Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-16

A. the end Of exactly two hours Jimmy
rowed back to the boat house and paid for
exactly two hours rental. When they Stepped
from the little pavilion. he again proposed that
she should return to her room and sing.
listen at my window" he said. seized by
Q sudden holiness
But again she protested "Kt's too hate and
its such a beautiful night. Let's sit down here
for while"
So they sat on a bench and watched the
lights swimming in the water. They had moth
ing 10 say, so they sat silent and happy Five
minutes passed. and presently Jimmy felt the
touch of hand against his He said nothing,
and very slowly he allowed his hand to move
nearer.
Tomorrow there's band comcert." remarked
Miss Evans
Il love music" rejoined Jimmy Lets come
and hear it, What d'yOu ayP"
In the darkness the hands were joined now
and the last vestige Of loneliness had van
tshed. but they pretended they knew nothing
Of what their hands were up TO- and went on
talking.
The next day dawned hot and moist. Even
MRS. Skoyles, so frigid and spare of build,
complained of the heat "It;s AWFUL she told
Mrs. Berkovitz. II have no inertia at ell to-
day" BY o'clock the leaves Of the two
ailanthns trees in front of No. 20 hung droop-
ing and wilted. At noon the heat was internal
and at O'Clock the doWnpour began. Jimmy
regarded the food with q mournfl counte-
nance, for he saw the band concert slowly
melting away under the downpour At the
rain slackened little and deceptive streak
OF yellow light showed above the Jersey skyline
across the North River. But at it settled In
once more for the night.
At exactly O'Clock Jimmy rang the bell at
Mrs Skoyles' and was admitted by the land
lady herself
''You can wait here" and opening a pair OF
folding doors, she thrust him into a parlor,
where single gas jet Of . heavy bronze chan
deher was burning. Hat IN hand, Jimmy eat
on the horsehair sofa to walt. Miss Evans en-
tered the room
night" she said with false gayety. N%''waat shall
we do?"
Jimmy hlushed
II came anyway" he said. 81 thought you
might have plan. thought we might 20 TO
your room and you could sing for me-"
Miss Evans lowered her voice. MRS 6kOyles
don't allow that; we could ait here. IT'S not
very cheerful" she added obviously.
weakly they sat down, Miss Evans on the
hOrsehair sofa and Mr.. Smith on q straight
backed chair. From his position he saw that
the doors leading into the next room were open
little way. and through the crack he saw q
black object appear and disappear with ast0n-
tslIing regularity. At length he discovered that
1t was the toe Of HRS. Gkoyles' shoe rising and
falling as she rocked. It was . pendulum in
its regularity.
Just listen to the rain" remarked Miss
Evans. Have yon ever heard anything like it?''
She seemed little tired and cherries now
And ir was such . beautiful night last
night" said Jimmy
1.-THE most beautiful night I've ever known"
rejoiped Miss Evans with such feeling that
Jimmy felt warm all over
well, there win be other nice nights" he
added with show Of philosophy.
Beyond the doors AIRS. Ekoyiss, watchfnl of
her responsibility, rocked back and forth her
eyes intent upon the pages Of 1.-The Romance
Of the Duchess" her ears intent upon the con-
versatiOn in the front parl0r.
Flow did your work % today2" asked Miss
Evans
IAN right" said Mr.. Smith. "T.m dcing six
room houses now-they liked my work SO well.
Don't think I'm boastng." he added hastily
Il guess some day youth be great architect"
I can work better now-tt's not so lonely
since know you" Spa. =;
At this speech Miss Evans looked sfayly at
her feet, and in the next room the pendulum
ceased swinging for moment and Mrs Skoyles
put down her book She resumed her reading,
however. when the remark seemed to produce
nothing more than q painful and unreheved
silence.
TILE bronze clock struck and the sound
seemed to give Jimmy courage Won't YOU
sing something? I'm crazy for music Please
do"
He SO eager In his pleading that Miss
Evans looked away modestly.
mo, not tonight" She put her hand deli
cately to her throat. MY throat is so tired
But Jimmy persisted. please You don't
have to sing loud-just soft you know, Just
loud enough for me to hear. Or maybe you'd
just play over the music"
He stin held his hat and now he sat nm
The edge of his chair. all aquiver with eager
ness.
mot tonight" said Miss Evans Mrs
5koyles wouldn't like h-not down here" There
was quaver in her voice. She looked tired
and small
I'm ask her-Im not afraid" said Jimmy.
and before she could answer he t,aA sworn -