Evening star., 1935-02-17

escorting her in public and it may create in
him the desire to take deep breaths and de-
velop q chest comparable to the wife of his
bosom-or, perhaps more accurately the bosom
Of his wife. But, whatever beneficent effects
1t may produce for the body it is quite as
likely to prove damaging to the spirit.
THE truth was that Molly no longer clung
to his honesty. The fact was she no
longer seemed to believe 1t was particularly
important. She not only took 1t for granted,
but occasionally she regarded 1t with disturbing
levity. Sometimes when they visited friends Of
an evening Charles might fall to reminiscing
and begin to tell about how he went to the
children's party dressed as George Washing
TON
1T was Washington's birthday, you see, and
my mother rugged me up like young George
with hatchet and everything. And you know,
funny thing, but that influenced me all my
life. It"
When he got about that far his wife would
laugh in an apologize way and murmur,
Charles Is going to tell you that from that
day to this he's never told a le!''
Then they'd all laugh uproariously-for
Molly somehow made one feel that such thing
was preposterous. Charles would have to join
the laughter, finally, because such thing began
to seem prepoSterouS to him, too.
He had meant to speak about this habit Of
hers. But somehow he had never got around
to it. Not even though he had had 10 or IL
years now in which to do it. He never really
got around to speak to Molly about much Of
anything Molly always spoke first, and de-
cisvely. Friends-those same friends that
were mentioned before-said that Charlie
Blivens couldn't call his soul his own. Jerry
Peters who was a very special friend and also
very clever, paraphrased Uncle Tom and said
that Charlie Blivens body might belong to his
x.,;Fo hf &I@4A -, halo rad %
Washington.
OF course, Charles recognized his domestic
state, and he was not without some inkling Of
how he was regarded among his acquaintance.
He had to admit that while he had developed
one Of George Washington's racteristics, he
was woefully lacking in some Of the others.
He mused upon this fact As he walked out
Of his house on this particular anniversary
Of the birth Of his hero.
TO MANY people, this cold, clear February
day was just a hoday-but to Charles
Blivens 1t was . great deal more It had always
been . day on which he re-read some Of the
significant parts Of the great mans life and
in the afternoon, while Molly was taking her
beauty nap. it was his annual habit to walk
down to the park and gaze for . time 1T .
large bronze statue Of Gen. Washington 1t
was a very excellent statue, and from the
well-marked patrician features, from the firm,
positive stance Of the figure, Mr.. Bhvens re-
ceived considerable inspiration.
He was standing thus, gazing up at the man
whose namesake he would like to have been,
when = pleasant voice at his shoulder said.
II beg your pardon"
Mr.. Blivens turned quickly. and instinctiyely
raised his hat. There stood before him an
extremely personable young woman. He saw
at once that she was extremely personable,
and two or three seconds later he placed her
age at somewhere between IS and 80 These
days a man can hope to come no closer than
that
"Yes, indeed" said Mr.. Blvens in reply to
her tentative remark thinking at the same
time that she certainly did not appear to be
the kind OF young woman who would speak
to man in the park Not unless she wanted
70 inquire her way, or was pursued by some