davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1954-04-25
NEIE young couple
IL had appeared in
FEATURE FICTION


spring. Ben Marble told me, like pair of
robins arriving to build nest. The boy wore
khaki slacks and a red sweater. The girl wore
brown dress. That was about all the clothes
they seemed to have" Ben said.
The boy was nice looking: tall. with brown
hair and eyes; the girl was real pretty, with
thick yellow hair and blue eyes and figure
that looked as if it had been hand-carved,
said Ben, who saw things with the eye of
master wood-worker and cabinet maker. But
the young people were shy - not timid,
exactly but sort of uncertain (of themselves)
which wasn't surprising since they had come
from New York City to try their luck at living
in a small country town.
Torrance. their name was. Arthur and Elsa
Torrance Arthur was 26 years old and had
spent three of those years in the Navy. AS an
ensign, he'd been attached to the base at New
London. which is only few miles from
Lymington. and on visit to that old Con-
necticut seaport town he had fallen in love
with it. When his term of service was over.
as soon as hed married the girl he was also
in love with, Arthur had packed her and all
their worldly goods into rattletrap station
wagon and had driven from Morningside
Heights, where they'd both been born, to
Lymington where they didn't know a soul.
All they owned filled just one wooden crate.
SO THEY were as poor as Jobs turkey, Ben
Marble said. but they sure were in love. You
could tell that the minute you saw them
together - like on that spring Saturday when
they came to his barn, where he had his wood
working shop, and asked to borrow hammer.
you could tell they were educated, toe"
Ben said But there they were livin' in that
weather-beaten, leaky old salt box - you
know the old Ames house next to mine? -
and Arthur had job on one of the fish docks,
unloadin' fish from the draggers. He was
tryin to get better job but so far he'd had
no luck learned that the first day met
'em, when they came to borrow my hammer"
Ben had loaned them the hammer; and
later, when Elsa came back and said, blushing
with embarrassment. that they also needed
Evening star., 1954-04-25
to disturb the boy >.

morning he made a telephone call. Then he
walked over to the Ames house, which had
never looked shabbier or Older or sadder, he
said, though it had been good house to start
with and was really fine example of early
New England architecture.
1t was raining, and Arthur and Elsa were
having breakfast in the kitchen and they had
tin pans set out around the floor to catch the
drip from the leaks in the roof. When Ben
walked in, Elsa looked up at him and started
to cry, so Ben told Arthur he'd better get
another pan to catch Elsa's tears, and that
sort Of lightened things up little.
1--we got somebody interested in your bed"
Ben told them. "A lady named Mrs. Went
worth. She's the wife of Charles Wentworth
who's head of the Lymington Textile Machine
Works, so she's got plenty of money"
rs she friend of yours?" Elsa asked.
why. yes" Ben said. AT least, I've
known her all my life and I've done consider
able business with her. She makes hobby
of collectin' antiques"
WELL" Arthur said, I'VE won't feel so
badly if friend of yours buys our bed"
''I1l do my best for you, Ben said. Then
he told them that Mrs. Wentworth was COM
ing to his shop at three o'clock that afternoon
and that he wanted them both to be there.
too But you let me do the talkin'"
They agreed to that, and a little before the
appointed time they went to his shop and
waited. trying not to notice their bed, which
was all set up and looking its handsomest. At
three O'Clock precisely Mrs. Wentworth
walked in. She was wearing an old raincoat
and galoshes - it was still raining outside -
and carried plain black umbrella. But her
gray hair was beautifully waved and she had
Continued on page IS
Evening star., 1954-04-25

lhe subtle t.rist in this story is
done so gently that it creeps up on
the reader almost before he's had
time to notice scIiat's happened.
Read it and see if you can Gntici-
pate Mr.. B"rnet. - THE EDITORS
Evening star., 1954-04-25
BY DANA BURNET
Illustrated BY Noel SickIes

