Omaha daily bee., 1922-04-30

made familiar by bright stories in the maga'
zines. which Charlotte had dreaded lest she
might, during the past year, have degenerated
into There nothing outrageous about heI
dress; she managed what skirts she had rather
decently. She didn't paint. Charlotte. who had
learned to smoke since her marriage, but didn't
enjoy 1t much had been little disconcerted
when Anne after dinner on the night OF her
arrival had declined Wilfreds proffered cigarets
Her speech was no slangier than Charlottes own
and she distinctly more fastidious about It.
Eut when Charlotte ventured tactful compli.
ment upon these points, citing her authorities
for having dreaded something different. she
drew forth a startling explanation.
"Of course, haven't any modesty." Anne said
(She spoke Of It precisely as II 1t were . dis.
ease.) "But don't have to scream It to the
world from morning to night, any more than
you had to 60 around telling everybody. in your
day. that you were-I wonder what you'd have
said, nice girl or an honest woman? There
are some things that can be taken for granted.
The trouble with those girls in Whats.His-
Names stories-I suppose they really were like
that once-was that they had to show people,
or they wouldn't know. that they had legs
and SO on; and that they could swear and smoke
and were good sports and knew about sex and
psyche analysis But that's pretty old stuff
now. OF course" she added, reflectively 'if
ever want to dress to excite a man, will. !
dent care about exciting Wilfred--I don't think
do--so what's the use?"
Charlotte, her blood beginning to run cold.
asked whether all the girls in her sisters set
felt the same way.
They didn't think exactly alike, Of course,
Anne told her. but they agreed pretty we'll on
fundamentals
And did the teachers know. Charlotte inquired.
about the existence Of the club and the sort Of
ideas 1t encouraged?
TT isn't a club at ALL" Anne explained
xsNSr-~
can't keep girls who find each other interesting
from talking to each other instead of with
people they find dull They can't make US talk
the same way with people we don't take seri.
ously and with people we do. There's one Eng.
lish teacher who's a peach. We write real
themes FOR her: put down what we think. The
others we fluff along with; not because we're
afraid Of them-I think most Of them are afraid
Of US.
"Of course, you can't be afraid of people who
are afraid Of themselves: you treat them like
children All old people are like that, guess
practically all Don't dare look 'emselves in the
eye afraid something will pop out at them. Pre-
tending to be kind and self-sacrificing when
they're just simply afraid to see something
through; pretending everything's lovely when
they know something's rotten; saying Hush!
and looking the other way. OF course II you're
pretending too, and believe all they tell you.
they can bully you as much as they like--all for
have to pretend, and they know you don't,
they'll let you alone. all right. Unless you go
and shout 1t in their ear, they won't let on they
heard you at ALL"
"Am an old person." Charlotte asked, and
jumped at the sound Of her own voice. She had
been thinking the question ever since Anne had
begun talking about them. but she hadn't meant
to speak; 1t had slipped out, somehow.
Anne smiled, family. You're an old DEAR"
she said, coming over to Charlotte and kissing
her. (Was this fluff" Charlotte wondered, or
real affection?) Most people hate their sisters,
of course. aud thought you were going to be
awful. But somehow you aren't. don't won
der father used to be spoony about you"
Almost in the same breath, and with a man
ner casual that 1t instantly caught Char.
lotte's attention, she went to ask whether.
by the way. a letter had come for her from dad.
She'd written him. to San Francisco, and the
answer, IL there was one. would be just about
due
20, I'm so glad you wrote to him." Charlotte
said. and added, she flinched way without
as yet realizing why, from her terrible little
sisters look Il wrote him a steamer letter. too"
At that Anne's brows contracted. what did
you write to him for?" she asked.
what for?" Charlotte echoed blankly. But
she felt her face getting hot. still without quite
knowing Yhy; she SUPPOSED it-was nothing but