Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-11
THE EVENING STORY

adorable self and her quaint, suggestive
name. She was small and slender and
had a way Of lifting her blue eyes with
a you-know-best expression that went
to Lawrence's head like wine.
Can you teach my daughter to run
the carp Mrs Harrison asked.
"I'll guarantee to make her good
driver" Lawrence promised, and with
mingled Joy and alarm began the les
sons
The girl was so small, so neat-so
darned neat, but withal so efficientl
On one day he declared he would mar
ry her, though she picked UP after him
all the years of his life; on the next
he vowed he would never be slave
to the god of eternal order. He loved
her, he feared her, wanted her, was
afraid he would get her, knew he would
die II her lost her! And his sales fell
of 10 per cent.
BE careful, Lawrence" he warned
himself. Better be safe than sorry"
And the lessons proceeded. In record
time Prue could work the clutch and
the brakes and could manipulate the
gear shift; A few more lessons and
she could back the car and turn around
while carrying on sparkling CONVEX
Sation. His admiration for her clever
ness grew. but in proportion q sinking
feeling Of fear engulfed him. What
housekeeper she must be!
THE affair must go no further"
Lawrence counseled himself. 1T has
gone far enough"
On the heels of this excellent advice
he heard himself inviting Prue to din
ner. Then he found himself calling at
her home. He looked hopefully about
the charming room for signs of dis
order, but there were none. With cold
panic he saw Prue unhesitatingly put
her hand on the monograph record she
desired without referring to list. He
wished he could explore the apartment,
but that, he realized regretfully, was
impossible and, besides, it would be UNI
gentlemanly. Then came opportunity.
Shall we have dinner at Goddin's?"
he asked one evening when he met
Prue after 5 o'clock.
1--WE just phoned mother, and sh9
says I'm to bring you home for din
ner," Prue admitted, flushing a little.
Mother had planned a rather nice
explained frankly. at seemed shame
for her to eat it all by herself. IL
hope you like home cooking"
DO you--can you cook?" he man
aged.
Like a breeze" she replied, laugh
ing. Now, what did she mean by that?
The dinner was wonderful-too Won
derful. Lawrence was miserably happy.
Everything was too darned perfect.
Entering the dining room, he awk-
wardly, blunderingly tripped over a
rug. Smiling patiently, Prue adjusted
1t with the toe of tiny bronze slipper.
Lawrence felt himself choking. He was
being dragged into the very thing he
had fed from eight years before. Then
Prue smiled at him, and he groaned
aloud.
Perhaps you don't eat oysters?"
queried Mrs. Harrison anxiously.
II do. do; love Them" Lawrence
cried earnestly. And the meal pro-
crossed.
Perfectly cooked, a wonderful din
ner," he complimented sincerely.
Mrs. Harrison seemed pleased. "Prue
can beat her own mother cooking"
she proudly informed the eligible young
man. she has all the old-fashioned
virtues"
THAT of a model housewife among
them?"
"a perfect housekeeper," assured
Mrs. Harrison.
Somehow the evening passed. Law
renee, talking glibly Of the newest i'm
proved Drexler, was planning to run
away. as he had left home SO long ago.
He would put temptation behind him
and would be free. He would never see
Prue again. .
I've had q most delightful evening"
he said mechanically. as he bade her
good night. you've been q wonderful
pal" he added. his grasp on her hands
tightening.
Good night" she half whispered.
"Good-by.' he replied firmly.
Then, as she turned. the high heel
of her slipper caught on the ,carpeted
step and she plunged headiong. Law
renee gathered her, into his arms, his
heart pounding with terror, and ten
derby placed her on her bed
"Ammonia-on the top Shelf-kitchen
cabinet@" Mrs. Harrison instructed,
her voice controlled. but her eyes wide
with fright. Deity, but as in a dream,
ne and Mrs. Harrison worked over the
rived
bad knock on the head ana sundry
bruises" was the summing up.
Lawrence breathed a sigh of relief
that it was not worse and sank limply
into chair. Eventually he found him
self home. He seemed to remember
that Mrs. Harrison had kissed him as
she helped him into his overcoat, but
was not sure. That he had tried to
revive Prue with his own kisses he
was certain. Well. he could not run
now-he had declared himself. He
YEARLY prepared for bed and tried
vainly to sleep.
AS he lay gazing wide eyed into the
darkness something gradually dawned
on him. The Harrison kitchen had not
been immaculate and-unbelievable
put true-there was q towel on the
bathroom floor! Prue's room. he re-
called now. was positively untidy. oh.
JOY! or course, no one was supposed
10 see those rooms. That was the very
test he had desired to make. In par
lor and dining room there had been
none of that pleasant clutter Of unrec-
6tsary books, a stray pencil. a handker-
chief, that show the house is lived In.
But powder was on Prle's dressing
table. stockings were thrown across a
chair, magazine was on the floor.
Lawrence breathed mighty sigh of
relief. like a spent runner who has
finally reached the goal. ga place for
everything and everything in its
place he whispered happily. "And
Prue's place is right here in my arms!"
Copyright. 1927