saw, he'd loaned her that, too. Then after
supper he'd gone over to the Ames place to
pay the young couple neighborly call.
He had found them trying to build a bed
out of the wood of the crate that had held
their few household possessions. They'd been
sleeping on the floor, on secondhand spring
mattress they'd bought.
Il had an old bedstead in my attic could
offered it to them, they said Oh, no. they
couldn't impose on me. 1t was bad enough.
they said, to have to borrow my tools. Well.
could see they were proud and independent
and respected them for it. But Arthur had
smashed his finger with the hammer and Elsa
had tried to rip board with crosscut saw
and they were pretty blue. So said, All
right But let's take this lumber over to my
shop where we can put it together in hurry
''WELL, built them bed frame. mostly out
of odds and ends of stock had lyin' around
the shop, and when they asked me how much
they owed me, l said, Why. Ill just keep this
crate-wood of yours. and we'll call it square,
didn't tell EN- it would make good kindlin'
for my old Franklin stove
80 that was the begnnin' of it, and pretty
soon my wife and l got to be real friendly
with the Torrances. My wife taught Elsa how
to cook scallops and iron shirt. and when
Arthur told me he was plannin' to buy set
of cheap furniture on the instalment plan. l
advised him not to do it.
It'd be lot smarter | told him, for
you and Elsa to 60 pokin' round the country
side to see what you can find in the way of
antiques There's still some old stuff tucked
away in attics, and remember the worse shape
piece is in. the cheaper you'll get it. Only
be sure it S made of good material before you
buy it. Then bring it back here to me. Ill
help you rebuild it and refinish it. That way,
you II have some furniture you can take pride
in, and it II be valuable. too"
And that was how the TorranceS found
their bed 1t was an ancient high poster. badly
battered. 1t was Scared and scratched. one
foot-post was missing completely and the sad
remains. Ben said. were covered by several
thick layers of paint. I'VE paid only five
dollars for it. Elsa said, her eyes sparkling.
But the wood under the paint was maple
and old pine and to replace the missing post,
Ben made a new one He turned it on his
lathe, using precious maple plank cut from
one of his own trees. Meanwhile the Torances
scraped paint and sanded and scraped - till
their fingers were raw. And night after
night, when they'd gone home exhausted. Ben
Evening star., 1954-04-25

worked on the bed When they
finely got through, Ben said, they
had beautiful bed You never saw
two happier young people.
The Torrances insisted on paying
Ben for the work he'd done. and he #
charged them ten dollars. Il put it IL
as low as could" he told me, be ~
cause knew they could just barely M
live on Arthur's wages. He'd kept ~
tryin' to better himself; he d been to
see almost every business man in
town. But like lot of good people
- especially those with brains
he didn't seem able to sell himself
Too honest, maybe. Or too proud.
Anyway, nobodyd offered him
position, so he and Elsa were still
livin' from hand to mouth. But
wanted them to have that bed" Ben added.
Here Ben stopped and shook his head, and
guessed that he had reached a turning point
in his story. He had come to my house to
deliver mahogany desk he had made for me.
We were sitting in my living room having
coffee - drink to which we are both addicted
- and Ben had launched into this account of
the Torrances, who seemed to be much on his
mind
''So?" said. prodding him. What hap
pened them"
He sighed and said he had thought, that as
soon as the bed was finished, the young couple
would want to lug it home But several days
went by. and they didn't come to take it.
lHEN one night "a Friday night - Arthur
came alone to Ben's shop. The minute saw
his face" Ben said, Il knew that somethin'
was wrong"
Mr. Marble" Arthur said. looking down
at his shoes all covered with fsh-scales, we've
decided to sell the bed
Sell the bed?" Ben said For the Lords
sake, why?"
''Elsa's going to have baby" Arthur said.
1t was as simple, as unanswerable as that.
Elsa was pregnant. They needed more money.
So they'd decided to sell their treasure
do you know anyone who might like to
buy it," Arthur asked
why, know some dealers who are always
on the lookout for nice pieces. Or maybe one
of my own customers would be interested.
I'll try to think of somebody"
We'll be grateful if you can sell it for US, -
Arthur said. and he sounded so miserable it
was plain that they were heartsick about hav-
ing to part with the bed.
That night. Ben said, he lay awake for some
time worrying about the Torrances In the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05
Fairfax Democrats
Ask County Ban on
Listing Of Voters

The Fairfax. County Demo-
cratic Committee has called on
the County Electoral Board to
prohibit election judges from
keeping private lists of persons
who vote and sending the names
to political party workers outside
polling places.
The resolution. adopted at a
meeting Thursday, was presented
by Delegate John c. Webb.
Mrs. Katie Daugherty, COM
mittee member, said the practice
tends to produce a partisan
spirit among election officials.
Mr.. Webb said he had received
a ruling from State Attorney
General J. Lindsay Almond that
the practice is not illegal. In
view of this, Mr.. Webb said be
plans to introduce legislation
banning the practice. =,
In the November 2 election,
Mr.. Webb was defeated by
Representative Broyhill, Re-
publican, in the 10th District
race.
Mr.. Webb said the names were
copied by election officials for
poll workers who used the lists
to determine who had voted,
Then the workers would arrange
to bring to the polls persons who
had not yet cast ballots.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05
= :, ,CT' STAIR .EDI1T0L ,
TeAa1l4WdIU
Tips Can Save You
Money and Anguish

