Lucy, ut 10, had been more ~ an adult
than Roberta would ever be. Lacy Msf-
ritt hsd been born with an ability "
sGcept life a. IL In.
"0Taclaie! Eome oae's coming
Evening star., 1928-06-17

Bertas face ontracted-when she clung
to her sister like homesick child.
"Oh, Berta!" Lucy rnimicked her.
with kind eyes. Were going to Europe,
Berta! We're going to travell Well
see Rheims Cathedral and the Venus
de Milo and the Mona Lisa!"
"I know. But
To Lucy. it was like second youth,
a Spring housekeeping that busted and
scrubbed forgotten corners Of her soul.
Air and sunlight let into the deepest
recesses: she found herself filled with
enthusiasms and curiosities she had
never suspected
"It's as II you and I had turned into
each other!" she told Roberta. You
who were always the one to want to
go places. and me to stay at home! I'm
going to buy six new dresses In Paris
think of wearing dress I haven't
made, myself"
Il wonder who'll buy the sideboard,"
said Roberta.
Lucy shook her head. Its like It
always was" she said, severely you
like to eat your cake and have It, too.
Berta. Yet we are kind of doing that.
We were hungry to see the world, and
now we're not going to be hungry-be-
cause we've eaten the sideboard and
the clock and all"
1T doesn't matter, of course" Ro-
berta agreed. ut isn't as though there'd
be any children to keep 1t for, like
mother kept 1t for us. Not ever!"
" ~
RUT even Robertas melancholy
D melted before the sun Of Lucys
enthusiasm and the approach of their
sailing.
Europel Pupils came to the house
with gifts, travelling slippers and cases
and writing pads; Mrs. Livingston
called, with two steamer rugs, rolled and
fastened by cleaning leather strap.
The crowning excitement came when,
at the pier in New York, they were
shown to their stateroom and found
a funeral!-and huge basket OF fruit
and candies, with Everett Prendergast's
cerd.
The decks were crammed with people
an indistinguishable tumble of pas
sengers, friends who had come to say
good-by. and crew Uniformed officers
hurried from one place to another; boys
with suit cases. boys with baskets of
fruit and long. shiny boxes Of flowers
darted about mercurially. A bugle
sounded significantly, thrillingly. "All
ashore that's going ashore!"
Robertas fingers frightened about
Lucy's, and the elder sister smiled. How
pretty Roberta looked, she thought,
smiling at her.
Some manIl fall In love with you
and steal you away II don't look outr'
she teased her affectionately.
Roberta's face whitened.
Don't, Lucy!"
Lucy looked at her sharply. But peo-
pie were weeping and waving handker-
chiefs about them, tearing themselves
from embraces. Sailors tugged at the
gangplank.
LUCY" Roberta was Jared from the
apathy into which she had so suddenly
fallen THAT man! He's missed the
boat! Oh, what will he do?"
Evening star., 1928-06-17
BY STEPHEN LEACOCK.

