Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-07

two simply clad but very pleasant
looking young women: Frances. with
her added height. her more regular
features and greater sivacity. perhaps
the more attractive. but Miss Brown.
in her neat black dress. her trim fig.
ure and her air of complete compo.
sure. also in her way pleasing to look
upon. They locked up the room.
passed out into Oh. street and through
the alley to curzon street where. to
Frances Amusement. Miss Brown
summoned taxicab.
Heavens. Edith. what are you up
to-" she exclaimed. I'VE could have
had IA cocktail each for the price Ut
this taxi"
Her friend smiled.
II have had very lucrative com.
mission" she confded Nothing In
the world could have been more for.
tunate than your coming up. It's my
treat"
BLESS the child Frances 'ex.
claimed. 1T isn't going TO be any.
thing Of the sort, and YOU know 1t.
but what's happened TO your You're
changed somehow
Miss Brown siniie,i'a little sadly.
You're clever" she acknowledged.
How am ] changed"
Frances looked at her long and
thoughtfully out OF her gray eyes.
Edith" she confded. Il scarcely
know. You look somehow as though
something serious had happened. as
though there were suddenly back.
ground Of unhappness In your life.
and something else"
60 on, please"
~ cant" Frances replied. Give
me a little time. Perhaps III he able
TO tell you before the evenings over"
Miss Brown leaned hack In the cab
and for moment the light died out
nj her blue eyes. She was back In
that fog .hung room with its strange
odor and atmosphere of tragedy. liz.
tening to that wonderful Voice. back
In the ihroes OF hero.worship. She
was unconscious of her friends curl
Gus scrutiny. Then a twinge of pain
came hack To her heart, and her eyes
moistened. Subeonsciousiy she felt
herself grateful for the food Of Idle
chatter In which Frances had chosen
suddenly to indulge.
They dined at large and popular
restaurant where. before the war. the
sight OF two young women Mt a table
alone would have caused a great deal
of remark. An epicura might have
found fault with the somewhat stereo.
typed meal with which they were
served. but tn the two girls. whose
evening rcpast consisted generally of
scrambled eggs with tea, or some kin.
dred variation. everything seemed de.
ticious When the coffee was brought
and Frances had III her cigarette
Miss brown never smoked they were
IN q state OF post.pran dial content al
most masculine. Frances feet were
beating time 10 the music.
II warn you. dear little mother pro.
priety." she said, that II any one
comes who looks In any way decent
and asks mo TO dance. ! shall aceept. :"
Miss Browns expression was grave.
IT'S hard luck not knowing any
men here. Frances she sighed, "and
YOU dance ~ beautifully. but I don't
think ia do that. You cant tell what
sort Of person you might get mixed
up with"
Frances smiled q little bitterly
across the table.
what does II natter" she de.
mabded scornfully, What dues 1t
matter what one doess I'm nearly
30 years old, and half the good times
| might have had In life | haven't had
because there have BEEN things con.
neeted with them which one shouldn't
10, or isn't supposed to do I'm fed
np with II, Edith You come and loak
after my chickens for h time aud see
how you'd feet"
Its out Of doors." Miss brown nv,
gnad. ITS "A healthy NE aud \ beau.
tlful country"
sfAta hs. raj Aln.
der. Don't ha grgndmotheriy. Edith,
You live much more intenstvely than
! dov~-Sou could even have u secret
and keep IT," she added with note
at assrissed meaning IN her tont~-.
hut we're made Of the same stun,
really, We're neither of us content
at least | knew I'm not. and | don't
think YOU are, although you're hso
tmatast IN ASK yourself why, 49, i've
made cenauest, and I'm geins Ia he
asked 10 dance, I'm not quite sure
about him, hnt there doesn't Scent 10
be any one elise"
Miss nrawn lacked critically aesass
~ The opposite table. and I,ermttiet
herself sitkht fraWn at dtaapnraval
Two mtn had heen, iinins there alune,
and the one 70 whom Frances had evt.
IDENTIFY alluded was already unan hiA
feet, strengthening hts tie with ahsts
Gus self consciousness, lie was a Ma
man with a itarid complexion AMI ua.
ruly hah Iiis evening clothes fitted
him badly, ana he had the air at heinz
IN III annatd With his surroundings.
Nevertheless, natwilhsta ndina his
eaarseneaa al feature and somewhat
nampaus earviaHe, there was puWef
In lila face Ut a sort, IN his straight,
full mauth. shaaay eyebrows ana arm
Ia HIS "a al AT "A Alta.
snunEer, he ware tarinise shell ein,Mest
speetaeies, ana he presented A thnuaht
flil- alAlnhl anhnia riA anlAa IA AIn- liz