Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-12

and I can't deny got little confused about
what intended to say, her manner
interse and sharp. In the first place" told
her, Il admit don't know anything about his
character except what I've heard, and / haven't
seen anything OF him much myself except at
dinner last night, when he certainly didn't say
anything very noticeable I only thinking,
Enid, that If you'd take better look at him
yourself you'd he isn't exactly--that u
to say, his appearance isn't exactly"
But she cut me off right thee so you
don't think he's handsome" she said getting
paler and breathing harder. That's your
charge against him, is it? Even mamma and
Clarissa haven't dared to say that! You admit
you don't know anything whatever about him,
but you object to him because in your expert
eyes he isn't handsome"
Look here!" / said, naturally little pro-
Voked. Il don't care whether he's handsome bf
not. It's what he looks like that object tor
At that she got rercer with me- II
kn.w you'd join in this persccution!" she told
mt. Dol" Then she lii Ted both her arms up
kind OF violently. OH" she said pretty nearly
shouting Its unbelievable how small the
natures Of people can be when they find them
selves compared to one OF the finest, bravesA
souls this world has ever Scent Then she said
oh! again, banged the door behind her and
ran out to the board walk !
Well sir, the way she'd f3wn off the handle.
almost completely taking leaTe OF her proper
senses, you might say, left in pretty
astonished condition. What's more practically
the same thing happened every time tried to
reason with her upon that subject I COULDN'T
penetrate to her intelligence at all. I tried
logic. I tried pleading. I tried sarcasm. !
tried overpraisng him. But after about
three weeks acknowledged that her mother
right about my not accomplishing any-
thing. One day I asked Eddie Bullfinch with
good deal of feeling how long his visitor
intended to keep visiting.
Eddie was wearing that hard look on his
81,
said seemed to intensity it, He stared at me
if I'd brought an accusation against him
that he couldn't bear.
Well, don't know" he said looking
thoughtful, and I could see he was unwilling
to answer directly. The Shooting Stars hkaE~
out O. commission since he's been here
on account OF engine trouble, but it's all right
now and I'm going to take Enid and Mush
quite long trip in her tomorrow afternoon.
Mush hasn't ever been in any boat right out
the ocean, and if today's wind holds out
it might get little rough
Eddie looked at me, then. with plaintiv6
kind Of hopefulness and as if he thought there
might be something of bond between US
created by mutual trouble Would you like
to go along, sir maybe?" he asked me.
Well. 1 thought I saw a gleam in what
seemed to be his idea. I said Id go. and I
did The breeze freshenei up overnight and
when the four of us sputtered out OF the harbor
in the Shooting Star right after lunch, it was
pretty celebrating for a while; that is, it was
until Enid and Muskme!on began singing Boy
of My Dreams Want You" He had one of
those high-school tin treble voices of the sort
I'd often heard Enid mimicking and making
fun Of, but now 1t just put her in a soft glow,
painful 20 look at
Eddie tried to join in the singing and ruin
it, kind Of bowling. but they didn't appear to
know he there.
We went about four miles not moving very
rapidiy-Eddie explained to that only one
OF his engines working-then he Steered
the Shooting Star into channel about half
mile wide behind low, rocky island, where
there seemed to be croSs-currentS and the
water unusually choppy. He said he hoped
wouldn't break down anywhere in thesa
because the island would likely keep other
boats from sighting us and coming to tow Us.
He was tinkerng with his one working engine
as he spoke, and right that very minute #
made a Hopping sound inside and stopped.
Enid and Mushmelon. up in the bow. didn't
seem to notice this right away, but went on
talking. and, with the engine quiet, We could
hear what they said. =
Mushmelon speaking. II like the ocean
he said. "On railroad train you have tor
keep on the tracks, but on the ocean you don't.H
IA /ELL, it's hard to believe but Enid looked
w at him as if he'd said something "a
intelligent it was startling That's
wonderful thought" she said Il see what YOU
mean-the freedom anything vast and track.
less gives you-the freedom to be gypsy OF
the sea! Mallowfield, your mind never stops
working for one instant, does it?"
He frowned and puckered up his little mouth.
well, can't say it does he said
You're wonderful" she said. wv, nderful!s
And she gave him a worshiping loof that 7
wished she hadn't because it was the sort
of look that would tend to sicken any father
uyh0 lAir