Evening star., 1928-04-11
His Little Method.

ing for her on the hall table when sht
returned from long, hard days worS
at the Office
where did this come from?" she
asked her landlady.
"A messenger brough IT," Mrs. June
said. edeing nearer. She had been
curious to see what the package con-
tanned But Mariory picked up the
package and mounted the stairs TO her
room. Mrs june sighed,
Behind the closed door Of her room
| Mariory cut the string and pulled away
the wrapper. There was a box and
within the box was an exquisite volume
of poems. She opened the book and
on the blank page in front read. MANY
many happy returns Of the day. III
was signed Rex"
MY birthday" Mariory exclaimed
| flushing. How did he remember? l
thought every one had forgotten l had
BIRTHDAYS any more" Marjory was 81
and did not mean to grow older for
some time.
The fact remained. however, that
| Rex of the old days had in some
mysterious way remembered her birth
day II was the only present She was
| likely 10 receive and the attention
pleased her greatly.
Mariory was pretty young woman
| with china-blue eyes, light, fluffy hair
! and a graceful figure. For years she
/ had been eagerly sought by various
men OF her class. but so far had not
| been able TO make up her mind whether
/ 10 marry or not. Sometimes, indeed,
/ she resolved never to marry at all.
/ Then again the thought of approach
/ ing middle age with no one to love her
and no other home save her room AT
/ Mrs. June'S would cause her heart 10
contract with a gripping little spasm
of loneliness But so far the men who
/ had come courting had done little more
/ than flatter her vanity, not one had
stirred her heart Money was no OBJ
| iect, for she earned plenty. She had
scores of friends and acqua;ntances.
/ but she wished to love and pe loved
| deeply.
While Mariorv was brushing her hair
| preparatory TO going down TO the eve
ming meal she kept glancing again and
again at the volume Of poems Rex
Parker had sent her. Finally she be-
gan to think of the man himself. He
was A big, brown-haired man. solid,
good-looking and of a CHEEKY type
Marjory had hitherto given Rex Par
ker only a passing thought. but man
who could ferret out carefully con-
cealed birthday and send volume of
! long-coveted poems was not TO be for
gotten easily.
A few days later Mariory received a
bulky package from Rex Parker. II
contained several snapshots. On one
was scribbled. Wish you were here to
enjoy these beauty spots" She learned
from a casual inquiry of mutual ac-
quaintance that Rex was taking long
business trip. She was to learn nore-~
that he had her in mind-for every day
he sent her some little gift.
One day she failed to receive the
little token and she had to confess TO
herself that she was bit disappointed.
She was quite disgusted with herself
when she found she had no appetite
for the tasty meal Mrs. June had pre-
pared She was just wondering what
she would do with her evening when
she was called to the telephone.
That you. Marj?" a CHEEKY voice
said Well. this is Rex. If / call about
9 will YOU 90 to a show with me?"
Sure will" she answered and tried
10 keep relief from her voice.
1t was one of the pleaSantest eve
nings Mariory had ever spent in a
mans society. The show was really
fine and Rex didn't spoil the story by
constantly talking. This was novel, for
the men she usually went out with were
so intent upon telling everything in
teresting or not that had ever hap
pened 10 them that she got very little
out of either entertainment.
A few mornings later Marjory awokc
with a raging headache and when the
doctor came in answer to Mrs Junes
summons he declared she had tonsilitis.
She was confined 10 her room for one
week. and every day Rex Parker left
his card with few cheering words
inscribed. One day. right after lunch.
Mrs. June brought up letter and when
Mariory opened 1t she read TO her
amazement:
Il hope your throat is better Mrs
Junes report last night was most en-
couraging I wish / might see you TO
say good-by. but that is impossible, for
I am leaving in an hour for Florida, 10
be gone three weeks. REX"
Next day Marjory was able 10 be
downstairs. and in two days more back
in the Office A day or two later Rex
wrote. He told of his safe arrival: how
he was enjoying the climate after the
cold of the North. He mentioned two
or three of their mutual acquaintances
who were wintering in the South. The
letter was friendly. but he gave no ad-
dress
II was Mrs. June who nearly broke
Marjorys heart and aroused her TO a
full realization Of what she felt for Rex
Likely Rex Parker's gone South look
ing up some girl" Mrs, June said. He
may have gone 70 marry her, for all /
know"
"Oh. / can't believe it, Mariory ex-
claimed Then she hated herself. for
good as Mrs June was, she was known
To love bit Of gossip. especially where
| Il concerned affairs Of the heart.
We'll. OF course. it doesn't matter 10
! YOU, Mrs. June said. with twinkle in
| her sharp black eyes. seeing that you've
| about made up your mind to stay here
| with me always" And Marjory smiled
| as bravely as she could for without Rex
| II would be as good a thing as she
! could DO
| A month later Rex Parker came back
! alone He came one evening TO see
/ MarJory az Mrs June's His Offering
/ this time was himself and Marjory ac-
| cepted him without an instant's hesita-