A short set Of rules, designed
to speed handling of the antici-
pated record breaking Christmas
mail. was announced yesterday
by the National Federation of
Post Office Clerks.
Leo E. George, president. urged
the public to:
]. Mail early.
2. Write addresses plainly.
3. Put local and out-of-town
mail In separate bundles and
mark each pack, .
4. Don't put Christmas stick
ers on the address side Of en-
velopes.
s. Wrap gifts well and put
them in strong containers.
"If the public follows the few
simple mailing rules" Mr.,
George declared, "the Post Of
flee will save tens of thousands
of dollars, the public will avoid
hundreds of thousands of angry
moments and postal employees
will escape millions of head
aches"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05
Charlottesville TO Dedicate
Nativity Scene on Friday
Special Dispaieh TO The Stor

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va,
Dec. 4.-The Nativity Scene ir
Lee Park will be. dedicated at 8
pm. Friday.
The scene will be the same as
last years except that the build
ing will be extended to provide
feeding rack for a larger num-
Der of animals.
Construction will begin Tues
day under the auspices of the
Retail Merchants Association
The Nativity Scene was erected
last year for the first time at 9
cost of $3.100, which was con.
tributed by 10 donors. The cost
this year is estimated to be about
$500.
Three ministers, S. S. Day
Warren w. Crumb and Ellis E
O'Neil, jr., will conduct the dedi-
cation ceremony. The ChoraI
Club of the University of Virginia
Nursing School will sing carols
at the dedication.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05
Arlington 10 Open
& Booths for Sale
OF Christmas Seals

Eight Christmas Seal booths
will be opened tomorrow in Ar
lington.
Volunteers manning the booths
for the Arlington tuberculosis
and Health Association will also
accept money for seals sent
through the mail to county resi-
dents. Mrs. Jane s. Hulett is
chairman of the committee di-
recting this effort.
In addition, 100 coin con-
tainers will be placed in post
Offices and drugstors. B'nai
Birth volunteers will be in
charge of this phase of the fund
drive.
Booths will be open at the
following locations:
Concourse of the Pentagon
and Navy Annex, 10 am. to 3
pm. December 6-21: Fort Myer
Post Exchange, during regular
hours, December 6-18; Peoples
Drugstore. Columbia pike, 3 to 6
pm. December 6-18; S. Kann
Sons and the Hecht Co., regular
store hours. December 6-18;
Clarendon Post Office, 10 am. to
pm, December 6-21, and "a
hours a day in the National Air
port concourse, December 10
through Is.
During the first week of the
Christmas Seal sale the county
association received $500
slightly more than 10 per cent
of it's $4,000 quota.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05
Arlington Students Will Star
In TeIevised Lives of Vrginidns

Cyrus Mccormick and Booker T
Washington.
The exact dates on which the
shows will be scheduled will be
announced later, the school board
chairman said. She added the
television station is giving time
for the shows without charge
Staff members of the county
school administration, including
Martin Spielberg, acting super
visor of speech education, will
assist in production of the pro-
grams.
The televised lives, Mrs. Camp
bell declared, will furnish an
excellent education experience for
our students, as well as develop
appreciation for the fine con-
tributions made by Virginians to
the welfare of our Nation"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05
Maryland Goods 10 Hold
YuIe Party for ORPHANS

One hundred orphans will be
guests of University of Maryland
sorority and fraternity members
tomorrow night at a tree-lighting
ceremony and house parties at
the University's Fraternity Row
A large Christmas tree will be
lighted at 8 pm. Then, the
children will be invited into five
sorority houses for refreshments
and games.
Participating sororities are
Alpha Epsilon Phi, Gamma Phi
Beta, Kappa Alpha Theta, ri
Beta Phi and Sigma Kappa.
Men from Delta Tau Delta,
Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Kappa
Sigma, Phi Sigma Kappa and
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternities
will join the goods to-. entertain
the orphans.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05
Hagerstown 70 Regulate
Taxicabs and BICYCLES
Special pispateh 10 The Star

