Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-20

into Nancy's eyes. And Nancy was little sur
prised and very much f1attered. She even went
so far as to wonder what her life might have
been it Jack had not appeared suddenly in
the small town where she had been teaching,
three years ago, and swept her off her feet
with his ardent wooing! She even went
far as that, which, as every woman knows, is
very far indeed. And she lay awake often,
now, too nervously excited from the strenuous,
glittering day to go to sleep, and ptied herself.
She wondered how she could ever go back to
the narrow life at home-how she could ever
again be happy with Jack.
1t was at the beginning of the last week
of her stay that she noticed Graces serious,
tired-looking eyes watching her and her
husband. Fred had grown more eager in his
efforts to amuse her. He had taken her to
tea downtown when Grace had to attend
board meeting; he had borne her of to studio
party the night Grace had a headache, and
introduced her to a group of literat Nancy
moved as if among the angels. She was really
living at last, and was thrilled to the core.
That night Fred said:
Must you really go this week? I'll miss
you terribly"
And Nancy wept nervously into her pillow
before she slept. She hardly knew why. The
next day was busy and important There
was formal dinner party in the evening,
and Nancy helped Grace with the details
''Ill put you beside MIR. Griscom, who has
Just come from New York on business" Grace
afternoon. Hes saturnine creature, but he
owns few little railroads and plays around
with factories for toys He's important, SO
he must be amused. know you'll do it. I'll
have to have the district attorney and old
MIR. Price by me. won't put you next your
host tonight, for I want him to notice there
are other ladies present" She smiled a very
little smile, and then turned swiftly to her
friend. There was catch in her voice:
"Oh, Nancy dear, I've been longing to say
cory inc 70 hrtkT F~osA
would put it down to petty wifely jealousy.
Nancy, don't don't take Fred's admiration
seriously. Don't let it sway you q hairs
breadth from-from Jack You have so much
in your life that I haven't You have love.
and laughter, and peace-an the best things!
Don't ever make the mistake Of selling them
for htsks"
When Nancy reached her own room she sat
down Imply. AL the sharp tension Of the last
weeks, all the excited elation, were suddenly
gone. She was conscious at first only of feel
ing very, very tired. Tired of trying to be
witty clever, tired of being constantly on the
alert to please. Tired-she might as well adj
init it--of pretending to be something she was
not. All that Grace had said stood out before
her like handwriting the wall. She thought
Of Jack. He doomed before her giant-like in
contrast to Fred Sloane's slim, elegantly tall
Ored figure. Jack, with his nonsense, his ban
ter, his slang. But with the clear, honest
adoring eyes. Jack, lacking indeed in a certain
AUkku Va WOtuiy pOlkSt1 puI True as SCceI. JaCk,
who might scof at gray spats and free verse,
but who never scoffed at honor. Jack Of
the clownish antics and the big heart.
THE best things! Grace has said that she,
Nancy possessed them. Love and laugh
ter and peacel Those were the ones she had
listed
It was q Subdued, tired looking Nancy who
went slowly down to dinner in her new evening
dress. She had looked forward to this event
as the great triumph Of her visit Now she
sat down to the shining hower-decked table
wondering what she could think Of to say so
confused and weary was her mind. Fred was
apparently greatly interested in the young
woman at his right. His eyes were resting
upon her Is admiringly as they had on Nancy
He hung eagerly upon her words. A sick
shamed wave swept over Nancy. How easily
she had been fiattered! voice ct her elbow.
Mr.. Griscom was speaking:
DO I have your name right? Is it Mira.
Blair?"
Mrs Jack Blair. from Woodlavn. n. J..
Nancy smiled up at him.
The saturnine gentleman suddenly smiled
back.
We'll, then, know your husbandl"
Nancy was doing some quick thinking. Girls
com? Griscom? Had she ever heard Jack speak
OF him? How awkward that she couldn't re-
member! Oh Griscomi Why, that was the
name connected with the big order Jack was
so elated over, that frightful night when the
Lynns came to dinner.
Mr.. Griscom was going on:
1--WE just begun turning some business over
to your husband OF course he's q fine sales
man, but it wasn't that which won out with me-
It was his personality. When he finally did
nail me- believe I was as pleased as he vast
He's the first man for years who could make
me laugh! He's a regular tonic Always In
good spirits. Not just the regular social veneer
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