Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-02

heard of Aunt Martha-she whose
cheeks are like peonies, and whose wis
dom is toothsome the 1aky, gold
en- pies which emerge from the kitchen
of her house on whipple Hill.
Pies and tartS and pastries were Aunt Mar
tha's Specialties. There was nothing, she said
like the pie business for giving you chance to
look in on peoples souls And souls-or rather
the curious way souls had of getting themselves
into kinks-were Aunt Martha's sideline
There was Jane Craig, for instance.
Aunt Martha had always thought Jane a
laughing happy-hearted creature until the
afternoon she went to her house to make and
serve the refreshments for three-table bridge.
The sun parlor, where the game was in progress
was riot of sweet peas and roses, and the young
matronS gathered there looked like bright
winged butterflies in their gay, Summer dress
Pretty as tulips and as care-free as hum
ming BIRDS" Aunt Martha thought.
But that was before the game, and the talk
began in earnest and scraps of their CONVERSE
ton foated to her ears
"Selhsh Selfish and lazy that's what all
men are"
oh. they have the easy time of it, It's the
womans job that's never done my dear"
Easy! I'll say So What with his luncheon
clubs and conventions and silly parades I'm
willing to bet that the average man doesn't do
two hours work in day"
THUS on and on, in voices that were at times
slightly shrill, the pretty. perfumed ladies
continued their lament. AS they shufned and
cut and dealt the cards they RECALLED one an
other with the glaring defects of. the Dicks and
Toms and Harrys to whom they had sworn to
cleave for better or for worse And from what
Aunt Martha could gather she went in and
out with the sandwiches and minis, there
wasn't any better about it. From their COM
plants it would appear that to none of these
fE>~ka1 l~s.
nonial grab bag yielded anything but an an
noyance.
When the party was over and she and Jane
had gone into the living room for chat Aunt
Martha commented on this.
Il declare. I used to wonder why there was
SO many divorces. But after hearing you young
folks talk it's the marriages I wonder at"
she said
Into James vivid heart-shaped face there
flashed petulant expression.
Well if women had the snap men have
things would be different" she said tartly At
never go downtown that don't see hordes of
them. standing on the street corners and laugh
ing at each others jokes AS Dora Parsons
said this afternoon, what with their parades
and speeches and silly monkey caps, the
average man" She stopped as Bob Craig
tall blond and keen-eyed-came swinging in
through the hall
After bending to receive James lukewarm,
unenthusiastic kiss. he said:
0Sc, EAunC marina, I'm glad to yOui
Stay to supper, won't you? I've had the bots
all day, and for man who is running in low
gear 1 don't know better pick-me-up than
you are"
into Aunt Martha'S eyes-blue as gentians
against the soft white Of her har-there came
q fond expression. Bob Craig was one of the
boys for whom she had baked cookies and
gingerbread men In their Misunderstanding DAYS.
Low gear? That don't sound 80 good COM
ing from you always think of you as ridin'
on top Of the wave"
Lighting cigarette. Craig flung himself down
In chair
"Oh, well, ami Usually. But I've had a
disappointment. The realtors convention
meets in Monroe tomorrow and was counting
on being there. But Miss Higgs who looks
after my ONCE, is down with q spell of acute
indigestion and I'm afraid I can't get awav"
Jane sat bolt upright. In a tone of bitter
triumph she exclaimed:
There, Aunt Martha, what did tell youp
This is Bob'S second trip since Christmas but
the children and haven't been anywhere in a
year
Bob flashed her q look of open hostility.
Why not tell the whole truth Jane?" he
said coldly. You know very well that I was
named as delegate to both of these conven-
tons with all expenses paid. Whereas the
Summer you and the kids spent in Coora-
do
Hasn't been paid for yet" she finished
YEARLY. 1T seems to me I've heard that one
before"
With . smOthered ejaculation, Bob sprane
30 his feet :Ai
yes" he answered I'm a voice drippn0 with