Evening star., 1932-10-09

II~ UT Bill" said sister. wait bit
H You don't really love her. Haven't
x you ever heard of Summer crushes?"
II have" said Bill, flicking the
ash from his cigarette, 'and your
statement re the genuneness CT the
strings strikes me as being dogmatic.
positively do love her. I am quite competent
to judge the portent of the flutterng ticker
Some day you'll stagger from portent your
self. It's one of those things. 1t comes to YOU"
Bills mother was large lady with greying
hair and number of very pos tive qualities.
Firm. Adamant. One of those types. "Bosh!"
she said Utter nonsense! You meet a girl
at the seashore. and she laughs at your jokes.
Naturally, you think you're in love with her.
No doubt she's soothing to the eye in addition
Flattery and beauty! The old combination"
Correct as to the beauty" admitted Bill
airiy, but wrong as to the flattery. If you
think it's fattering to be called a loafer-"
Advanced technique" said mother. That
works with young men who have consciences."
IT'S no use, mother. Your philosophy may
be sound in part, but whether it is not, the
love bacili refuses to listen to logic
You read that in a book" suggested sister
Joyce, not very respectfully, beflts a COM
ment to a brother.
Get this, both of you,' said Bill, looking
his sternest, mo matter what you say, Nan
and are going to say I dol"
The ex-Mrs. Cleveland was seasoned cam
paigner, hence she concealed the shock under
an explosion of imperatives Don't be an
idiot! What do you mean, marry? You know
nothing about the girl"
Wrong, again. She's been through finishing
school, and she has a job in New York"
"What sort of job?"
Bill hesitated. She's model And" said
Bill, you needn't look triumphant
The ex-Mrs. Cleveland looked triumphant
anyway. "A model" she cried.
II don't precisely like the way you said that"
%I@nk hos,, s-l~
that I shall part with you in approximate
huff; until dinner time"
\ ARS. EvANGELINE HODGKINS could, on
W. occasion, assume an appearance of scorn-
full majesty. This was an occasion. She had
lived under the same roof with her son for Is
years. He could be wilful. The stubbornness
Of old Cleve. The stubbornness that had made
him work and stick and strive until he had
become manufacturing baron-and divorcee.
Cleve Hodgkins had remained plain man Of
the people, even in af1uence. Mrs. Cleve had
had different notions. Cleve had retired to a
country place in Connecticut, where a man
could read the paper in his stocking feet and
smoke pipe in the parlor. And Mrs Cleve
had remained in the Pennsylvania city where
she could make splash
A young man cannot spring from such sturdy
stuff as Cleve Hodgkins without having the
spark to assert himself.
The ex-Mrs. Cleveland Hodgkins frowned
She would be adamant.
Son Bill was to be impressed with that fact
The impressing occurred at the dinner hour.
Bill, as was his wont, came dashing in breezily
half an hour late. The fact that he was beau
tifully tailored and handsome in a medium
sort OF way, did nothing to diminish the stern,
stormy calm with which his mother began
&c foe 90
humored young men, chose to ignore that sim
lister calm. He dashed into the dining room
babbling as he dashed. Wont bother to
change. Informality Of man of the people,
And are my tissues depleted! Mn! Terrapin"
'William? The measured heavy formality
OF the maternal tone brought the sons atten-
ton from terrapin Immediately. He stopped,
leaned over the back of chair and stared at
her
Why the executioner air, mumsy? All"
said Bill, II have it! You read about that
matter of doing clip on the pike. Wasn't
bit over 40, but you can't tell a cop anything.
Won't cost me dime over Is kopeks. Really"
continued the son, lit happens to the very best
Of us. Freddie Lynch"
I'm not interested in any of your silly
friends!" interrupted the maternal voice icily.
BE good enough to listen to what I'm going
to say"
Mind if I sit down. mumsy?" interpolated
Bill politely. They do in the electric chair,
you know
"You needn't be witty. Sit down. Ring
for the soup. You might as well eat. If you're
the idiot think you are it'll be the last square
meal you'll have until you come to your senses"
why, mother!" said Bill in mock terror,
"what do you mean?" And he rang for the
soup.
Just this" Mother leaned forward with
inquisitorial eye, while daughter Joyce
studiously examined the non-existent design
l=o-,