THE uP-To-DATE STUDENTS TAKE
AN EVENING OFF
T>HEY were sitting In their dormi-
tory bed-smoking-stud room
GuSSie and Eddie--in the newly
4 endowed million-do wing Of
their $4,000, 900 college.
GusSie had laid aside his ukulele and
Eddie had given up the effort OF trying
TO tune his mandolin.
Have a cigarette" said Gussie.
Smoked them till am sick OF them, =
answered Eddie.
what In heck can we do this eve
Il don't know" said Eddie with q
yawn what about going to the pic
tures7"
Sick OF them," said Gussie.
There's the sophomore play on to-
night II we want to go to that
'I'm fed up with plays"
80 am l. There's q dance over at
the Theta Beta Sorority"
"Dancel I've been to 10 this month" !"
Gussie picked up the college news
paper and began looking up and down
the columns.
There's lecture In Founders Hall, ("
NE bhIu OH heCeUt fTOkIehn III 5ci~
ence.' Want To go 10 thatp"
Both the students laughed,
Here's another" continued 0ussie.
Meeting OF the Astrophysical Society
10 DISCUSS"
"Oh, ditch It," said Eddie.
We'll, don't see much else" said
dussie. There's a reception by the
senior year-~we went to that last year
It's hades. There's an uplift meeting
Of The Social Scisnce Workers. There's
A debate at the Literary Society. Thetes
a motion picture show at the Geo.
graphical Club. No. there doesn't seem
q thing 10 do"
He yawned
Both students sat silent for while.
Then suddenly Eddie became AMI
mated.
Il tell youi" he exclaimed "Ive got
a whale OF an idea, Let's study! Let's
spend the evening right here and study
Eh. WHAT"
dliasie looked up.
Right you are, Eddie" he said,
You've said n inouthful. Got any
books? Hold on. I've got some math-
ematics books there In the trunk packed
with my Winter underclothee. Aftaboyl
Wen spend the evening just studying
However did you come TO think OF W."
III.
THE GOLF CLUB MEMBERS
BRIGHTEN UP THEIR
AFTERNOON
Care 10 play bridge this afternoon
Evening star., 1928-06-17

THE furniture?" He listened atten-
lively while she told him about 1t.
Everett Prendergast?" he repeated the
name. Hes good man and an hon.
est one. My sister buys things through
him." He looked out at the horizon,
mounting high above the decks rail,
dipping dizzily below 1t. as though the
sky were turning about on an axis
Yes, think can see hcv she feels!
We'll. can't! She wanted to come
to Europe, and she had to pay the
price. AS tell her. you can't eat your
cake and have 1t. tool"
He smiled. Eat your cake" ne
murmured, softly. ITS too bad one
can't. wonder if-Id like so much
to hear your sister play" he said alb
ruptly. Won't you try to persuade
her to come up to the lounge this after
noon? IT'S usually deserted around 2
O'Clock Perhaps she'd feel like play
ing something"
Roberta was lying drearily in her
berth. eyes closed.
You're like sulky child, Berta Mer-
rittl" Lucy scolded her. Here MIR
Wright docs everything he can to make
us comfortable and you won't even
play for him. I wonder that he both
ers with us at ALL"
Mr. Wright" said Roberta, irritably
II wish we'd never laid eyes on him
What does he mean to uS?"
From the way you act. a body'd
think he meant lot TO you!" Lucy
hazarded, shrewdly.
Color flooded Roberta's cheeks; her
bushes. these days, came and went like
schoolgirls
Don't be foolish!" she said. "Td
{vtet SHioutV Vet ct t1a caofaoH
more frightened than sulky when Lucy
dragged her TO the piano in the lounge.
Anthony Wright's face lighted when
he saw her. Its good TO see you up, "
he said. Sorry I'm late--I had TO
send some radios to New York. Busi-
ness everywhere, even In Midatlansic.
You'll play for me?"
She looked stonily beyond him. "I'll
play" she assented. Il haven't prac-
tised In so long :" Her fingers
slipped uncertainty over the keyboard
for few bars: then, abruptly change
seemed to take place In her. Her head
went back. the line of her white throat
cleaned in the afternoon light; her
eyes we're half-closed. lips parted. AS
she played, passengers moving In the
hallway, coming in from the decks,
paused TO listen.
. Lucy held her breath, caught by
something she did not understand.
Shed heard Roberta play like this only
once or twice before--after their
mother had died. And once again.
after Herry Wells had married that
Carter girl.
"There!" said Roberta She dropped
her hands to her lap. looked up def
antly, and. for long moment. her
eyes and the eyes Of Anthony Wright
held one another.
Strangers thanked her. asking her to
play again; some one prattled OF the
ships concert. but 1t was as though
she and Anthony Wright were alone in
the room.
"I'm going to my stateroom.' she
said
Lucy stared.
I'm going out on deck" Anthony
Wright spoke brusquely. He pushed
past Lucy, as though she we're chair.
\ y \ v
WHEN. on the seventh day. Anthony
w Wright told Lucy that he was In
love with Roberta and wanted to marry
her Lucy felt as though she could
spank her sister.
Evening star., 1928-06-17

