The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-11-10
MAIN STREET
The Story of Carol Kennicott
ny SINCLAIR LEWIS
Copyright 1880 Harcour,. Brace a Howe Inc

toutlng these Greek dancers. O,
whatever they arc. that don't even
wear a shimmyf-
But. dear. the trouble with tina,
flint wasn't that II got In sc
many legs. but that " gigEled coyi,
and promised 10 show more Of them.
and then didn't keep tho promise. II
was Peeping Toms idea OF humor
II don't get YOU. Look here
now"
shc lay awake. while he rumblcd
with sicen
Il must 20 on. My crank ideas.
he calls them. thought that ado.
ing him. watching him operate
would be enough. II isn't. Not
after the first thrill.
Il don't want TO hurt him. Bu,
| must so on.
1T isn't enough. to stand py
while he fills an automobile radiator
and chucks me bits OF information
III stood by and admired him
long enough. would be content. !
would become nice little woman.
Tho Village Virus. Already I'm
not reading anything. I haven't
touched the piano for a week. I'm
letting the days drown In worship
Of a good deal. ten plunks mors
per acre WON'T won't sue
curnb,
Howl I've failed at everything
the Thsnatopsls. parties. pioneers
city hall. Guy and Vida. But II
doesn't matter. I'm not trying q
reform the town now. I'm moi
trying TO organize Browning Clubs
and ait IN clean white Kids ycarnin.
up at lecturers with ribbony eye
glasses. am trying 10 save ras
soul
"wn Kennicott. asleep there
trusting me. thinking no holds me
And I'm leaving him All OF ms
left him when he laughed at me
II wasn't enough for him that |
admired him: must change myself
and grow like him. lie takes ad
vantage. No more. It's finished
l win go on"
Her violin lay on top Of the up
right piano. She picked n up. Since
she had last touched II the dried
strings had snapped. and upon 4
lay a gold and crimson cigar-band
She longed to sec Guy Pollock
for the confirming of the brethren
In tho faith. But kennicost's DOM
nance was heavy upon her. She
could not determine whether abs
was checked BY fear OF him. or by
inertla--by dislike OF the emotional
labor OF tho -sccnes- which would
be involved In asserting indc.
pendence. she was like the revolu
tionist at fifty: not afraid OF death
but bored by the probability OF bad
steaks and bad brcaths and sitting
up all night on windy barricadcs.
The second evening after the
movies she lmpuisivcly summoned
Vida Sherwin and Guy to the house
for popcorn and cider. In the iiv
ingroom Vida and Kennicott de
hated -the value OF manual train.
Ing In grades below the eighth"
while Carol sat beside Guy At the
dining table. buttering popcorn She
was quickened by the speculation
In his eyes She murrnured:
Guy. do you want to hslp meY'
My dear. Howl
Il don't know
He waited
Il think I want you 10 help me
find out what has made the dark.
ness OF the women. Cray darkness
and shadowy trees. We're all In n,
ten million women. young married
women with good prosperous hus.
bands. and business women In linen
collars, and grandmothers that Kai
out to teas. and wives of underpaiti
miners. and farrnwivcs who realty
like TO make butter and 20 10
church. What Is u we want--and
nced7 Win Kennicott there would
say that we need lots Of children
and hard work. But II isn't that.
There's the same discomfort IN
women with eight children and one
more coming--aiways one more com.
ing And you find II in stenox.
raphers and wives who scrub. Just
AZ much as IN girl college graduates
who wonder how they can escape
their kind parents. what do VIC
wsntf'
Essentially, think. you are like
myself. Carol: you want TO 20 back
to an age OF tranquility and charm.
Ing manners. You want 10 en-
throne good taste again"
Just good taste7 Fastidious peo-
plef Oh--noi I believe all Of US