Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-04
INsTALLS1ENT XXI.

INSTALTlMENT M.
n n ARGARET and MRS. Cutting
~ N watching Stan knew that ne
V was not happy. When ne was
happy he was very dinerent.
He was quiet, full OF interest," IN
everything, he was pleasant:
Now he was excited, vocneEous, anA-
ious to prove that he was naving . WIZ
derful time, anxious not to waste q mln-
rte. but not--ro, not pleasant MAI
raret had been able to talk to him quite
sinnnlv and freely, few weeks ago. NOW
she had to think before she spoke, select
her subject, make sure that 1t would not
offend. If 1t could possibly pc con-
strued into a reflection upon surrey
then he was Furious.
You women are rich! he SAID one
day in bitter sarcasm, to Margaret. Al
WAYS wishing that you had chance 70
do some good in the world, and then
when a poor girl that's down ana out
comes your way, you can't be clVn 70
"i,m extremely sorry If have been
uncivil," Margaret had said, IN any
thing but peritence, with an angry
CLEAN in hsr eyes. -.
'sThat,s the way women always act
70 women" Stan had generalized largely
IF 1t was q man, now, he could De
murSerer! But it's woman, ana 2
pretty woman, and that's enoughi AL
you can do is get together and knock
her!"
MEN adore platitudss like that" Mar
garet had observed, mildly generalizins
in her turn:
had reasoned, with resentful CLINT n
his own gray eyes. offer her-an-wep,
an asylum, for a few weeks. You aIlc
Aunt Hat are always blatting about
how you'd like to have my friends here
but the minute I take you at your
word"
Il certainly don't blat," Margaret had
begun, childishly. And don't think
your aunt"
"Oh, Lord, that was just world
Stanley had interrupted, furiously. You
know what mean. But b George, I'm
done kicking about it," ne had finished
angrtIy. And Immediately he had gone
on upon the theme again. He wanted
to complain, reason, soliloquize only
about Shirley, in these days.
Margaret, listening in a sort of icy
patience, would think of Shirley, small
soft, silk-and-lace clad. dealing with thu
great facts Of life as child might dea'
with sticks of dynamite. Elopement, hel
position as the 19-year-old mistress of Q
man of so, ostraciSm, marriage, divorce
had still found Shirley soft, cuddly
wanting to be loved and petted, want.
ing to curl up by fire, or under rose
vines, and tell ether men low badly two
men had treated her. She had never
had child, Margaret would think con-
temptuously,.- the babyisb, innocent
helpless nature had been quite equal tc
avoiding that complication. But there
had been frightful quarrels, when Tom
Duncan or Cuyler Theohald had moi
been the only ones rendered idiotic BY
intoxication; there had besn shril
squabbles over bills, jealousies and an.
gers; there had been tears and resent.
ments end reproaches, and then ths
beautiful pearls and diamonds Shirley
wore had made their appearance, one BY
one, and she had been all cuddly dim
pies and babyish smiles again.
The world was full Of women like
that Margaret would reflect bitterly and
CONTEMPORARY. And it was the STAINS
the big, fine, simple men, who believed
In honor and chivalry, and who were in-
capable Of petty selfishness and false.
ness themselves, who invariably were
their prey.