Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-13
Bv CONSTANCE RANDOLPH

deary?" he asked laying his hand mine. When
first caught sight Of yoa you looked ta bit dGefa
letter. When l finished and looked up Malcolm
had little frown between his eyes.
"Oh, these women with careers!, he exclaimed.
81 have patience with them"
but isn't it a pity?" l said barbara is letting
all the real things go, and filling her life with empty
husks I wish she would take life more simply.
1t seems to goes SO out of her way to
q don't think she is happy" Malcolm said
of restlessness and discomfort. Her career does
not really fill her life. l think she is in rather
dangerous state of mind, just now"
II don't care if love is my life history and only
an episode in yours I said.
Constance, don't say such things" Malcolm
said, looking hurt. You know my love for you and
the boy is the first thing in my life 1t is the mans
place to protect and for and the earning of the
wherewithal is simply part OF his love. The idea
of Barbaras saying that you and Dcky were only
He looked so fierce that laughed "Oh, l know
all about it, DEAR said gently; Madame de Stael
was quite wrong Perhaps love only episode
in her Frenchrnen's lives, but in that of one good
American know it is much more"
Constance" said Malcolm at luncheon, don't
you think it would be missionary act to ask
Barbara down here and try to convert her from the
of her ways? 1t seems to me that we are such
a good example of domestic felicity that we might
persuade her to change her views on matr1mony. 1t
is worth trying, don't you think?
Just for second l had little half jealous
feeling. I afraid Barbara would spoil all my
beautiful quiet life Then the selshness of it
over me. Barbara lonely and discontinued,
though she did not acknowledge it even to herself.
She was above all Malcolm cousin, and if we could
help her must let all selfish considerations go.
Long ago l made up my mind not to allow my al
most perfectly happy life in Kelmscott to make me
selfish think happiness sometimes does, most
unfortunately.
So Barbara came to Kelnnscott glorious
August evening at sunset. She looked tired and
worn as she left the train; but as we drove down
the dear old elm arched street, all quiet and peace
full in the rosy glow, with the box bordered gardens
gay with midsummer flowers, her face grew softer
and more rested even before reached the house.
Over at my aunt the dear old women were stroll
ing in their garden stopping here and there to bend
favorlte flower prop up delicate plant that
shower had bent to the ground. My next door
neighbor Miss Barber quaint with crnollne and
bobbing curls, daintily picking her way down
the path holding her voluminous skirts away from
possible dewiness of bordering flowers.
How quaint, how charming!" cried Barbara.
shall write novel about your little Crawford here,
Constance and put in your delicious neghbor over
yonder.,
Ali my Indignation rose at this "Oh you must
not Barbara!s cried az will not have these dear
neighbors of mine caricatured, dragged out for all
the world to see and poke fun at. Oh, promise me.
Barbara, you will never put Miss Barber or any OF
the others into story!
Barbara turned amused eyes to me. 81 don't
see why you should object Constance she said
"You have such eccentric ideas The poor old souls
wouldn't know it. What's the harm?"
l felt myself stiffen and shrink away from her for