Evening star., 1936-04-08

"St. Francis2 It's only quarter to
six, they'll still be having tea dancing
there" the man unused. Let's see.
where shall we 60? Where'd you go
last time handsome man took you to
dinner?"
Nowhere" Tam answered, pretty
in her buttoned-up fur collar and
brimmed dark hat, with her rosy
cheeks squared in wide smile. Mayne
looked at her suddenly.
Want some violets?" he demanded,
diverted.
I'D love them!"
He fused a little selecting them
pinned them on her collar himself; {;
the fine big hands scented with soap
and glove leather were close to her
face. The flower girl In the big hotel
knew him; the telegraph girl whispered
to her companion as Maynard Mallory
went by.
How d you mean you didn't dine
anywhere the last time you went out?"
"Becuz there wasn't never no last
time, mister. This is my first step
down" Tamara said, with her joyous
youthful giggle.
Honest? No fooling? For heavens
sake!" Maynard commented. Then
we'll have to make it memorable.
Where've you been all this time2"
In convent in Canada. I just got
home in June"
"Tamara Todhunter, hey? Was
Tamara Townsend anything to you?"
Aunt. She was playing with Leo
Dietrichstein when I was born. was
named for her"
But you're-I know Coral Tod
hunter. She was down in Culver City.
Sister?"
My sister, yes"
Wasn't Tamara Townsend killed."
In Florida last year. She was
aWfully sweet, too. She paid for my
schooling and left me $500. And one
Summer she asked me to Lake Louise. u
"You look like her." the man said.
L remember her. But you're twice as
good looking. Now let's see. We've
got to celebrate tonight. I'll tell you
we'll go out and have dinner with
Persis and Joe. You know her, you
know Joe Holloway"
Il don't know either"
You ought to. She writes wonder
ful poetry-nobody's recognized it vet
but it's the best poetry any American
woman Here, it's early. Well take
car and drive out around the Cliff. =
Mayne said, signaling to one of the
drivers who were waiting in a fringe
| along the south front of the square
The Park and the Cliff House" he
said, and then to this number on
Taylor"
Tamara felt suddenly very young
and awkward. She did not feel eouaI
to amusing this magnificent cavalier
Smiling, settling herself comfortable
In the big seat, she told herself that he
didn't have to do this-he didn't have
to suggest it-he must want to.
Il see you have a habit of talking
to yourself. What's on your mind? the
man said. "It'S going to be dark ir
about 20 minutes-too bad. But wen
do it again some day. So you're just
out of the convent, are you2"
1 graduated in June"
Il see. That makes you"
Nineteen last week"
And did you like the convent?"
Some things liked" Tamara an
sWered vaguely. But, of course, there
were other things didn't like so much
1t was lovely, part of it,"
When the dark shut down. thu
driver stopped at the Taylor street
address, ramshackle wooden building
precarlously perched on hill. Tamars
and Mayne climbed two flights o,
stairs to the big upper studio of the
Holloways. A man in his shirt sleeve:
came out on the second floor anc
said, "Oh, hell, I thought it wa.
the groceries," and Mayne said
That's Travers; he paints" as they
went on.
In the Holloways studio lamar was
conscious OF tremendous slanted sky
lights, Of spaciousness and shadows
easels and canvasses, Uttered draperies
ana tables and odd chairs. Persi,
was dark, frail-looking woman In
a blue smock; there was a hearty
square girl called Lucille, who had 3
deep voice, and another very small
woman called Mabel. And there were
six or seven men, among them Joe
Holloway, in his panty apron, with
kind eyes twinkling above a Vandyke
beard. They all seemed delighted that
Mayne had come, and they made
Tamara heartily welcome; presently
Persis opened a door, and every one
struggled across a roof to anothe,
enormous room, where there was a
long table, and many chairs, and ar
adjoining kitchen.
Tamara was by this time in q
seventh heaven of delight; she neve,
had been with people she liked SC
well, or in such an enchanting atmos.
phere. Their lazy talk seemed to her
brilliant; every one was talking all
the time; they hardly gave each
other a chance to finish a sentence,
An elaborate dinner was immedi-
ately under way; the preparations
were not formal, but Tamara thought
she had never seen and smelled and
tasted such delicious food. Joe was
compromising some sort of a chicken
stew in an enormous pot; 1t was
odd, as late as Z o'clock, to see
him leisurely and carefully scrapine
the carrots and cutting the celery
that were to cook in it, but there
was apparently no hurry, and far
from feeling impatient, Tamara was
conscious Of wishing that all this
might go on for hours.
do we want baked potatoes, Per-
sis?"
Are there potatoes in that stuff
you're cooking, Joe?"
That what, my darling?"
'That-goo," Persis said simply.
Joe, you have a garlic in that
Heaven bless you," Mabel said. 81
can eat garlic in anything. I could
eat garlic on chocolate eclairs."
Speaking of chocolate eclairs
where's the rest Of that big chocolate
cake?" man demanded.
9,, kIa