The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-10-24
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Bv HAZEL LIVINGSTON

II Sle ndQQ'G SLOOQ IN G11e mar"
row hallway, practically barring
the way, he'd have gone on back
with her. But she knew better
than to let him do that. She took
him into the bleak little front
room and gave him chair.
Told him to sit down, but he did
not. He strobe around the room,
looked out first one window, then
the other. He was very tall and
terribly young. So young that he
couldn't, he simply couldn't, have
been an old flame of her mothers.
Maybe Evelyn imagined it, along
with her notions about the grand
eur of the Faileys, and going to
live in the Mill Valley house!
So, "Your David Byrne," she an
nounced him, still prickling from
the tmpersonal greeting he'd given
her. "An6 you can thank me for
heading him off into the living
room. He would have followed me
out here"
"Oh dear!" Evelyn said. She
put her hands to her hair, that
she'd pinned into flat waves, looked
down at her old black lounging
pajamas.
Grandmother, sitting on the
floor in her white silk dress with
the red belt and buttons, like a
girls, just laughed.
HE would"
"Not this time" Evelyn said ir-
ritably.
"Then Dorathea had better go
back and amuse him till you're
ready. You know how he is. He
won't sit and wait"
Dorathea took the pile of stock
ings Grandmother was sorting, out
of her lap. mo, I don't want to.
I don't like him. You go, Grand
mother, please"
Evelyn, pulling pins out of her
hair, turned to laugh, delightedly.
"NONSENSE, darling. He's going
to be a great friend. You'll have
to like him."
Come" Grandmother said.
1T WON'T" Dorathea said, cross
ly. Jan had made up her mind to
hate him, too. 1t wouldn't be loyal
to father to do anything else. Still,
it would be interesting to see a
man who had never got over low
ing mother and had sacrificed all
for love. She couldn't help a
flicker of romantic interest.
She waited, eyes wide, not quite
wanting to offer.
you go, JAM" Evelyn said care
lessly, "go and take my place,
there's a good girl
So, reluctantly, but not without
a culver of anticipation, Jan and
her grandmother went to Soothe
the impatient lover.
Was it too early for a tea gown?
Slipping the soft blue chiffon over
her hastily dressed hair, Evelyn
wondered. Still it was the most
flattering thing she had, and
David wasn't likely to know the
difference.
She did look nice. Thank heaven
for good skin that didn't need a
lot of makeup.
Trailing chiffon and a gust Of
her best gardenia perfume behind
her, she hurried down the long,
dim hall to the little room where
David waited.
Having mama and Jan in the
room didn't help any, but that
couldn't be changed.
She stopped in the doorway, one
hand on the dark old wood. Blue
chiffon fell back from her white
arm. She knew the picture she
made. Tall, graceful. Soft, dark
hair cleaning. Swallowed pansy-
blue eyes more purple than ever
in contrast to the clear, sky blue
of her gown.
David"
He scrambled to his feet.
"Evelyn!"
He hasn't changed, she thought,
as he came toward her, smiling
a little shyly, and she saw that
he still wore the same kind of
loose, English tweedS that he'd
always worn. and he hadn't
grown thick through the middle
like Peter.
The kiss that he gave her was
a bit brotherly. but the hug was
hearty, and what could you ex-
pect with mama and little Jan
right there in the room?
Been making friends with
JAM" he said. Great kidd"
He beamed at everybody. But
why the formality? Going to
make company out of me? I
thought I was one of the fam
ily!"
She held on to his hand, smil-
ing up at him, waiting for her
mother and Jan to go.
"You couldn't wait till ~"
mo! Not when I knew you
we're here. Great heavens, Evelyn.
I haven't seen you for years.
Why, the kids we're infants in
arms. Makes me feel a hundred"