Evening star., 1938-06-05

picnic as something sweet ana Inherent.
1t was different all right. Here she was.
Isabelle Cummings, who had more dates than
any girl in the younger set, sitting out in the
woods being audience for Chester Armstrong;
little sister,
Isabelle had never seen Dimpy close until
today when Chester had explained the situation
at his house: his mother out of town on two
weeks visit; his sister at the dentists S. his kid
brother addressing circulars for his father.
Chester had tried without success to park
Dimpy with some of her little playmates
and it was the cook S day off What could he do
but bring Dimpy along? Little Dimpy who
labored under the deusion that she was just
like Shirley Temple.
Isabelle had broken nail, purse full of
spilled powder and a bump on one knee (the
child was so acttre) as result of this delusion.
Ard she practically had case of face paralysis
from an hour of Dimpy singing Shrley's songs,
and tap dancing. Isabelle had sort of looked
through Dimpy after the first few moments.
Dimpy's sharp little face pouting in cartoon
of that roguish Temple glance, those long thin
legs Hopping the feet down all out of rhythm -
it was too embarrassing, like sort of blasphemy.
You'd think Dimpy would have to relax and
be herself sometimes. But no, life to Dimpy was
just one long moving picture Here she was now
pretending she was a waif who hadn't had a
square meal in days; being Wide-eyed and
cutely a-twitter while Chester, who actually
thought she was cute, opened the lunch basket.
Let me help" Isabelle said If it killed her
she was going to try to keep her manners until
this day was over.
Nov who's this picnic given for?" Chester
motioned her away. you sit down, young
lady" Isabelle wanted to shed tears of graft
tude at his words. Up till now it certainly
hadn't seemed like her picnic.
"Aw, no sugar" Chester said, rummaging
to the bottom of the basket. 'Dimps can't
drink her coffee without sugar 1t was going to
be special treat just for today coffee with lots
of ice and cream and sugar. Well, I'll run back
to that hick store on the highway. 1t won't take
a second"
But, of course! Isabelle concealed her hurt.
She didn't put sugar in her coffee. But the point
was, he hadn't even asked her.
As Chesters roadster shot off down the dirt
road leading to the highway. Dimpy took a
hands-on-hips stance before Isabelle and asked:
Can you tap?"
mo" Isabelle cringed at the question. If
Dimpy sang The Good Ship Lollipop" again
Il can." Dimpy announced this as news. and
began to tap and sing The Good Ship Lolli
pop" Isabelle, her body rigid, stared down at
the ground. Dimpy stopped her performance,
laughed and shook her stiff curls her ''perna-
ment" she called them. Isabelle still would not
look Dimpy stared at her profile. sighed and
walked away
When Isabelle finally glanced up Dimpy
had strayed out of sight and an automobile
was approaching - an old Austin coupe fairly
bulging with Oswald Townsend Piroy.
Ozzie Pilroy! Dear heavens, to be caught out
here by practically the village IDIOT Ozzie was
smart enough in college - year ahead of the
other boys but he certainly left his brains
locked up in the classroom. Still the crowd had
to tolerate him, for he was sort of born into it:
besides, he was a good-natured old fatty and
harmless. Nevertheless, every girl in the crowd
avoided him like plague - Ozzie alone =
for fear somebody might accuse her of being
interested in him. Even Lefty Scoggins Ia
wonderful girl, but not attractive to boys)
would practically swoon with embarrassment
if she was accused of giving Ozzie Pilroy so
much as second glance.
The tiny Austin came to a stop and dis
A.