Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-07-09

maybe I'm crazy. mean, watched her talk
ing to Bill yesterday - and there she was with
that absolutely dead pan she has, going on
and on about the tennis at Forest Hills. And
you know how Bill is about tennis :. But
you can't call it line exactly"
Audrey turned to face her two friends.
oh. yes you can," she said. you can call
it line mean. Because I've got it all doped
out and that's what it is It's the wonderful
friendship line. And let me tell you," she
added, grimly, its pretty darned subtk.'
Subtle it was. Not long after he had parted
from Audrey tina: day, Gene found Marie
waving to him from the garden in front of her
grandparents cottage. He strolled over. and
within few minutes they were sitting side
by side on a swing bench. The Holbrooks'
maid came out with pitcher of iced tea and a
plate of appetizing little cakes, eight or nine
of which he consumed in an absent-minded
way while they talked.
This sort of dalliance " with any girl
other than the chosen one - was looked upon
sternly by Medville's younger set. This par
ticular case, however. was an exception in
Genes eyes. For Marie Holbrook, attractive
though she was. had made it quite clear that
she had no interest in men - none whatever.
The fact was, she was through with men. She
had said so. She had even limited, darkly, of a
disillusioning love affair. So he could enjoy
the Holbrook cakes and iced tea with an easy
conscience
You know, she was saying, this summer
is being pretty wonderful summer for me-"
"Yeah?" he said idly. We'll, I'd have
thought that after all the time you've spent in
Palm Beach and all those places well, I'd
have thought little old Chandler Lake would
look kind of feeble"
"Oh, no, Gene" She looked at him earnestly.
1T s not places that count - it's people. And
the way feel about this place - I've made
some pretty wonderful friends here this sum-
mer Well, there's you, for example - and Bill
and old Scoop. mean the way we've all gone
swimming together and played tennis -"
Well" he admitted, you're better at
sports than any girl ever saw. guess the
way we feel is, it's not like having girl
around at all - hardly
Thank you, Gene!" she said ardently.
I'm terribly glad you said that! You couldn't
have said anything that would have pleased
me more Because I'd simply hate it if you
thought was being - well, romantic or any,
thing like that. Because I've had 50 much of
that sort of thing and it doesn't really mean
anything But" - with an embarrassed little
smile u do value my friendships, Gene.
I'm funny that way"
"Oh, sure Sure
She sprang to her feet. Now! she said.
How about spot of tennis before it gets
dark? I'll lend you racquet"
He agreed, readily. Marie Holbrook could
play tennis He got the set from her in the
end, but it had been struggle. And she had
no alibis. You're better man than am -
that's allp' she called to him, laughing.
Then, coming to the net, she gave him her
hand in brisk, warm clasp. She was really
a swell girl, he thought, as he turned home
wards. A girl you could really call pal.
He was, day or two later. innocently try
ing to explain this to Audrey: And as mat
ter of fact Marie feels kind of bad. She feels
kind of bad about you and Norma and Clara
not liking her more than you do - you espe-
cially. She said sou all seem to kind of avoid
her, and after she said that I've sort of noticed
it myself"
We'll, muttered Audrey, II don't see how
she can expect Norma to like her very much.
After what happened last night! When she
absolutely and deliberately got Bill Newman