Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-05-14

lHdt . retroactive. -FOUR new salary
began February Is. / think you'll
find the treasurer has a check waiting
ior you"
Thank you. SIR" said Wilbur.
That's handsome of you"
Not at all. You've got II coming
I hope 1t won't be long before wen
have to do more than that for you"
Wilbur speculated all the way out
to scarborough on how Anita would
take IT. He was afraid she would be
bitterly disappointed. Oddly enough,
he was not disappointed himself. He
was terribly relieved. He could not
help smiling as he went up the walk
to. his house. The front door swung
open and Anita threw her arms
around his neck and he held her close.
He hadn't seen her for ten days Be
sides he had a secret for her. A
secret he would withhold for that de-
lightful hour that comes after dinner.
no getting around that Anita had
q new dress, a dress Of soft dark silk
that set or her small blonde head.
And there was a leg OF lamb. the
roast he liked best, for dinner. With
food, Wilbur lost his feeling that
the bottom had dropped out Of every
thing. He smiled across the yellow
roses at Anita and Anita smiled back.
After dinner Wilbur lighted the
fire that had been laid on the living
room hearth in honor Of his home
coming and they sat in the deep
cushioned sofa and Anita did piece
of hemstitching while Wilbur
smoked. 1t was the hour Of charm.
Wilbur could not crash into it with
a discussion Of money He pushed
the thought Of money from him and
looked around the room. so simple. so
perfect. and so expensive. And how
Anita adored it.
Anita" he said suddenly, "our new
salary Is six thousand a year"
Anita dropped her hands. Her bit
Of linen fell to the floor.
"oh, Wilbur" she cried. It knew
it, knew IL, ! knew it"
She jumped up and kissed him.
Aren't you disappointedT'
"Of course Motive can do beauti-
fully on six thousand"
Wilbur knew, that this was the
psychological moment to tell Anita
about the car. To let her know
how carefully they should have to
manage in order to pay for 1T, how
completely It would absorb the in
crease in their income for a whole
year. But Wilbur put or the blight
ing moment
The president says that the in
crease is-retroactive to February 10"
he said. II am to get a check for
it tomorrow
Wen have to save It, Wilbur"
said Anita I'VE mustn't spend it."
WELL" Wilbur began, -
DUT Anita's mind had already dis
l missed the subject She was look
ing at the room, admiring. their pos
sessions. Now she turned to Wilbur
and her eyes were soft and her lips
smiled.
isn't 1t perfect!' she asked.
Absolutely perfect"
You wouldn't change anything!
mot a thing"
And you don't see anything new
Wilbur Strengthened up and looked
about him hurriedIy. =
why, why he began.
Didn't you notice the girandoles
were gomez" ....
Wilbur stared at one end OF the
room and then the other. The gran
! doles had been replaced by two oval
mirrors with delicate gilt frames.
II bought them. for $50 apiece"
Anita said triumphantly.. 80
Fifty dollars apiece" Wilbur
! groaned.
Yes" she saId:-"I decided the
i girandoles were too good for US to
| keep"
But I thought you liked them-I
thought they set the keynote OF the
| room"
They did," Anita explained. They
set it so well that now they're gone
! you never missed them. They're too
| valuable for US to keep, for q simple
i little house like this. The Museum
of Decorative Arts is paying me $1,000
for those girandoles. ::
Wilbur got to his feet.
sixteen hundred dollars"
Sixteen hundred dollars"
"You sold them"
Yes" Anita said, Il did. 1 thought
you'd rather have a car. You have to
have a car in scarborough. really.
wouldn't you rather have a carr"
Anita looked at Wilbur with eyes
SO innocent that he was disarmed. He
had deceived her. He had been selfish.
And now he was sayedG-sayed by the
confess his sin.
Anita" he began humbly: Anita
I've wanted to tell you all the time
what &-what a, sefish fool I've been"
Anita smiled up at him.
"A fool about what?"
About carr
! oh slid. Anita Il know all about
, the car. The salesman called up the
day you left He was sorry he couldn't
. reach you. He said you'd paid nearly
, half the price. and he was ready to
deliver the car any day I.suggested."
But it-the notes~I was, to give
] him notes for the balance"
IT know" Anita said. "But don't
like going into debt: I paid the ball
ance In CASH"
won did,