Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-27
Daily Short Story
Nv MARY BRUSH WILLIAMS

Nv MAIL DIN ~
A GAIN Genevieve had been
"A sent for. Always il was by
vivien. And always for the same
purpose. To listen 10 calamities
her friend could no longer bear
without vocal expression. They
had begun years ago, shortly
after her marriage 10 the man she
had stuck 10 through situations
that would easily allow her a
divorce.
This had been chronicled In the
county paper as the contamination
of an engrosSing romance, the de-
tails of which were unrelated. II
came about through a drunken
brawl involving the bridegroom.
As a matter OF revenge against an
other woman, on whom ne had
souandereo around 100000 in
Jewels and real estate, he had
asked Nivien 10 marry HIM, and
was hurried by her mother INTO
the nuptials before he could regain
MS senses anu bdCN Out'
Vivien was then hurried TO a
center of industry known as some
thing like Pittsmouth. where his
inherited wealth kept him, FOR
goodness knows what reason.
Genevieve at about this time left
their home village. consisting OF a
post office, a blacksmith shop, and
a grocery store, supplemented by
three town houses. 10 seek self
expression in the nations capital,
which came 10 be the capital OF
the whole world.
RELUCTANTLY SETS FORTH
One thing she made up her mind
10 that morning as she reluctantly
left her big, high-ceilinged room
in the comfortable hotel marked 10
moderate terms because deemed
'santi-dated." She was not going
TO listen 10 Vivien's grievances in
that low-ceilinged. dark. over
upholstered suite. most OF which
looked out on dank stone walls of
the other wing" for which her
friend paid more a day than she
did for a week. She was going
TO haul Vivien Sutton down 10 that
ftlspiringiy busy lobby. where az
fairs of the individual and the
world were being transacted
against a background of some
thing doing"
The very thought of il carried
her TO her favorite thesis of why
couldn't we have modern grand
opera with some sense to it as to
plot presented with lovely radio
music and interpreting whatever
is significant in our business age.
George AIDE said that in opera
when the house burned down they
all got out in front and sang about
it,. Somebody explained to her
patronizingly that music expressed
what transcribed belief and lifted
into the realm of fantasy.
Well, Genevieve knew some
American business men who had
palpitating experiences that went
beyond verbal expression and
could furnish plots more interest
ing than to have a lover turned
into a swan.
All of this occupied Genevieve
on her way to the big hotel. and lit
into fiery assurance as the lobby
enveloped her in its staggering
action. Looking at the groups of
tables fenced off for various or
CARNATIONS to hold their important
meetings In, some to urge war,
some TO advise peace. some to in
spire statesmen 10 sell shoes and
crockery and other merchandising
more zestfully, she picked on an
assemblage gathered TO extol a
man from their old home town.
ELEVATED INTO WEALTH
He was one of those geniuses, il
seemed, who had been able to
elevate himself into wealth and
the whole community along with
IL. Those three houses had grown
into a city. all through his adept
ness in creating a disinfectant
that helped save peoples lives and
make them cleaner. She and
vivien used TO know him when a
boy. 1t was too bad he had not
come on for the occasion
She selected a couch not far
from that testimonial luncheon,
and was glad they had mega
phones. so that, if Vivien stopped
talking long enough, they could
hear what he had really done
Megaphones made an ugly substi-
tufe for radios Git would be neces-
sary 10 have the male character in
the same town where the opera
was set. and Carroll Carter was
too old for a hero anyway.
Nevertheless, having nothing 10
do, IL always took Vivien a long
time TO do it, and during those
alert. colorful moments of waiting,
Genevieve reflected on what had
gone before in Vivien's narrative.
and thought how nicely il would
arrange itself 10 a background of
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