Evening star., 1930-05-04
II Negv Story
From the Pen ofHe
Highest Paid
Writer ofShort
y tOrteS TN tn e
WmM.

The consequences were, of course, that no.
body called. Within three months after the
marriage the area of silence and Isolation
around the Thomas Ardens was like vast
park affording them more privacy than they
knew what to do with
Minnie was not accepted. The circles in
which Tom had moved as popular bachelor
might have vanished in thin air so far as his
further participation in them was concerned.
Not that they had actually vanished The town
in which Tom had prospered simply turned q
cold shoulder upon the advent of Minnie into
Toms life and resented what was regarded rs
outrage. .sM%
MINNIE had what is known as an unsavory
reputation That is. she was regarded
among the men of the nearby town in which
she had lived in way that ostraeized her
from any possible intercourse with their wives
and daughters. She was q big, dashing. gay
blonde, rather too given to high colors, snowy
Jewels and loud laughter After her fashion,
she had been known as the toast of those quar-
ters of her town where the wives and daughters
never ventured.
Eligible Tom Arden's marriage to her came
as the proverbial clap of thunder. The COM
munity gaSped, gossiped, turned Its back. Min
ME took up housekeeping in home where for
days on end the telephone did not so much as
ring. Isolation closed in around the home. un-
of gayeties which had marked it as the house
of one of the towns best bachelors fell away.
Not that a new gayety had not superseded the
old. The playful, good-humored, go0d-natured,
absolutely dauntless qualities which had first
attracted Tom to Minnie now stood their test.
Minnie saw to it that, one way or another,
Toms home was a source Of constant delight
to him. Her laughter rang IN Il. her deft
handiwork transformed 1t. her skillfun cookery
made its table an epicureans delight, and her
bold effulgent beauty thrived in It.
If, in the long watches Of the day. there
descended upon Minnie, whose spirits loved to
soar, long fits OF irreconcilable depression. Tom
was not to know it. The woman whose life
had been filled with activities and gayeties
from one day to the other accepted this strange
new lot without reference to it, without Whtm-
per. without complaint.
Sometimes blatant things happened that
brought color to her face and caused her ava
lancfes OF secret tears.
. The Ravenels, who lived next door, family
of social prestige and no wealth, had ever since
the arrival of the bride consistently kept the
blinds of all the windows which faced the
Arden house drawn to their limits
Before his marriage it had been Toms habit
to shout across the lawn to the Ravenels from
his own side windows. Minnie knew that. be-
cause time and time again Tom used to de-
scribe to her his habit Of waving goodnight
10 the 4-year-old Dotty Ravenel. who was
his pet.
MOT once since their arrival from the honey
moon had Minnie so much as clapped eyes
upon Dot. The Ravenels, along with the rest
of the community, turned a cold shoulder, but
i'm the case of these next-door neighbors the
shoulder was most obvious.
The skin with which Minnie dominated the
difficult situation was extraordinary. There
came time when Tom began TO make refer
ences with anger to their behavior. Not on
his own account. AS a matter Of fact. Tom was
happier than he had ever dreamed he could be.
But his heart hurt angrily for Minnie Your
little finger is worth more than the whole gang
Of them" was his frequent way OF summing
up the situation. "Iu take my business away
from every man in this town whose wife snubs
u.s."
"I wouldn't do that, dear. What does it
matter? Now, this is what would do: I'd
60 my way and not harbor resentment Life
is short and hard enough at best Forgive"
What could you do about q woman like that
Couldn't sour her. Couldn't get her to admit
heart hurt or a snub.
Next time see Lucy Ravenel on the street
TIM going to walk up to her and tell her where
she gets Off"
'I wouldn't do that. This is what would
do: I'd ignore it and see il in time she doesn't
sort OF come around to realization Of how petty
1t all is. :"
on Tom, he put it to himself. TO make him
understand that inside she was hurting and
aching and bluer than her beautiful eyes, Min
ME. who had been born and reared I'm o notori-
GUS environment was accustomed 10 attention
Men and women alike had rallied around her