Evening star., 1939-12-24
Il Short Story Complete tn This Issue

IN HE ladies of the Cummings household
were at odds. The strife had begun half
an hour before Mamie, the cook. had in
informed them THAT lunch was ready. At the
dining table there was strained silence, with
Isabelle regarding her baked macaroni and
cheese with a martyrs meek obduracy: and
Rosalie Cummings regarding her child with
that peculiar evaporation only parent
can know.
'You are going to be nice to Theodosia
Gwinn." Rosalie put down her glass of iced
tea and resumed the strife.
And have the crowd accuse me OF turning
snob!" Isabelle walled Accuse me of running
after Theodosia because She rich.
Nonsense! Your crowd has never been
unwilling to associate with Theodosia when
Theodosia gives party
Rosalie still remembered the aftermath of
Theodosia's first party, given when both
Isabelle and Theodosia were four years DID,
Mamie had taken Isabelle, angelic IN white
batiste and blue ribbons, to the big house
where the orphaned Theodosia lived with her
aunt. Alma Gwinn, spinster. When Mamie
returned she held limp Isabelle in her arms,
an Isabelle who looked like golden-haired
cherub stuffed and china-eyed; stuffed down
to her very toes and fingertips with orange-lce
pumpkins and gingerbread witches riding
butterscotch broomsticks. Mamie, eyes roll
ing in her brown face, had spoken wildly of
five punkins and foah witches" while she
rushed off to the bathroom as the cherub's
chest began to heave.
After that Halloween feast, Theodosia's
oarties had continued through the years dur
inp which Theodosia conquered suffering,
went into gold armor of braces on her teeth.
out of braces and into spectacles, then out OF
spectacles into gangling prettiness IN her
fifteenth year But time wrought no change in
the ritual of her parties. The guests were
properly polite in greeting her; then they for
got her and enjoyed themselves. After all the
food was consumed they thanked her and left.
Many of them forgot to thank her.
Rosalie Cummings knew these parties only
from the accounts of their magnificence. She
had failed to note Theodosia's absence from
the small casual activities of her oontem-
poraries until this summer when Theodosla,
sixteen now and very pretty. had returned
from her first year away at school. Theodosla's
Aunt Alma had promptly given party and
Isabelle had come home with tales of caviar
gardenias and swing band.
"You and your friends have never refused
Theodosias hospitality. Rosalie continued
Susie and Kay and Lefty and all the rest
of the crowd have accepted just as much as
me! Why have got to be the girl SCOUT"
Because you are most fitted to be, because
of your influence with your friends"
But, Mammal" Isabelle soowled down at
her plate. Never would she have believed that
the moment would come when she'd be sorry
she was the leader of the younger set. i've
told you and told you what blight Theodosia
is; walking book of etiquette that speaks
when she's spoken to and nothing more. How
can you ask me to make such a dreary waste
friend of mine?'
Il don't. ask only that you Try to make
friends with her. She must be very shy and
lonely Give her the chance to become at ease
with you and your friends"
MY heavens, Mamma! Have l got to go
around Transforming every shy blight into
the Life of the Party if l 50 much as accept
a spoon of ice cream from them?"
Isabelle shifted her eyes away from her