Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-12
BY BOOTH HARRINGTON
lmyS Wcck C6lony

but sat off in corner staring at the ceiling
while Clarissa went to the piano and tried to
be tactful by playing something to relieve the
constraint.
That was pretty" he said when she finished
a piece. d" Tea for Two,' wasn't it? Somebody
ought to make UP some old song about tea for
three movies for three or sundaes and sodas
for three and the third person being allowed
to come along in order to have somebody to
pay for 1t. Otherwise there wouldn't be any,
prob1y!" Then he said "ha, hal" again, not
laughing, but just saying 1t harshly, and went
on, turning In his chair toward Mallowfeld,
We'll Mush, old Sloppy Weather, II you
wouldn't mind letting me have one OF my own
cigarettes might well smoke awhile until
you and the lady get ready for me to go down
to the movies with you and buy the tickets"
Mallowfeld Turpie didn't respond to Eddie's
suggestion about the cigarette. I'm smoking
my own, thank you" he said. Il bought EN-
this afternoon and don't spring that old stuff
again about its being the first time!" And
he added with kind Of spiteful little laugh
in his treble voice, TRY and think up some
thing brighter old Goosebery!"
Eddie looked dangerous over being called q
gooseberry-real trouble seemed to be imminent
right there-but Enid jumped up, pretty red,
and said it was already late for the movie they
were going to. So they went out, with that
Turpie boy holding to Ends elbow even before
they got to the door. and she let him. All I
Mrs. Massey to Clarissa and back again, while
both of them nodded their heads and then
shook EN- solemnly as if answering me.
why this is the worst thing l ever heard
OF in my life!" I said. That is it is If it's
what it looks like
It's what it looks like" Clarissa told me.
"Ony it's worse. Haven't 1 always said that If
Enid ever did get this way we'd have a per-
1ectly fearful time with her?"
why, my goodneSs!" 1 said. ITS got to be
dealt with! I can't understand how such q
thing was ever permitted to get started"
Clarissa gave boot. Started Papa, don't
you know yet that when it happens at first
sight it's already too late to do anything about
1t by the time anybody notices it? Don't you
spose mamma and have tried everything we
could? Don't you s'pose we pointed out all his
defects to her? That easy because he
hasn't got anything else, but all the effect it
had Enid was to make her rave at us for
letting Eddie Bullfinch poison our minds. Then
we tried making fun of Mushmelon and telling
her what all the other boys said about him,
but had to stop because it began to make her
think was jealous"
OLAR1SSA jumped up, there, because an
- automobile horn was rasping for her out
side with half a dozen boys and girls whistling
and calling her name She put her head back
in the door after she d gene out, though: You
say it's got to be dealt with do you, papa?
Gracious! I do hope get the chance to see
you dealing with it,
Well got up and began to walk the floor.
"It's got to be stopped" l said How much
time is Enid in the habit of putting In with
this Turpie?"
only her mornings and afternoons and
evenings every day.
why, good heavens I said. What
earth do they find to talk about?"
That's a complete mystery" Mrs. Massey
told me. You can see for yourself he's another
of those boys that never say anything at all
when we older people around but just look
as though We were impediments that ought to
be very temporary. 1 asked Enid If he ever
said anything worth listening to, but she In
usually they'd haze TO get toured in By
fisherman, or somebody, because
Eddie'd taken out the sails