The Washington times., 1937-08-06

garden and the prlm HUE l.
with dignity.
To many people the Twilight
Inn would have seemed stufty.
It's reputation for strict respec-
liability was against it. The
clientele was prosperous, quiet
and definitely on the dull side.
There we're few young folks.
Most of the families or widows
or elderly maidenS had been
coming here summer after sum-
mer for years. Mrs. Brown her
self numbered 10 summers as
an habitue.
To her. reaching the Twilight
Inn was like an exciting home
coming. She knew many OF
the guests as old friends, though
of course she never saw or heard
of them between vacations.
Each August she reserved her
favorite room overlooking the
garden.
AS soon as she arrived she be-
gan to smile complacently,
soaking in the quiet respectable
atmosphere with deep pleasure.
A HAPPY WOMAN
None of the other guests, no
body in the world, could apprecl-
ate exactly how much this
change meant to Mrs. Brown.
Mostly she sat on the porch,
exchanging conversation with
whoever passed by, a perfect
picture of a happy, middle-aged
woman.
Some Of the guests remarked
that it was too bad Mrs. Brown
had no children of her own.
She would make an ideal
mother, but her husband had
died years ago, and it was tacitly
understood that he had left
her we'll off. She lived alone in
some Midwest town, she said.
Perhaps because she was so
alone she took a deep, sympa-
thetic interest in the affairs OF
others. though these might have
seemed tedious to some, for they
we're merely the usual small
woes of ordinary well-to-do
families.
There was, for example, Mrs.
Latimer who now sat herself
down beside Mrs. Brown, with
deep sigh. 1t was apparent that
Mrs. Latimer was about to con-
fide more of her troubles with
her daughter Bernice. 1t seemed
only yesterday that Mrs. Brown
had advised on brace for Ber-
nice'S teeth, and but slightly
later that she had condoled be-
cause a convent found Bernice
too strenuous a pupil.
SEEMS A GENTLEMAN
And this summer, here was
Bernice, one of the few young
people at Twilight Inn, and
showing no trace of brace nor
of convent discipline. In fact a
very pretty and a very gay
young woman.
1.-THE point is I know nothing
about him." Mrs. Latimer began
in the middle of a thought. He
seems a gentleman. His man
ners are excellent. But how can
I be sure that he isn't after
Bernice'S money? Her father
left her quite a sum in trust.
And he IS staying at that horrid
new hotel at the end of the lake
where they take in any one and
never even ask for references.
And here they come now. Do
tell me what you think of him,
dear Mrs. Brown.
Mrs. Browns bright blue eyes
widened slightly at sight of the
young man with Bernice.
This is Johnny Castle" Berl-
ice said proudly.
He was a dapper, sleek young
man, and he bent over Mrs.
Browns hand with exaggerated
courtesy. But after that he made
a hasty excuse about an appoint
ment at his hotel.
I'll see you tonight" he said
to Bernice.
Isn't he a lamb" Bernice de-
manded. staring after him with
19-year-old infatuation.
Perhaps he's wolf in Sleeps
colthing," said Mrs. Brown.
WARNINGS FUTILE
"There you go, agreeing With
mother" Bernice cried angrily.
II won't hear a word against
him. You're both too old to
understand"
She flounced away.
you see she won't listen" said
Mrs. Latimer. But I do thank
you for trying. You're a real
friend. Bernice is my only child.
It would kill me if anything
happened to her. You got a Dad
impression of him, too, didn't
you?"
"A decidedly bad IMPRESSION
said Mrs. Brown.
She agreed that it was useless
to argue with Bernice or to warn
her, but she made another effort
when she found her alone.
"I am sure I have seen MIR.
Castle before" she began diff
IDENTIFY. And under unpleasant
circumstances. My child, yod
are too young to recognize it,
but he has a criminal face. Don Z
you think it would be wise to in
quire into his character, his
past?"
How dare you! Bernice famed.
"1'll tell Johnny what you said.
No, I won't even repeat such
rubbish to the man I love-" she
added dramatically. "If Won