Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-28

his complacency, for his black satin tie
with the cameo pin, for his long, well
cared fer hands, like Lambert'S.
When he had finished Sarah ordered
in port wine and small cakes for him.
Adelaide followed the tray, as though in
her upper room sixth sense had warned
her Of food below. but Sarah ignored
her presence-offered her nothing.
On the day Of the party she roamed
about the house, panic-stricken and yet
enthralled. The glass in the conserVa-
tory had been washed and from huge
closed vans the florists men carried in
great palms, oleanders, ferns. The pool
margin were set pots of blooming
plants. Missile dressed early, standing
on sheet in the center of her room
and later spreading 1t over a chair be-
fore she sat down. And then the bed
rooms were put into immaculate order,
so that Ishnael, at the top of the stairs,
could direct the guests.
Ladies this way, madam"
Gentlemen in here. please"
The music came and took its position
in the back hall From her chair with
its sheet Missile could hear it tuning I'D.
She could hear Adelaide moving clun-
silly about across the hall She had
pinned up her train and was smoothing
the coverlet Of her bed. From the huge
| AAOAAU AOOAl CdIIlS IleE
voice, high and querulous.
Are you ready, Marcella?"
Yes, Mrs. Colfax."
Then see If the caterers men are
stationed in the hall. It's almost time"
She went down the stairs, shining
white figure, long white kid gloves,
white satin slippers, tiny lace fan with
ivory ribs. The rooms were banked
with flowers and vines. A Sllbdued rat
tie Of china and glass came from the
pantry, and in the door of the con-
servatory, his back to her, a young man
in street clothes hastily directed re-
arrangement OF the flowers around the
pool.
He heard her and turned. It was
Harry S1oans.
"Hello!" he said. st hoped I'd see,
you before I had to get out saw"
Missile, you're beautiful tonight
She could not speak. She could onl;
look at him with those wide candle
eyes which had so Often shed tears fos
MIN. And he mistook her silence.
stihened, his smile fading.
I've changed the pool he said, his
Tone ne. ouslness!ike. How do you like it,"
I've gone in with my father" he ex-
planned. Il don't expect to stay, but
while I'm there. /. It's interesting
work." he said, with a faint touch Of
defiance. ITO take an interior as ugly
while"
I'm sure it is. never see you any
more, Harry ~
He smiled his old smile.
mats not my fault, missile"
But 1t seems queer" She was
1umbling for words, inarticulate. miser-
able. She felt she could not let him 20
IKE that, but that he would go, that
there was no way to hold him. IT often
W,onoer why l don't see you. All this
He waited for her to finish, looking
down at her with bright boyish eyes.
finished lamely.
You'll know everybody after tonight.
ET;veryDody who is anybody. You see,
II don't think that matters"
Inc man in the conservatory had
gone. suddenly M.ssis was trembling;
tnere were tears in her eyes. 1--WE been
so lonely" she said.
Pity or love, she never knew. He
looked around quickly, bent over and
KISSeo ner. The next moment the door,
bell rang, and he was gone.
=, She stood beside her grandmother in
the front parlor, her eyes like stars
carriages drove up, handsome horses
Two men on the box The OCCUPANTS
stepped out onto the red velvet laid
Gown the front steps, came in, went up.
came down. They passed her, shaking
nanoS with ner, with Stella's daughter.
And she smiled and greeted them with
Harry's kiss still warm on her face.
And this is Marcella."
| Iney eyed her, these people, but were
not unkindly. After all only half If
ner came from the gutter. The rest
After the reception came dancing
me young women carried their dance
cards on their wrists. At the proner
Time young men claimed them. pnt
wnite gioved hands tightly on their
pack, held them at a proper distance.
ana rotated slowly to the Blue DanubeJ
waltz, being careful not to lift their
teet as they circled.
And Missile danced, sweetly and de-
corously. Once she danced with Wes-
icy Dexter, but he smelled strongly of
champagne, and held her rather too
close. When she looked at him. how
ever, MS eyes were not on her O.
ne naroly spoke q word to her that
ngnt. Looking back on that, as she
did on so many things, she was to won
der just when he became really aware
OF her as an individual, as Missile COL
fax.
At midnight Sarah gathered I'm her
olacK train and went in state no the
stairs TO her bed. But the party was
not over. A line of portly mothers and
chaperons Still sat against the walls,
somnolently digeSting Sarah's excellent
supper, their deliberately coffured heads
occasionally nodding. They would have
70 SIT there, they knew, until the small
hours. They moved reStlessly in their
tlgnc bodiceS, yawned decorously.
IL was in the morning when the
last carriage drove away.
Old Sarah lay in her bed the next
day contentedly resting. The party had
taxed both her strength and her imam
cltal resources, but she had her corr
pensation. Under her pillow lay letter
from Lambert.
MY Dear Mother: am deeply grate-
Iui Tor what you are doing for Missie.
Naturally, deplore the fact that I cam
not 90 1t Tor her myself, but / realize
mat you can give her what I never
couio-poise and training and other adj
vantages. I can only hope that She will
pattern herself on you.'
Years later Adelaide showed her that
letter. 1t could still anger her
Soft SOAP" she said. "IIe was tall
ing her money and spending 4 on
gambling and women, but he could al
ways hatter her into believing that he
was her angel child"
Continued in Tomorrow's Starr