SpeeIdt DisPofen 70 tne StoF
HAGERSTOWN, Dec. 4.-The
Mayor and Council have in
structed the city attorney to
draw up ordinances regulating
taxicabs and bicycles and pro-
hibiting the stretching Of BAN
ners across city streets by poll
tical or commercial organiza-
tions..
The bicycle ordinance would
require the licensing Of all BIZ
cycles at a cost of Is cents a
year. The law also would require
lights at night and forbid their
operation on sidewalks.
The ordinance regulating taxi
cabs calls for q special city IL
cense. Licenses and pictures
would have to be posted inside
cabs, along with rates. Drivers
convicted of certain crimes would
have their licenses suspended.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05

Arlington students, teachers
and parents are going to star in
television dramatizations, of the
lives of famous Virginians.
Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell /,
chairman of the Arlington School
Board, yesterday announced the
TV series, beginning early next
year, has, been made possible
through a $4,000 gift from the
Old Dominion Foundation. The
televised shows, IL in all, will
be presented over The Star sta
ton, WMAL-TV.
Among nous Virginians
whose lives will be dramatized
are explorers Lewis and Clark,
James Monroe. Walter Reed,
Woodrow Wilson, Patrick Henry,
Edgar Allen Poe, Dolly Madison,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05

open the question of a possible
additional bridge further down.
river until later.
2. Improve approaches to
Chain Bridge, mainly by i'm
provements to Canal road with
in the District.
City officials want to improve
Canal road near Key Bridge
soon. But they want to hold
up major improvements near
Chain Bridge until the Federal
Government gets around to con-
structing the George Washington
Memorial parkway along the
Maryland side of the Potomac.
3. Construct new four-lane
bridge at Jones Point, Alex
andria.
Congress authorized q Six-lane
Jones Point bridge at the same
time it approved the Consti-
tuition avenue span. Ofiicials
hope the Federal Government
will put up the money to start
construction long before 1860.
START WORK BY 1865.
/. Build a bridge over the Po-
tomac at Cabin John, Md.
This bridge would be the link
in a long-planned "outer loop
road completely encircling Wash
ington in Maryland and Virginia.
Traffic studies have been made
by Maryland and Virginia. Of
ficials. No construction money
is in sight.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05
Reverse Twist on Santos Visit;
He Gets Gift at Chevy Chase

by the. birthday of Saint Nicholas
tomorrow.
After Santa had received his
present of a tool kit, he imme-
diately set up court aboard the
freight car to hear what the
children had in their minds.
They filed by until late in the
afternoon and made their pleas
for everything from airplanes to
xylophones.
Adding to the festivities were
several balloon vendors and a
snack bar where hot cocoa could
be purchased to ward off the
afternoon chill.
Shopping center officials hailed
their initial promotion Of the
Christmas season as a success
and said they hoped to continue
the Santa Claus visit in future
years.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05
Silver Spring Girl to Stor
In Shows 'PyqmoIion'

Sandra Stack, SOL Fleetwood
street, Silver Spring. will star in
a presentation of George Ber-
nard Shaw's "Pygmalion," open
ing Tuesday at the University
Of Maryland's Central Auditors
UNI.
Dave Singleton. Nixon, N. j.,
will play the male lead in the
drama. The show will run
through Friday.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05
Ground toBe Broken 7 tomorrow
In Peace Cross Flood Project

The first phase of the $13.9
million Peace Cross flood control
project will get an official send
off tomorrow.
Gov. McKeldin, Senator Butler
and Representative Small, Re-
publicans, and officials of Prince
Georges County, the Maryland
State Roads Commission, the
Army Corps of Engineers, the
Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission and the Maryland
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission will break
ground at 2 pm.
The ceremony, under the aus
pices of the Prince Georges
Chamber of Commerce and the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05

Several thousand youngsters
made their pitch for a merry
Christmas to Santa Claus yes
terday afternoon as guests Of the
Chevy Chase Lake Shopping
Center and the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad
Santa arrived in his especially
equipped workshop aboard a
freight car on a train from Be-
thesda. With whistles blowing
and children waving a welcome.
the train stopped at the Con-
necticut avenue siding at / pm.
After a short ceremony Of well
come conducted by George
Payne, Takoma Park. master Of
ceremonies, Santa was presented
a birthday present. The turn
about in giving was occasioned
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05

County Civic Federation, will be
held on Tanglewood drive just
below Riverdale road in River
dale.
Phase No. l of the vast project
is a $735,847 characterization and
levee building job along the
Northeast Branch of the Anacos-
tia River between Riverdale road
and Baltimore avenue.
The entire project, scheduled
for completion in 1857, includes
reopening the small craft chan
mel up the Anacostia River to
Bladensburg, SIS miles of levees
with an average height of II feet
and a network of pipelines and
pumping stations to carry of
rainfall behind the levees.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05

