Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-11

His thoughts raced on wildly There was no
reason, now, why he shouldn't marry.
HE'D had hard fight after his fathers
death, for there'd been nothing saved But
he'd taken hold he'd headed the family he'd
brought on his younger brothers, his mother
had net been obliged to give up the imposing
old family mansion where she'd come as a
bride and which was, Wayne believed, dearer
to her than to those who'd been born there.
He lived with his mother and sister and pro-
vided for them amply, lavishly, for he'd been
successful. He had the business instinct his
father had lacked. And the other three boys
had done pretty well. too, though not spec
tacularly. They had all married well and
established themselves not far from his mothers
home in handsome homes of their own. But
the ruling spirit was still in the homestead.
They were devoted family, and they circled
round the mother. Rose sister, would not
marry, would not look at a man. because she
knew how much mother needed and depended
on her.
Lucky for him that Rose had stayed with
his mother-it left him free to marry though
he had not thought much about It before.
There had been girl or two he'd played about
with, but his mother hadn't liked them and
had pointed out their faults so convincingly
that he'd been convinced Of his mistake And
then. too, before this he had not had the
means to provide for his mother as she'd
always been provided for and set up a new
establishment. Now he had plenty, plenty,
plenty. His last big turn or two had secured
him. The way was clear
And this girl was beautiful, so fresh, so I'M
tried, so-no, not uniformed. She was singu-
larly poised, perceptive and thoughtful and
critical. not with youthful crudity but with
mind nodded and trained to know and to
f1nS3rrn eH.A
nor shr1l, nor gauche She had quality.
He tried to smile at his absurdity in discov-
ering so many projections in so few hours, but
the smile went awry. He fell asleep wonder
ing how early In the morning he would see
her, whether she would come to breakfast how
much of her day he might monopolize He
hoped sincerely that Mrs. Cliff might prove a
poor sailor. If she was going to stick around
he'd have to look about for another man to
amuse her. He could not so waste his time
But, as he soon discovered that was one
thing that need not worry him. Mrs Cliff
never appeared before tea time, and usually
only Just before dinner Moreover she had
found an elderly beau, with a long pedigree
and an equally long bank account, who was
only too delighted to be squire of such lady
They had so much in common-they both pre-
ferred Biarritz to Nice; they both found the
chief fault Of the younger generation to be the
boredom they caused their elders, and they were
both connoisseurs of all the unimportant tastes
and virtues. So Mr.. Peter Vanlaer played spe-
cial providence to the wishes and intentions
of Shelby Wayne
These did not pail nor slacken as he came
to know better the object of them. Instead
they increased in power. He made it impossible
for any other man to come near Leila Hardness
They walked they played deck tennis and
Switchboard, they lunched and teaed, they
danced and they sat for long hours and watched
the ocean and talked. They talked the I'M
failing topic of lovers-themselves.
Shelby Wayne shattered his ordinary reserve
to tell her of the struggling years that had
ended so well for him He told her of his
home, his brothers and their wives, his sister,
and always and always he came back to his
mother. Her whole life wrapped up in the
lives of her children! What it meant to him
to be able to take care of her as she deserved!
II like to hear you talk about your mother"
said Leila, listening II never knew a man who
did so much for his mother as you do"
But any one would with a mother like mine.
My mother would like you Leila. Shed adore
your singing. wonder" but he was afraid
to say what he wondered.
IN her turn Leila told him of herself. She
had no mother; she lived with her aunt. Her
life had been easy, uncompliCated She had
gone to school. she had come again to gayety
and good times Mrs. Cliffs house was part
of the social merry -go-round Then they had
Travelled, everywhere except places where Aunt
Rhoda thought we'd be too uncomfortable"
And for the last four years she had been in
Paris, studying singing. mot that I've a great
voice, but because 1 want to know at least one
thing well"
But your voice is wonderful protested
Wayne
"A good little parlor voice, nothing more.
Oh, I've no illusions about it. Anyway, 1 do
know how to use it. and i could teach singing,
j: v'Gt"c. 10 bccirTars Thnt's SOMETHING"