be all right; rather too early In thr
afternoon now"
1T Is. But there doesn't seem a
dashed thing to do"
There was another pause.
Might play billiards, II you like,
Thanks, was playing most of the
morning"
"I'll tell you what I'll do II you
like" said the first member. with the
sudden enthusiasm OF man with an
idea. Come out ON the links and
I'll play you round of golf. What
do you say?"
The other hesitated, attracted and
yet wavering.
"The trouble is," he said. i've never
played"
"Oh. that doesn't matter. Very few
0f the members play, Come on. Well
have game OF golf. just for fun"
III,
THE NATuRE-WRITER SEEKS
REST,
Evening star., 1928-06-17

younger sisters face. Heaven knows
what It's worth, Miss Berta I'll give
you-' He paused. "I'll give you 81 500
cash for IL, this afternoon"
"Pif-----"
Going up!" said Lucy Merritt, cheer
fully. Last time Berta asked you II
was a thousand"
Neither OF them paid the slightest
attention 10 her.
And thc~~the cl0ck2"
AS though it knew that 1t was the
center Of conversation. the grand
fathers clock made that preliminary
noise, like speaker who clears his
throat, before IL struck the half-hour
The desk" cried Roberta. Color
famed In her thin cheeks and the
pupils OF her eyes were large AZ though
beilad0nna had been dropped into them
THE six Heppelwfite cilairs Tho
pineapple bed The high-boyl The
you've got 10 take the cradle"
Her arms went out. IN an awkward
helpless gesture, fingers curved upward
as though about some object Suddenly
while her sister and the dealer stared
~ her, she jumped up and rushed from
. the room,
When Lucy, after Everett prender-
CASTS dazed departure, went 10 flnd
her, she was kneeling on the splintercd
pine 0f the attic floor. her arms fun3
out about the hood of the dusty mia
ti0gany cradle.
~ -
I UCY MERRITT had thought that
II WIS she who didn't like change
but she found fierce exhiIaration IN
the changes that went on during the
, next three weeks.
"We1i flx the house now, 50 II will
; be ready for uE when we get back" she
Told Roberta. sternly. Her sister seemed
inclined 10 shut the doors on the
stripped dining room, on the living
room, where the wallpaper showed fresh
ana nnfaded spots, Ia memory of tilG
furniture already on its way W New
York,
: Lucy liked the new dining room
Shed always admired those painted
sets; there Was something 80 cheerful
! and fresh about them The little dress
er apple green, with nosegays 0f flow
| ers, was not ~ be compared IN the side
hoard, yet somehow she liked H. better
| And LbR whole Set had c0st little more
i than the price of Of1e 0f the ChippeD-
dale chairs that had gone from tbs
| frpfaI
"Ob. Lucyl" There we're tiues when
Evening star., 1928-06-17

