Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-28

other women here decide not to know her. .
do believe I"
But right there she stopped, because the
piano next door broke off with kind Of crash-
ing and the voice that was singing did much
the same; it began to shout in some foreign
language, fairly pouring the words out and all
most yelling Goodness mel" Mrs. Massey
said, and, looking out of the window, we saw
the Bullfinches' limousine just driving away
fro in front of the Ballinger cottage.
We'll, don't know" Mrs. Massey said, after
a minute looking thoughtful. Perhaps I'd
better put off calling until she's had more time
to get settled" So we went for q drive instead
and when we got home again. toward evening.
Mrs. Weeder came over from her porch, where
I expect she'd been waiting for a chance to
talk about what had been happening with
somebody that hadn't Already heard.
It seemed Mrs Bullfinch had decided to call
upon Nine. Palma Just about the minute the
rain stopped and had been informed that Nine.
Palma was not at home. Though, as she told
me later over the telephone" Mrs. Weeder went
on "she could hear Nine. Palma fairly screech-
ing at the maid all the time she was standing
at the door. Well of course, didn't know any
thing about how Mrs Bullfnch had been
ceived until later. and neither did Mrs. Dali
rymple Mrs. Dalrymple and I decided to call
together. and a maid came to the door and
took our cards, but told us in a most insolent
way, we both thought, that Nine. Palma was
not at home. The same thing precisely hap
pened to Mrs. Allstover. Mrs. Ruckleboys, Mrs.
Griggs and Mrs. Carmichael because Mrs. Dali
rymple and I were sitting her porch and
saw them go up to the door and come right
away, and we talked to them afterward."
We'll, that doesn't seem to terrible" Mrs.
Massey said, little surprised probably by the
excited tone of voice Mrs. Weeder was using.
ut isn't so very unusual for people to-"
"Listeni" Mrs. Weeder said. "A little while
after I went home from Mrs. Dalrymple's I
called to the telephone by Mr.. Jackson,
the agent who looks after the Ballinger cot
tage. He said he had message for me that
he didn't like to deliver, but his life wouldn't
be worth living unless he did it. He said that
about every half hour since Nine. Palma's ar
rival he'd been called up from that cottage
about the plumbing or the furniture or the
mattresses or some doors having a squeak in
1t. or goodness knows what. He'd had to come
up there five different times and the last was
the worst. He apologized and said he SUPPOSED
the best thing was to lay the case before the
ladies who had called upon Nine. Palma that
afternoon, and she'd given him our cards
and absolutely insisted that he should in
form us that she'd comes to Marys Neck be-
cause she'd heard it was an obscure place with
out any social attractions and where she could
find perfect quiet She wished the ladies who
had called to inform all the other ladies in
the place that she preferred to make no ac-
izng whatever. Mr.. Jackson said he was min
imizng the expressions she used, at that but
he thought probably it would be better, espe-
cially for himself, If word were passed around
for no more ladies to call. I told him he
needn't worryl"
II should think not!' Mrs. Massey said, look
ing q little flushed. "I should think not, in
deed!" O
Mrs. Bullhnch is the most upset Of ALL"
Mrs. Weeder told us. she says she never
would have dreamed Of going, especially with
that italian tenor, Orlando, in the house, but
she thought she ought to on account Of Mr..
Bullfnch's second cousins having been an &C.
quaintance. We all feel that deliberate insult
has been offered to Marys Neck and from now
on the only thing to do Is to simply and alb
solutely ignore her"
IA /EIL, that seemed sensible to me, and ]
w supposed the ladies of Marys Neck would
go ahead and carry out the idea-which shows
I didn't understand much about what the
ladies mean when they speak of ignoring! If
ignoring person is making her pretty nearly
your sole topic Of conversation, then MaryS
Neck ignored Nine. Palma and the first time