Next is Arensky's Suite in Canon
Form, Opus IS, described by Mr..
Kucinski as scholarly, poly
phonic music in which the diff
ferent string sections alternate
the theme"
Fletcher'S Folk Tune and Fid-
die Dance follows. Then, the
Andante Cantabile movement of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05
|Yule Pageant
AT ElIipse 10
Stress Peace
5000 TO Take Part;
President Opens
Program Dec. II

More than 5000 Washing
tonians will take an active part
in the giant three-week Christ
mas Pageant of Peace" which
President Eisenhower win off,
cially open on December II at
the Ellipse.
Area residents from churches,
schools, embassies and the mill
tary services will participate in
the unprecedented undertaking,
Edward M. Kirby. program
chairman, announced yesterday,
in making public the program Of
events.
Men, women and children Of
every creed and race are working
together enthusiastically to give
utterance to mankind's univer-
sal yearning for peace and
friendship" Mr.. Kirby said.
The program, which is backed
by the Board of Trade and hun
dreds of other community or
CARNATIONS. will be free to the
public.
Park About Tree.
Focus Of the celebration will
be a 67-foot Christmas tree in
the center of the Ellipse. Around
1t will be built an elaborate
cross-shaped park lined with
smaller trees, a reindeer park,
a children'S corner, life-sized
nativity scene and a stage.
The gigantic tree itself, gift
of Michigan State College to
President Eisenhower and the
people of Washington, is said to
be the largest ever decorated in
the United States.
It will arrive Tuesday and be
received at 1920 am. at the
Baltimore & Ohio switch track
at the foot of Wisconsin avenue
in Georgetown by the Rev. John
F. Spence. pastor of st. John
Baptist de la Sale Catholic
Church, and the Rev. Norman
VanBrunt, associate pastor OF
Foundry Methodist Church, fol-
the people of Washington.
80-Foot Scaffold Needed.
An 80-foot scaffolding will be
needed to decorate the tree
Lights and ornaments are being
furnished by merchants and
other groups as well as by fam
lilies of servicemen and women
in the Washington area. The
Armed Services Hospitality Com
mittee is accepting ornaments
at it's Offices, 1850 Pennsylvania
avenue NV, from 9 am. to
pm. Monday through Friday
through December 13. Orna-
ments should be tagged with the
name of the person they are to
honor. ~
President Eisenhower will
throw the switch lighting the
tree and broadcast and telecast
his annual Christmas message
to the Nation and the world at
5 pm. on December II. The
programs will. continue through
January 6.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-05
darlington Girl Is State Orchestra Concert Mistress
All String Groups
Of Students to Give
Program Today
BY 6. O. Herndon

A pretty, 17-year-old blond,
who, according to her father, is
more interested in violins than
in boys, is concert mistress Of an
all-string student orchestra per-
forming today in Arlington.
The talented youngster is Miss
Jude Watson, daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. Nelson w. Watson Of
GAS North Illinois street, Airing
ton.
The concert is being given at
3 pm. today in the auditorium
of Arlington's Washington-Lee
High School. The 215 teen-age
performers are divided into two
groups 96-piece orchestra
composed of high school stu
dents and a 119-piece workshop
group featuring Junior high mu-
sicians.
Jude is leader of the first vio-
lin section and concert mistress
for the senior group. "a.
Judie's aim is a career in
music. She is talented &.
shows promise" her conductor.
Leo Kucinski, says. Mr.. Kucin-
ski came to Arlington for the
concert today from Sioux City.
Iowa, where he is the city's mu-
steal director and conductor Of
its unsupported symphony or
chestra.
In preparation for the concert,
the students have been rehears-
ing almost constantly for two
days. They came from 20 Vir-
ginia schools - in Arlington.
Alexandria, Norfolk, Richmond,
Lynchburg, Ellerson and Ports
mouth.
The concert is the 18th Vir-
ginia State String Orchestra
festival sponsored by the Vir-
ginia Music Educators Associa-
ton. It is the first such concert,
however, to be held in Arlington,
whose school system has con-
tributed 81 of the young musi-
clans.
The violins, violas,, cellos and
bass viols in the senior orches-
ira will play a program that in
cludes selections, played by pro-
fessional orchestras, Conductor
Kucinski declared.
The senior program begins
with a Burlesca by Scarlatti.