slightest deviation in their routine
Lucy entoyef that feeling Of Sanaeness,
fsse was AZ years old, and there WAS. for
her, safety. sense of peace, In the
ordeY1lpess Of their existence. 50 long
as she Sewed and Roberta taught, there
was 10 danger of change. But Roberta
was different.
That's very good. Bessie. You
should practice On that for an encore
for the graduation exercisee. Can't you
SCI them, Bessie? Stumbling. tired men
ie scarlet and blue shirts, pulling
stSaining along the rivcr-bank, towing
the heavy hargef Expression. Bessie"
you play IT for me, Miss Merritt"
THERE Wa pause a. the pupil re-
IingHisf1eo the &t1,oi W the teacher
then, 2Dbpina rising ~ aR0nized In.
tens1ty the strains Of the Volgs bDat-
mems gJgga burst into the peaceful room
where Lucy waited. II had no place
there 10 tig&t fresh New England hoslse
the lament tam from aching breasts.
Lucy fKONDeG NJ II. snc went hurri@dIj
into the kitchen 10 put on the Eettie.
Roberta was sitting On tIle living room
EgfS. Uflen she returned with the tray
Her eyes we're cl0Eed and her thin fscf
lesQEfd tired the slender hands tI5ai
eI,slI6 call Saeb rocking sound from TN
oid upright piano lay guieseent on hel
kp3nSseriy blue fOUiaT1 lap.
Lucy set tl7e tray on the lDW~l,0y. aBl
pulled ouI E round HeopelWf9ite card,
izlS!e kicked Out tire sliding leg wiz
her foe,t, and dEOppe0 tfl4 delicate Leaf
Teas ready"
II would be-" SAID Roberta, dreafily
e. though tea had cogle into beins
without any goiition on her part 0T 0f
her saster'< Tea Was always ready. b.
4 0'c5oek,
~On, Lucy. I'm 20 siek aTad tired D
having everything happen the way III
sigSyg happened II only there'd h
an eaFtb0Iake oF tidal wave, 0r III
house YoUlo burn d0Wn or SDDsethingi'
Lacy vpufeo the tea, pressing h@
lips hgetheT disapproyingiy, ms Ins
Tie Spring Eerts,' she so1tLs6. ~ 81
had sootlleo many times before "foi
TaeeG-~~-v"
TloDerts Merritt oDfnsd her eyes. ~
sou tel me tflst ! need gooo dose
sJipIguT sDa naolaksAs~~good gfists IAicS
any one S9ulc think ! was q child !"
Hef sister prunt1d. Spring Away
makes soinf folk restless, sl1d your
one II eD9 she said. reasonably. ~
The changing, reckon, Then ate
Memorial day, things get through b'id
Evening star., 1928-06-17
Little Inconsistencies of Life

| I'm tired. tired. devilish tired" said
the Nature-Writer, looking up from his
table IN the sum-and-air room of his
log cabin in the woods. II get %
cramped UP here. There's no space
no room to breathe. These everlasting
woods all around and the racket Of that
river and the birds, and at night that
whippoorwlll. I can't stand it,"
i Know" murmured his wife. "I feel
u, too. you know, though I haven't
liked to complain. One does feel so ter
ribly shut In"
| Listen. Emma" exclaimed the Ma
ture-Writer. throwing down his pens
and paper. Go and call up the rail-
way station and set compartment
ON that fast train that comes past
this place at 2:30 In the morning:
then call New York and get room
at the Biltmont. get seats for the
Midnight Foolishness. and get q sup
per table at any of the good three
o'clock-in-the-morning clubs need
rest and quiet and I'm going to get IT,"
THE FARMER LEARNS ENGLISH.
"Geel" said the college professor of
English to the Farmer. this Is certainly
pretty layout. I'll say 1t isl"
YES" answered the farmer "we like
10 think that this view from our veran-
da Is really quite as beautiful as any
landscape could be. My wife often com.
pares 1t to Versailles"
They were sitting together after sumner
on the veranda at Meadowbrook Farm.
where the college professor of English
nad Just arrived as Summer boarder.
ITS certainly peach, all right" said
Il like 1t especially" the farmer went
on, when the sun sets and the twilight
steals over Il all. It gives one a sort
or hushed feeling--I can't express it.
out something almost reverential."
know what you mean," said the
professor. 1t gets your goat
TRY In vain TO think beyond n 10
hh,S," 's-' w
And It beats you to IT," murmured
The professor sympathetically.
"At any rate" concluded the farm
er as they rose presently 10 60 inside,
Il am very glad and very much hon
ofed TO have YOU here, I want my son
TO GO TO your college. with English AS
his special subject. and now that Won
are here, III have chance to talk Ii
all over"
"Oh, send him 10 u.s." aSsented the
professor cheerfully. Wen learn it 10
him oil right"
,oopyrisht isasl
g..