Evening star., 1933-01-15

4 RS LUCIAN FEATHERSTONE
n n wore (the society editor would
~ ~ have loved this) one feathered
~ mule, an oxford, a hat she
n thought was hers-actually 1t
a mans grimy felt-and a
velvet robe. Because of the Tilt of the chapeau
one curler was starkly exposed. But In spite
of these details, In spite of her surroundings
(the uninhabted moors of Midwestern State),
and her companions "a motley-looking crew
who had escaped from the Pullman now igno-
miniously stretched on It's side like dead sea
eIephant), the good woman was superb. Though
annoyed; for she and her daughter Alison,
were scheduled to entertain the Towne- Farrell
wedding party in Philadelphia that very eve
ming The wreck had been most inopportune.
Alison, brilliant little figure in orange vel.
vet pajamas, over which she had draped D
blanket, was enjoying the scene more thorough
ly than she had expected to enjoy the Towne-
Farrell function; and was still brightly expect
ant after she'd been herded with the others
into trucks and bounced over hazardous country
roads. And deposited before neat hostelry Ia
beled "hotel"
The others might be Jumped together for
time. Except for one terrific drummer from
Little Rock who will lnger in Mrs. Feather
stones memory as long as memory Is hers; for
as the hotel proprietor greeted them the drum
mer CRIED Hey, lady, you got my i'd" And so
own head.
And thus the intimacies and intricacies OF
Mrs. Featherstone's toilet were revealed.
A LISON stared at the disheveled person who
was her mother. Then was she conscious
Of some ones coughing discreetly; of some one
tall and red-haired. The young mans shoulders
shook though his eyes were solemn.
o4t, L..
wreck of a great lady with mingled pity and
restraint.
But the proprietor was graciously Offering
hot coffee and other sustenance: and the crew
was enthusiastically surging-a little ahead Of
the host-into the dining room. -xrs, Feather
stone, subdued for the moment, likewise surged,
but her daughter remained on the outskirts.
Beside the man with the red hair .-.i''
There isn't q dress emporium avanahle, is
there?" Alison inquired. She was studying the
man; he interested her. People always inter-
ested Ahson-except the right people, the peo-
pie one should know. She liked his green eyes
and straight nose-and something homely, vet
attractive, about him. "I can't 60 to Philadel-
phia In blanket Do you know when the
nearest train leaves?"
Does It? Perhaps it runs by request, ana
the requests have to be In 0 week ahead
Casually, as II dismissing Alison and her blan-
net. the man joined the coffee consumers.
Which was pity. He could have been, ALI
BON felt, entertaining. Slowly she approached
the orgies, sank into chair beside the red
haired man.
Across the table Mrs Featherstone was raI-
lying
alison" she said briskiy, "Mr. Werner thinks
we might go by plane. III wire George Nelson"
Don't" advised her daughter
why not?"
tonight-or whenever we get to Philadelphia"
Then as the good woman started swelling
aiarmingly I'm sorry. know you'll be DIS
appointed-but can't marry Just to save nv
pride!"
She was now totally Indifferent to the crew,
who were eagerly attentive over their mugs ana
oons. Because I'd been a hop deb-because
people were talking Of my fondness for Ber-
muda, I wrung q proposal out Of George-to
snow you and everybody else that could do
III But don't really want him, now that i've
got himi" -
But" spluttered Mrs Featherstona =
III go abroad again. And take up art-or
the Russian situation" 1t was suddenly fun
70 be reckless. "Or teach school I doht think
I'm temperamentaIly fitted for natrimony
have fatal sense OF humor--l" e.
Fatal?" Queried the red-haired man.
But Mrs. Featherstone. who had been SIM
nering dangerously, boiled over. She turned
an outraged eye upon the stranger.
What has our CONVERSATION to do with you,
Soung mani"
OF course, the young man should have wilted.
But he didn't.
Have you ever reflected upon life, MRS.
Featherstone?" he asked with solsmnity. ."rns
hve-wire of potentiality that underlies the mo-
notony Of existence For instance, here we
are"-his gesture included the crew, who I'M