Evening star., 1938-01-23
Moouzins Section


Thank Duke for me, darling" she'd say,
''but wish he wouldn't give me perfume"
Thought you liked cologne, honey"
II do, Clayton. But want you to give it to
me >. besides wish we wouldn't have Duke
here so much,' she said diffdently why
doesn't he find himself some nice girl. He's al
t0ays here, it seems to me-
Shouldn't think you'd mind handsome
boy like Duke hangin' around, admirin every
thing you do, Sally" he said absent -mindedly.
Then he turned around and looked at his wife,
and laughed short sullen laugh. maybe that's
just the trouble! Maybe you like it too good.
Is that it,"
Don't be absurd, Clayton" she said.
My mother said, 'Um-hum ats bad. Mr..
Burkwalder bettah be watchin' out, 'ith nice
young man like Mr.. Duke round here, smiin'
sweet at Miss Sally" She shook her head mys-
teriously as if she knew something no one else
knew. Il got feelin' this amt goin' end so
good"
Uncle Duke always came from rehearsals
with Mr.. Burkwalder, but often while he was
there, Miss Sally would make an excuse and
retire to her own room. Her husband appeared
never to notice. although my mother said that
it was: "On'y so many days tell he goin' 'spect
somethin'."
And sure enough, one morning it developed
that he had noticed He was eating his hominy
and bacon quite peaceably, when suddenly the
room was in an uproar. Miss Sally dropped the
letter she had been reading while they chatted,
and the two of them were on their feet, Miss
Sally murmuring soothingly, and Mr.. Burk-
walder shouting.
1T seems to me you're bein' mighty rude to
my friends Sally"
Darling, it's not that listen, dear -
His knife and fork clattered on the china,
and he began pacing the floor, stopping to glare
at her and to shout, 'You didn't think>~Id
notice. But III not have you snubbin' my
friends. Three times now, you've got up and
waltzed out of the room when Duke was here
I'd like to know the meanin' of it,
"Oh, Clayton, don't be foolish. was prob
ably busy, or something You mustn't be
imagining things, darling"
'Well, it's very strange to me. If my friends
aren't good enough for you. suppose I'm not
good enough either " And one of the
tornadoes feared by the entire house, was on.
Sometimes Miss Sally's soft little comforting
ways cooled his anger Immediately, but this
morning suddenly she didn't attempt to calm
him. She sat down. and picked up her letters,
and saw her hands were trembling. He strobe
on, and the icy chandelier shivered and tinkled,
and l covered behind the kitchen door and
said the alphabet.
Abruptly he sat down, and called jovially
for some more hominy for his were chill as
hailstones.
''Sorry, honey" he mumbled, II didn't mean
to be so noisy about it. But you see what
mean."
mot as we'll as if you'd told me quietly"
Miss Sally said, pretending to go on with her
letter. But she reached out her little hand and
patted his large thumb.
After that, of course she took pains to be
particularly cordial to Duke and both men
were delighted.
you're an angel, honey" Mr.. Burkwaldcr
said Don't you know it's only because I'm
so damn proud of you? Why do you reckon
bring my friends here, exceptin' to see my
charmin' wife?"
Things went on serenely for while, and
Christmas came and went and it was New
Years before Mr.. Bwkwalder had another fit
of temper. He'd been trying to be better
natured; he was boyish and winning in his
~