Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-05

the bewildering knowledge that Roselle wac 81
love with him, the two OF them, hand in hand,
like children, had sought out the School OF
Automobile Drivers, where Michael was enrolled
for evening work. Two weeks later, his 1ESt
payment of his nest egg of $500 was made ON
an orange-colored, slightly used taxicab, and
three months later newly licensed chauffeur.
in natty crayenete suit leggings and cap was
doing his test driving on speedway just OUT,
side the town.
TT was by all odds the most exciting event that
had ever entered his life. and to mitigate
what might have been the pain of it. Hotspn
was to be relegated for light farm work TO the
truck garden of an uncle of Roselles, where the
pair. when they were welded, could visit him
of Sunday.
1t was ALL as Roselle put it. just too hotsy-
totsy for anything, except that the slip-up came
where not even her sharp foresight could have
ever anticipated it.
One week before the wedding of Michael and
RoSele, and that same one week before Michael
was to assume his permanent place the
taxicab, Roselle staged a party.
It was pretentious affair, given in the back
yard of the little house on the outskirts OF
town which Roselle shared with parents and g
brood of small brothers and sisters. There were
colored paper lanterns strung colthes line.
Dancing on the back porch. to ukulele music
supplied by some of Rcselles old flames among
the taxi boys. Strawberries and cream and
homemade ginger bread passed by Roeene'S
perspring mother and smaller brothers and
sisters.
1t was toward the end OF the evening, after
Michael and RoSelle had been obliged by their
warmed-up guests to dance fandango, that
the real novelty of the occasion took place.
Led into the back yard by -four Of RoSeIle's
little brothers and sisters head down. tail down,
eyes down. was Hotspuri Hotspur. mind you,
rugged up in a white lace run. and beribboned
Sunbonnet and large veil of lace curtain
caught by orange blossoms at the neck
Hotspur, the sweet-eyed, delicate-nostriled,
satin thanked Hotspur, standing there abaShed
by the ribaldry. quivering under ridicule, de-
famed by geegaws!
1t seemed to Michael seeing it happen, as ia
his heart had stopped and with it his desire ID
ever live again.
Cracking laughter about him, Roselle clap
ping her hands and skipping about the detected
figure of Hotspur; the guests applauding this
latest coup of their piquant little hostess: 1T
came over Michael suddenly that here in this
humiliating moment probably resided blessing.
Here, in this moment of hurting for Hotspur,
there came to him the impossibility Of what he
was about to do.
MICHAEL belonged on his box, behind
Hotspur. Roselle bless her, belonged TO
that age out there. good enough age If you
knew what it was all about, only Michael for
the life of him, somehow could not figure os1e
the need of rush through time to the jangling
to telephone bells, the whirring of motors and
tipping Of planes
FEELING that way about it all, bleeding at
hears for Hotspur the rest of his decision came
quickly.
Michael Is back on his box now the lAsN
coachman in the square. He still drives for the
older families and the nurses at the hospital
still have way of sending for him when they
want their patients to enjoy tranquil drive
behind the restful old Hotspur. e"aA@
He has even driven RoSeHe and lief hhsba9d
Mh,lf OF ASol,as 'sshAIfEfIk Ms a nANaaA