Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24


part. and he was, If you asked him,
pretty good actor, too. He was actin
q part. and he was dressed for 1t. A
dressed I'D, he was, in a cutaway an
gray striped trousers and a flower il
his buttonhole and the right sort o
collar. The perfect wedding guest, in
deed, was Mr. PARROT, wearing jus
what the theater programs say tn
well dressed man should wear on sucl
occasions. All except the face. Blu
you can't buy a face, even for wed
ding.
There was music in the air. People
were dancing. Mr.. Parrott didn't fee
like dancing He felt all sunk, If yo,
really asked him. and he didn't mint
admitting ito himself. Not to any
one else. though. He'd grinned SC
much that his lips were sore. He
wanted to get away, by himself. But
he couldn't. Not till the show was over
and Betty and Ferris had gone. He
was going to see this wedding through
But he couldn't stand seeing people
and knowing what they thought, and
having girls be nice to him.
He kept on wandering about. He
wanted to be by himself. And he re-
n,embered a room that ought, he
thought. to be empty, He'd known
this house pretty we'll once. He gravi-
tsted toward it. and the door waS
shut. sure enough. and he opened it.
and went in. And Trudy Ware was
lyins on the couch. face down. oawl-
Ing. He said something under his
breath and started to back out Ano
then he changed his mind and closed
the door and stood and looked at her.
He didn't care about Trudy. He could
be himself with her.
"Hellol" he said. morosely. what
the matter with you?"
Not that he didn't know. He knew
perfectly well. And she knew he did.
which was why. ne supposed, she Just
looked to see who ii was and then
buried her head in the pillows again
and went on crying. But il made him
unreasonably furious to come upon her
so, crying her silly eyes out. 1t looked
oh, he didn't know girl oughtnt
TO do it. that was all. 1t wasn't done.
Even so. disguised and angry though
he was. il made him feel better to see
her. too. He went over and stood be-
side her, and he took out clean
handkerchief he had and held it out
TO her.
She gulped. But she took it and
used it.
"Th-thanks, she said. and kept
right on crying.
"Oh. what's the use. TrudyP." he
said, after a minute. ITS done now
Nothing We can do about it. Best
thing we can do is forget it..
She didn't say anything. She tried
to. but a sob swallowed her words.
Crying your eyes out about that
fellow" said Steve. scornfully. Look
at mel Haven't you got any pride?
Think I'd let any one see how felt?
When he asked me to be an usher /
said I would. Like shot. And ]
ushed all right. didn't II"
i've got Just as much pride as you
have, Steve Parrotti" said Trudy.
Wasn't I a bridesmaid? And might
lust as well take poison and be done
with il as wear yellow, with my COM
plexion! That's why Betty had US
wear yellow"
you're cuckool" he said. How do
you get that way, Trudy2 You
looked sweIl-you still do, all except
your eyes. What are you kicking
about. anyway? You're darned lucky,
II you ask me. That's the sort OF
chap who comes to bad end, that
fellow FERRIS"
"Oh. listen to who's talking!" said
Trudy. After the way you've gone
around, because a mercenary little
creature like Betty fitted youl And,
anyway. If you'd had gumption, you'd
have seen what was going on, and
stopped it."
els that so?" said Steve us that
so? I saw what vas going on. all
right. But what could do?
couldn't stay out here all day and
watch them, could I? have to eat,
don't II"
He went to the door and opened 1t
and stood In 1t, as If he didn't quite
know what he wanted to do. He
didn't, either. Sounds Of distant rev.
eiry came 10 them.
shut that door," said Trudy furi-
ously.
ION, all right" he said. and did.
''But / mean-ougl1tn't we TO get back,
Trudy? They'll think"
Go On, them" said Trudy. Il don't
care what they think. ! hate them
all"
And she buried her head In the pil-
lows again.
CTEvE stood and looked down at her.
~ Poor kid She looked sort of cute,
he thought. all cuddled Up that way.
Shed get over this, Of course. But
she didn't know it now; that didn't
make II any easier And anyway per-
hapx she wouldn't Shed always been a
queer one Funny. He'd never thought
about her very much before, really.
He'd known her all his life: they'd
lived next door to each other when
they we're kids. He'd known her too
well TO think much about her prob
ably.
"Trudy." he said. and sat down be-
side her on the couch. "Hey-Trudy!"
She didn't pay any attention TO him.
So ne shook her shoulder gently. But
she shrugged his hand away. Here!
Snap out Of TT"
She sat up and turned toward him.
Go awayi" she said. Leave me
alone Steyei"
Nothing like It." he said. "Trudy,
be your agel Some ones Liable 10 come
In here any minutei Come on. Listen
to reason for minute, will yoa?'
"Reason!" she said, and laughed hys-
terically. He SHE'D away from her.
Gosh--f she vas going TO have hys-
tericsl Betty'd done that, once. In
this very room. They'd sat in 1t a
Y know" re said. That's all right
too. But you want to think this out
Trzdy. This chap Ferriss, now-~T mean
q Led tnatIl do the snake -ir-tne- grass
stuff the way he dds pretty sure tc
END up beating his wife or something
You're pretty well out Of 1t, II you
ask ne"
y don't care ANYTHING about jim
YerriSs." said Trudy. 4 hate him. ANY
man who'd let any one like Betty pul
the wool over his eyes
They glared al each other for min.
ute, and then Trudy laughed.
Tim sorry. Steve" she said. Il
] didn't mean 10 b. horrid 70 you" BIZ
the tears started again in her eyes
"Eut--oil, Eteye~--~-'
She slumped again, but this time h
put his arm about her, patting her
cltlsslsiiy. while she #ept into the wfIt'
edg,ug Of his gaistcoat and his SUpefl