Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-17

moment the past anu IutuIe SephIdIeti
for them, as 1t was doing for every other
conscious person. So far each of them
had gone. with luck or without it. with
success. labor. help or failure. 1t logged
them all into future. shot them back
into kaleidoscope pasts, the knife of
time cutting between what they had
done and what they might do with
sharp. mercileSs stroke. For the most
part they pretended it did not matter.
as If realizing that there was something
abnormal in passing in such lonely
fashion from one year to the next. The
weary girls lips frightened, and Daphne
seemed to know that the girl saw moth
ing ahead but work and that there was
no one to help her along The fat man
grinned sardonically, as If he knew ex-
actly what you could graft or grab out
of one year as well as another. The
two boys began to clang their spoons
and sing. The street car conductor
lifted his cup and said to one OF the
boys behind the counter, We'll, here's
my first meal In the new year." and
the other waiter smiled at Daphne and
said: Happy New Year, miss! That's
the whistles, all right"
| She had done what she wanted to
do-begun a new year in novel way.
| She looked at the young man next to
new era. This year seemed to please
him no better than the last. He was,
| Daphne saw, about Nick's age, or pos
sibly a little younger. And she decided
that his morbid manner and brooding
probably came from a quarrel with a
woman. 1t made her sorry for him and
she showed her sympathy in words.
May have the sugar." she asked.
When Daphne asked man for any,
thing. from sugar up, he was always
flattered. This one, hearing her voice,
looked up instantly and reached for the
sugar bowl.
She smiled and thanked him and
wished him happy New Year.
Thank you" he answered gravely,
land / hope you're going to like yours"
I'm determined to like mine" said
Daphne. deliberately dragging him into
conversation.
You're not getting of to very good
start" he suggested.
Yes, I am. I'm beginning new
year in fresh way. I said I'd turn
over a new leaf, and it's turned over"
We'll" he said, II only refused to
begin 1t in the old way"
did you walk out on your party?"
she asked.
We'll" he said, You guessed 1t. I
did walk out on it. Did you?"
She nodded. II couldn't stand Il.
Last years party all over again"
Same old jokes and the same people"
There's something about New Year
eve that makes you think" she sug-
gested vaguely.
"More coffee?" asked the boy behind
the counter.
The young man looked at Daphne.
Only more coffee could give them an ex-
cuse for lingering. They both took some.
Wont they be missing your"
They'll never notice that I'm gone"
said Daphne.
He was watching her now, wondering
about her, and she was tremendously set
up by being mysterious. 1t was delight
full to be talking at midnight to a man
who was quite ignorant of the fact that
she was Mrs. Nicholas Jelliffe, who lived
at the corner of Burbank avenue and
Second street In the Italian house that a
famous architect had designed.
so you're sick of riots. too" said
Daphne. Aren't they deadly?"
'Two-by-four ones, anyway. don't
suppose I'd mind good one. Out at the
Valley Club, maybe, its different"
Daphne look at him askance. wonder
ing If he did know who she was. but he
was innocently stirring his coffee. She
thought that, out at the Valley Club,
Mrs. Ellery was now wearing the green
hat. and perhaps Nick had begun to
sing Annie Laurie" 1t was his one big
act, as he thought, and New Years eve
usually brought it out.
why would 1t be different there?"
she asked.
"Oh. suppose they do things in kind
of big way. Every one says it's a
whale Of an affair. And the people
count At least, they stand for some
thing"
He spoke with kind of drive and
thwarted eagerness In his voice that
took the edge off what might have been
snobbishness.
mo doubt, they're dull" said Daphne.
People who are trying to get on are
twice as interesting, think"
You should have seen the party I
left That was full of corners"
You should have seen the one at the
Valley Club" she told him pointedly.
He glanced at her closely and grew
IT might have guessed that" he said,
"but didn't. What I said must have
sounded pretty cheap"
THE boy behind the counter began to
l. rub the marble slabs close to them.
with an intensity that indicated a grow
ing interest in their talk. Daphne, look
| ing up. became aware Of being watched.
A tremor of fear went through her. The
! fear challenged her, and she turned to
her quasi-companion, who also seemed
| to have noticed the glances.
Cant I take you back?" he asked,
under his breath.
you can take me almost anywhere
else" said Daphne. in the same kind OF
whisper. and the tourmalines In her hair
sparkled afresh as she got down from
| her high stool and walked to the door
you forgot your check. lady" called
the boy, waving the small yellow stub
but the young man reached out his
hand
"Ill take It," he said abruptly.
Daphne protested at the desk.
II have a purse" she said, producing
a scrap of gold brocade.
However, the young man had already
given the cashier the money.
| They emerged from the restaurant
and Daphne made her mind up rapidly
Have you a carr" she asked the
young man.
MOI was walking"
Lets try each others parties. You
think you'd like NINE and I know I'd
like yours. Come on. Let's CO."
She crossed to where her car stood
Come along" she said impatiently
He told her, sitting beside her as she
shifted gears, that his name was Clark
Bert Clark.
why do men snip off their names in
that abominable fashion," she sighed
my name Is Daphne. The rest OF 1t I'm
getting along without tonight. Where
are we going?"
Anywhere" he said.
Then let's try your party. Can you
get me IMP"
That's easy enough. But 1t will be
dreadful
which way do I turn" she asked
reaching the corner.
X
BLANCHE CLARK was dancing with