Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-26

When Adam arrived Maudie introduced us
through a crack in the door. Meet my
hance," Maudie said; and then, in the very
same breath, "You two win have to excuse me
till the biscuits are DONE"
Adam was Uall shy. swarthy young man who
smelled of rancid fish. His eyes looked about
and he coughed and sat down.
when he isn't looking thought, "I shall
study him. I shall see what Adam is made Of"
Somehow, in view of the junior class prophecy,
felt that had created Adam, conjured him
up out of nothing, for poor lonely old Maudie.
What sort Of man was Adam?
We talked Of fish and fishing, and the way
Westgate was spreading. wen have sewerage
soon," Adam said. Adam had feverish, seeking
eyes and cropping hands. Cropping for what,
wondered? There something. aside from
the Misunderstanding repulsive, shrunken,
about him. He began to sniff to look expect
antly toward the door Of the wee dining room.
HE likes to eat" thought. "And he, too, be-
Meves that woman's place is in the home"
It seemed to me that hours passed before
Maudie finally stuck her head In and, by means
of significant gestures and mysterious winks
and whispers, made it known to me that was
to come and button her up in the back In
the bed room she threw on her house dress,
daubed talcum powder under her arms. The
Filipino waist, saw. lay on the bed, stretched
out as for nap. its arms up over its head.
There were other things on the bed a sort of
shower Of pink and blue silk, frilled out in lace
and cheap ribbon. "vera's,' Maudie explained.
"She win leave 'em around"
Maudie, with vague interest, stared at her
self in little cracked mirror and screwed UP
her hair. In the back it swept up in a long sill
yer streak. with a few straggly hairs on her
neck. "Vera wants me to cut it." she stated.
Nov for my waist" Reverently Maudie
reached for the poor, exhausted thing and
slid her plump arms into it. As buttoned it up
(there were three buttons off) she shifted and
observed that it would soon have to go to the
cleaners again. :. 1t was amazing the effect
that waist had on Maudie's morale Cor was it
the thought of Adam, now that supper was DONE
which caused her to glow SO and shine?). She
emerged into the hot little parlor a creature
of airs and graces and simply silly with love-
like cheap valentine. She seemed to be ac-
tually blooming, putting forth frail petals and
little green leaves.
Maudie's supper dragged through a heavy
half-hour, with Adam eating enormously. There
were moments of haphaZard formality, followed
on Maudie's part by bursts of hysterical gay
ety. And then the street door opened and
some one came in Vera" Maudie explained.
The instant Vera appeared on the threshold
knew what Adam had been cropping for His
eyes flew to her. with dumb delight She was
a pretty thing to look at, slim, exquisitely
made, with thick curls and pansy blue eyes
She slouched into the room and sort of
shrugged around in It, while Maudie reached
out and pulled and pecked at her as one does
at baby. This is my little sister," Maudie
said. And Vera said, PLEASED to meet YOU"
The rest OF the meal was gayer although
Vera Tor her part contributed nothing. She
was there to be looked at that was all; and we
looked, IS cats may look at queen. Maudie.