The Washington herald., 1917-12-03

Il wOuldnt MINK OF asking you
I'd take her myself IL 1t weren't for
the children" Carries tone was lofti-
ly self-righteous.
but we're not fixed to have any
one here" protested Helen. III we
had a spare room"
What about that small back room ?
You never use it,
Never use it? Why it's the only
place 1 have to put anything. We've
hardly any closet room"
you haven't a thing I'm there you
couldn't just as well send down to
the store-room."
"I haven't?" incensed at her sis
ter-in-law's assertiveness. Where
would I put the sewing machine. that
folding table-and my hat boxes"
We'll, it's the first time youv"
ever been asked to do anything for
warren's family. You might incon-
venience yourself a little And sh,
expects TO pay something on her
board-vou wouldn't be out very
much"
That was entirely uncalled for,
Carrie" with a flush OF resentment.
II wasn't thinking of the expense
but it's much more than an 'incon-
venience' to take a strange woman
into your house for five months"
"She's hardly a strange woman-sh-
hapens to be Warrens cousin"
That Warren had relatives nearer
than cousins whom she would not
care to live with. was the retort
Helen forced back. Iuwardly she was
consumed with indignation that Car
rie and the rest OF his family should
expect her 30 board this Western
cousin.
We'll. I'll talk it over with Warren
this evening"
"Oh, of course. n you're going &c
take that att'ude-if you're going tc
prejudice him against it
81 said I'd talk it over" evaded
Helen stiffly
Very WELL" frigidly. Have him
phone me after dinner. I want to
write Aunt Fanny tonight
Gathering up her silver fox furs
| Carrie adjusted her veil before the
mantle mirror. He- gray suit was
faultlessly tailored. and the smart
severity OF her winged toque pro.
claimed an expensive millincr.
Now, Helen. here's chance for
! you to do something really worth
while" with her most instructive. pa.
tronizing air as she drew on her
suede gloves. And Stella's n very
nice girl-you'n really enjny having
/ her"
'T'n talk it over with Warren" re-
peated Helen. feeling hclplcsslv COM
mitted before Carries asscrtive TAX
ing-it-for-granted attitude.
you'll not regret II. We must al
| make some sacrifice at times" was
her virtuous. parting comment as she
stepped into the elevator.
! From the library window Heller
| watched her sister-in-law disappear
down the street. There was an an
tagonizing arrogance in every line OF
her modish figure.
For several weeks the family gos.
sip had centcred about Warren's
cousin stella coming to New York &c
study designing. Helen had planned
TO have her frequently to dinner, anG
do all she could to make less lonely
her five months stay. But that She
should be expected to board her!
Surely Aunt Fanny had been most
| presuming to intimate such a thing
Helen had not seen the letter, but
| now. having time to think It over. Il
seemed more probable that Aunt
, Fanny had asked Carrie to board
Stella-and she was trying to shift
the burden. Her children served n:
an excuse. But even If she had nc
| children Helen was convinced thai
she would have invented some othel
\ reason almost as plausible.
Carrie was the last person in thu
world to upset her home for any rela,
1 five
] Helen's reluctance to do so was self
| ishly inconsiderate. The more Heller
brooded over it. the more presumptu
Gus seemed Carries attitude.
The fact that Stella wanted to pay
something toward her board made i
worse. 1t would not begin to pay foI
the extra expense-much less tn,
trouble, yet it would enable the cir
to feel and act independent.
! Surely Warren would not sanction
this invasion of their home. Were i
any OF her family he would not con
slider it for a minute-but it was hi.
cousin. She was ruefully apprehen
sive as to what attitude he nigh
take.
From long experience Helen hat
learned that before dinner or ever
during dinner was an unpropitioui
time to talk over" anything will
Warren. So that evening. it was no
until he was fortified by substan
tiai meal and an after-dinner cigar
that she ventured to broach the sub
ject.
Dear. Carrie was here this after
noon"
That SOP clipping the end of (;
fresh cigar.
"She thinks we should take Stella
But how can we've haven't an!
room?"
! She said that small room woul,
do. fumbling for his Matchbox.
"Why-how do you know" startled
Did you see her?"
| "She came down to the Office"
| "Oh, she did?" recalling another in
stance when his sister had tried t,
carry her point by this same method.
| Yes, she thinks it's up to u.s."
| Il don't see why it ~hould be,
tensely. We've only that little bacl
II