Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-19
Miss Brown of X.Y.O.
By E. Phillips Oppcnheim.
Coryrsht. 1922. BY r. Phillips orpenheim

table for his hitherto Ghtasted glass
| of brandy and drew his chair nearer
TO his companions
Miss Brown" he said, you ask
a great many questions. You lead
us on 10 talk. hut YOU say very little
yourself. Yet in a way YOU are very
| mysterious person. | should like to
know more about YOU and your life"
why"
lis that coquctrv or do YOU really
wish to know why am interestcd""
Il really wish to know"
May tell YOU this. them" he
! begged. and Miss Brown. Watching his
sensitive face. realized that there was
no doubt about his sincerity. 1T isn't
because you are-shall I say the exec.
utor of the great enemy Of our
cause. 1t isn't for anything to do
with that. My interest is in YOU per
soNallv."
Are YOU married like Mr.. Frank
land?"
4 am not" was the emphatic reply.
And while We are upon the subject
should like to say that Franklands
moral standards are not mine"
Il am glad 10 hear that" ISIS
Brown confessed You imply that /
nm very SeCretive. | will give YOU a
proof t. the contrary. l viii take YOU
into my confidence. | don't like Mr.
Fr3nkland. ana | wish that Frances
would not encourage him. know
! that She only does it because she finds
some foolish sort Of amusement in il.
hat At the same time think that it is
unworthy nj her, MIR. Frankland is
not Z nice man"
Grtat<on shrugged his shoulders.
Don't think I'm a Suob. he begged.
ffS13 .Ntr ny ~ kA,-
| point out that Mr.. FARMLAND has
had no opportunity Of understanding
in the least what women OF Miss Aus.
tin : stamp ar" like or how they should
be treated He was down in tho mines
nj ! : years Old. his father was drunk
ard. and his mother worse. He has
, picked up an immense store of gen
eral knowledge by sheer force Of will
ana industry. He has developed the
kuack Of seeing certain vital matters
clearly enough from one point of view
his own-and speaking of them flu.
emily, hut as regards the more cra.
cious side Of life he has never seen il,
and if he had he would not he able to
appreciate it. \ woman means only
ore thing with him. The greatest
height to which he rises Is that h has
fanCies. Sometimes he fancies one
woman more than another. That's
just as far as he reaches"
Then. don't YOU consider" Miss
Brown demanded. that il is unpar-
donable impertinence on his part tn
dare to make the suggestions he does
To girl like Miss Austin?"
1T isn't exactly impertinence. he
argued, Its sheer lack OF compre.
henSlon, as | told Won before. All
women are the same to FARMLAND,
except that he fancies one more than
another. He thinks that he is only
Offering your friend what any man has
right to offer any woman And as
his experience has been gained in
different circle of life he doesn't, | sup.
pose. understand failure"
Il think" Miss Brown pronounced.
that he is most ahominable person.
] believe that Frances has made up
her mind not To encourage him any
more. ] am thankful for it,
Eric Greatson took off his spectacles
and wiped them. with little smile
Il thought they weren't getting on
very we'll tonight" he remarked
Your friend had that rather supe.
flor. rather humorous smile all the
time she VAS dancing. and Frankland
was SO furious he was humping into
every one. They are sitting down in
the lounge now. and FrankIand IN look.
ing like he does when he's been sue
c"ssfHiiS hecklcd Al n ~ itical meeting
And before they come back
may l remind you. Miss Brown. that
as XefTwe haze scarcely said a e. I'D
about yourself. Your friend in a very
charming young lady. and social poll
tics are one Of the most interesting
things in life. but ! should like. If
might. 10 talk a little about Miss
Brown"
She sniled at him. pleasantly
er rough. but always with that air OF
aloofness which seemed part of her
natural res~~ye.
Il viii become very personal in
deed" she said. dropping her voice "a
little and CHANGING around cautiously
'Mr. CT eaison. II is Il very terrible
thought fo. me that you could have
had the slightest knowledge Of what
was likely 10 happen in South Audley
street this morning. hut SO long As
YOU id know do appreciate your
coming To see me. You aust have
run = very considerable risk by don:
80. and | suppose your enterprise nj.
though / hated you for IL at he time.
saY"d nay life
Greaf~on was obviously III ~ ease.
II don't feel that | deserve any
thanks. Miss Brown" he assured her.