Evening star., 1922-06-18

"She told Howard she didn't want
to go because she hadn't any
sweetie."
"Oh, if she would like some candy"
began the major with eagerness.
"She doesn't mean candy: she
means a young man." said Sally.
Never mind. father dear; we'll get
some one else who would be glad to
CO."
Her heart was hot within her: 1t
was exactly like Carleton's relations:
they never put themselves out for
anybody.
DUT all the more need for Carleton
l. to stand by now. A saving idea
occurred to her. solving the problem
at once. Why hadn't she thought Of
it before? The rain was hurting
itself at the window with renewed
violence. She must manage to get
the Wakefields' at the corner and
telephone Carleton to have his din
ner in town-as they would all have
done but for the baby's needs-and
meet them ehere afterward. He
liked to come home and dress first.
but he wouldn't mind this time. She
must slip out without fathers seeing
her.
AS she splashed through puddles
in her arctics. the rain rattling down
on her umbrella and Carleton's mack
intosh. her mind was uncomfortably
reverting to the parting from her
husband that morning-there had
been something lacking. To married
lovers each day differeth extremely
in glory-there is deepening Of the
joy of affection, or an imperceptiblc
lessening of it; there are the days
that seem to make neither for pro-
gression nor retrogression. and yet
of which it is dangerous to have too
many: non-recognition may slide so
far that what should be the thrilling
pleasure of recovery turns into an
irritation 1t is a fact often over
looked that, taking it by and large.
there is no being more inwardly
sensitive to the changes in domestic
atmosphere than the unanalytical
American husband.
Carleton had gone off that morn
ing. after the vaguely unsympathetic
conditions of the past week. with an
indefinable effect of glad escape from
household demands that impressed
itself on her even in his kiss OF fare
well.
Sally was more in love with her
husband than when nine years ago
they had begun life together: she
knew that his love for her had
=
to be really married. But she had a
sudden consciousness now that she
had perhaps been tiresome in asking
him to do a great many things lately.
from the first moment he entered
the house until he left it; she didn't
want him to be glad to get away
from her! He never refused to do
what she asked of him, but he had
told her once that he was exception
ally busy at the office these days.
She had a strange sense of their
being out of touch. The rain beat
in her face and chilled her heart.
feel better: he would say. stop i'm
agining things"
She had another inspiration when
Jimmy. the nineteen-year-o son
and heir came to her ring at the
Wakef1elds.
"Oh, Jimmy. don't you want to go
to the theater with US tonight? My
father has two extra tickets"
Jimmy shook his head. Thank
you. but I've got a date myself.
Mothers out"
II only want to use your phone, II
/ may" said Sally. "Ours is out Of
order"
1t seemed hours before central got
the right number. but at last
20. Mr.. Truefit. is this you? This
is Mrs. May speaking. Is Mr. May
there?-What?-We out after lunch
and said he wouldn't be back at the
office again?-Do you know where
could reach him?-Had good many
places to go to: No; it's nothing i'm
portant, thank you! Goodbye"
Out in the storm all that after
noon! As he himself would have
expressed it for her. it was rotten
luck.
She called up a couple of friends
who might retrieve the party; one
was in bed, the other in Philadel-
phia. She tried vainly to get the
promise of taxi later. She care
fully laid the coin for her city call
beside the phone before leaving.
A rainy evening in town has. at
least. it's cheerful illumination of
electric lights and flashing motors:
there is a sense Of popu1ousness. of
action, of speed. But in an outlying
suburb a rainy winter night is the
blackness of desolation.
THE outline Of a man bent forward
against the storm was the only
sign of life as Sally returned home.
But her spirit obstinately rose now
against failure. She would find some
way to save the day yet.
The two children were having their
early supper at the little round table
| under the big clock in the dining
room. Carley looked UP to ask
whats the matter with grandpa:
He walks up and down all the time
and won't smile"
He looked very old and worn as
| he caught sight of Sally.
where have you been?" he asked
anxiously.
"Only to the Wakefields for q min
| ute. The rain isn't SO bad when
you're out in it," she lied.
He visibly frightened. That's just
what I've been thinking. OF course
I don't mind weather. never did!'
Perhaps Carleton might feel thai
| way, too. She had q sudden buoy
| ance OF hope as she ran upstairs to