Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-10
INSTAILAtENT VII.
4 SAMPLE of Old Times.

n EVFRTHEL ESS. the CheerfulnesS
IN with which Martin greeted has
NJ companion for the evening al
4 the Cosmopolitan bar was en-
tirelv assumed. Percy QulI-
lands Interpretation OF evening QFeSS
was long and rather badiN mace
dress coat. a shirt with one stud hoie
which was continually escaping the con-
fines of his waiStCoat, clumSllN ar
ranged white tie and boots apparently
selected for their wearing quaHtlcS
rather than for any grace OF form, botn
during the half an hour at the par ana
sfterwaqd at the dinner table Martin
took himself severely Ia task lof what
he insisted 10 himself must be new
born and unreasonlng diStaSte LOT niS
companiou's voice his manners, ms
general lack Of the small rehnementS OF
life Percy Quilland had been an ac-
certahla eroucf companion a few weeks
aro II vas ridiculous for him to set up
row standards simply because money
had cpn1e his way He himself c0dlu
not have changed in the time. neither
could the man whom he had been usec
10 consider his friend. A month ago
ne would have contemplated an eve
ming such as the one which lay before
him Srrenely even with pleaSurabie an
ticinstlon From the moment, now
ever. when the champa gne-the arrival
OF which his companion watched WIN
Clistening eyes-had made its appear
ance, and they were settled down AZ
their table. he knew instinctively that
the evening was destined 10 form one
of the landmarks of his life.
"Say. wouldn't Ned Welshman like
n be in on this?" Percy Quilland, who,
since his return from America. had
shown a tendency 10 indulge in some OF
the more obvious terms OF American
slang. exclaimed. He knocks about a
Bit but he's not so flush as he was
and / don't think he often sees one Oh
those chaps.
Martin glanced without enthusiasm
ct the magnum Of champagne which
was reposing in an ice pail ny LnelT
side.
Wei. we've got to celebrate while We
have the chance. Percy" he said. Il
haven't made any plans yet but
don't suppose I shall be hanging about
London very long
ITS a pretty good place" the other
observed watching the filing OF MS
class with satisfaction You can say
whst YOU like about the old village.
Martin. but If l had your money |
iolly well know where / should spend
il Have you heard this one? Chap
sOEI III 10 TIC Ia ENEW 1S4 a
A succession OF stories followed when
70 Martin seemed singuiarly devoid OF
Funlor. He kept up his role OF assldu-
Gus host. however, and the service Oh
dinner progressed entirely TO Percy
OuilEand's satisfaction. Toward It's
close he leaned back n his chair and
laughed uproariously.
Can't help it. old chap" he exciaim-
cd wiping his eyes. I was thinking
about Maisie. Kind OF hard luck on
her. but she did ask for IT,
Martin was suddenly thoughtful.
We're selfish devils about women.
Percy. il seems TO me- he conflded.
II thew make a slip We couldn't for
give them even * We wanted TO. but
we take anything ourselves that comes
along quite naturally.
ats human nature" Percy gull
land declared complacently. Men
have got the upper hand. There's no
getting away from it. Preponderance
Of their sex. suppose and the doni-
asnt spirit Of ours
That's right enough Martin agreed.
but al the same time We ought not TO
grslmble TOO much If occasionally they
Day US back in our 0gn coin. They're
ali out for it nowadays. You see the
difference III every city street. Girls
vino a few years ago used TO be content
witf1 any sort OF old clothes 10 come 70
business in and vino thought Of nothing