Evening star., 1933-09-03

"Singe." said Priscilla one night, I'm going
slowly mad. I'm about to turn the gas"
Don't do that" said SINCE, until you've met
Reggie Parkhurst Every girl on Broadway
stays alive to meet Reggie"
When Priscilla met Reginald Parkhurst she
knew she had been right in breaking her en-
gagement to Wilbur. Reggie was as good look
ing as Wilbur and he was all that Wilbur was
not. He had the pent house-not on Park
avenue but past the dingy streets which lead
to the East River, where aggressively wealthy
apartment houses have been raised. He had a
yacht, slender white thing
When you marry me-" he said one day III
give you all the Sapphires can find. Your
engagement ring will be big square one blue
black like the night on the water the first eve
ming We went up the sound
Priscilla smiled. Il could love any one" she
said somewhat fippantly, who thought CT me
in terms Of sapphiras Butt don't want to
seem grasping- -rubes are really my favorite
stones"
Reggie shook his head "Rubies are for So
phisticates," he said, not for little girls who
look like wild roses and buebels and nice long
days in the country"
Priscilla stared at him with a startled almost
Mortified expression.
For the next few weeks, whenever she was
with Reggie, she dwelt with fervor upon her
admiration for men of the world
Reggie listened but didn't say very much
When he began to smile indulgently at her she
knew she was lost.
THEY were at Broadway's most exclusive and
expensive night club, where Missouri May
was hostess. The big room was arranged some
what like an amphitheater. Dance floor and
colored fountain in the center and velvet-cov-
cred flooring mounting toward the highlight
ceiling in irregular tiers, little jaggedly-
the Alps in miniature.
In a special niche on the highest peak Pris-
ella and Reggie had table reserved for them
nightly. From where the dancers swayed to
wailing, discordant music, balloons-rangng in
size from ping-pong ball to great translucent
bubbles two feet in diameter-foated up to
them.
On this night of her disillusionment, Priscilla
was enjoyment personifed. Her f-ock, what
there was of it, was white; and she wore Reg
gies engagement present-sent confidently in
advance choker of sapphires
Leaning little forward and looking like the
answer to a gold-digger's prayer, Reggie said:
Darling, when we're married my wedding
present to you is going to be little white house
in the country. There won't be many servants,
because want you to make home for me
a home that I have never had. And thereu
be roses He stopped as Priscilla broke in
hastily
will there be ramblers, Regge?"
Reggie patted her hand Dearest" he said,
"Of course. Pink ones nodding at your bed
room window"
The next morning, as early as decency
would permit, Priscilla rang up SINCE and in
vited him to lunch If he felt any surprise it
was not apparent. He ran a pencil through
a list of morning engagements, and told her
he'd be delighted
Have you had quarrel with Reggie?" he
asked when they had seated themselves and
ordered luncheon II know there must be
HING yuop 1dpf houo ockQ
me to lunch"
Priscilla giggled YOU'RE nice, SINCE" she
told him. TITS funny no girl has ever loved
you"
Hundreds have" replied SINCE gravely, "but
in vain. Where is Reggie?"
He died last night" said Priscilla sadly. HE
died ignoble and ignominious death. A
little rose-covered cottage fell on him."
SINCE began to laugh until it seemed he
couldn't stop Priscilla" he said finally
Whom are you going to try next?"
Priscilla looked at him reproachfully. I'm
through with men, SINCE" she said. "Just
through"
SINCE lighted cigarette Behind you, two
tables and to your left-don't look now" he
said casually, wilbur is sitting all by him.
SELF Shall ask him to join us for coffee?"
"Well," said Priscilla, IAN old friend"
SINCE smiled and called the waiter. ASK
that gentleman there to join us for coffee"
he told him.
AS Wilbur grasped her hands fervently, she
felt pleasant thrill Of anticipation.
Priscilla" he said with the directness Of a
small boy. "I've had simply terrible time
since you broke our engagement I'm going to