Evening star., 1939-02-19


said, best-known as the author of "Gilded
Lily; her loss was loss in every American
home. They enlarged on her beautiful life,
secluded in the New England town of Grafton
where she had been born; on her devotion to
her home and family; on her gift for creating
simple lovable characters. And the world was
informed that she left to mourn her husband
and daughter
The Dillingworth Publishing Company
mourned her passing too. Nov wouldn't
that sour you" said the vice president, given
to homespun remarks. Here they had carried
Lattimer - they called her that - for years,
literally like pack on their backs pushing
book after book which, even with the most
brilliant efforts of the advertising force, had
only minimum sale. And now, just when,
somehow - and no one of them could imagine
how - she had clicked and come across with
a best seller, she had died.
But there still might be profit to CLEAN from
Lattimer, and to that end the executives con-
ferred. One day Mr.. Harvey Moss, the manag-
ing editor, summoned Tweedy Grayson from
the advertising room to his office. CraysOn
was clever young man and. further, he
possessed helpful innocence of blue eyes and
that charm of approach that casts the spell
that binds, especially with the ladies.
"- and you'll have to draw out the daugh-
ter, Grayson. Understand, We haven't
biography in mind but rather collection Of
intimatesketches, close ups, home atmosphere,
that sort of thing Get Lattimer' background;
talk to her neighbors. relatives to her minis
ter, her family doctor. You know what sort of
material we need. And (Mr. Harvey Moss
smiled: Il don't doubt there's a golf course
somewhere near by! Another thing, we might
arrange lecture tour for the daughter. Before
womens clubs -"
And sewing circles" Tweedy Grayson in
terrupted.
If she has any appeal" the managing edi-
tor continued, "size her up and wire u.s. We
could write her stuff for her but. of course
she'd have to do the rest. The husband j
doubt that you'll get anything from him.
From the little | talked with him, d say he
was the kind who didn't have much to say
about anything Can you get of immediately
HELL said Tweedy Grayson, savagely.
Il suppose So
And so it happened that the next night
Tweedy Grayson departed for Grafton, Massa-
chusetts with golf clubs and two bags and an
i important looking manuscript case. And an
unwilling heart At the station he CHANGED
|omissing his train to phone Rita Roberts,
again:
You're sure you'll miss me. infant2 You'll
wire every day.
Later he lay on his berth and thought for
long and serious moment Of the infants"
sweetness Maybe he'd ask her to marry him.
1t might not be so bad to settle down to one
girl, and, anyway, Rita wasn't the sort to let
it get dull He'd hint at his honorable inten-
tions in the letter he d write as soon as he got
settled in whatever diggings the home town OF
! Phoebe Shreves Lattimer afforded.
They were simple accommodations, for the
Grafton Arms was little more than name and
) a new brick front, and one could not write the
sort of letter that one should write to such as
Rita Roberts on the SCARED wood writing
table in the lobby so Tweedy Grayson did not
commit himself that day, but sent only tele-
gram: Wire wreath for my grave. Letter
| follows. Love-
At three o'clock he presented himself at the
! Iattimel door To reach it he had walked up a
long, winding drive. under great elms, to
house of gentle dignity. 1t was exactly, ne