Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1924-10-10

nursery to find Lizzie alone and sulky.
Mr.. Latimer had not yet brought Tom
my back'm. Yes'm, 1t was quarter
past six.
Ellen went on to her own room to
find Gibbs flung across the bed In one
of the heavy maps with which he some
times recruited his forces for the eve
ning's demands. He rolled over when
she came in, and lay there blinking and
staring between yawns at the ceiling.
"Time is it?" he asked presently,
and when she told him he added:
Oh seven o'clock dinner anyway
My head feels rotten! !"
you smoke too much ~ Ellen sug-
gested dispassionately.
He himself had often admitted it,
and also admitted that he could not
drink as steadily as the other men.
But he scowled at this reminder. The
truth was that late hours, rich food,
hot weather, alcoholic stimulants, and
the unnatural life they were leading
were bad for them both, and any pre-
text would serve in these days for
quarrel.
where's Tom?" Gibbs now asked.
Ellen knew that he knew, and that he
had deliberately selected a question
that would imply q criticism of her
management.
"Joe's coming over to dinner, Gibbs,
with the Lathrops. And he isn't to
dress, you know, for they've been out
in the boat all afternoon. So l said
not to bother to get Tommy home be-
fore seven, he can have a simple din
ner and pop into bed as soon as he
gets here"
Gibbs was now sitting on the edge
Of the bed with his silver hair in
mop over his flushed face, and his
head in his hands.
II must say / don't approve OF this
constant upsetting of Toms routinel'
he observed.
Ellen, now at her dressing table.
with the stiff lines of silk robe fall
ing about her, flushed in her turn.
Last night you kept him up until
quarter of eight she answered light
ly. She scored here, for Lillian had
had friends for later dinner the day
before and had captured Tommy, and
made him bring down his violin. The
child had been reluctant to play the
simple little airs he knew, and Gibbs
paternal authority had been needed,
and the threat of a whipping Ellen
had been excruciatingly uncomfortable
during this scene and had presently
escaped with Tommy upstairs, almost
as near tears as the child was.
you simply said that to be nasty"
Gibbs remarked with some heat. 'You
know the child Is out too late, you
know that no sensible mother would
allow child of six to go off in a
yacht, and yet you deliberately per-
nit"
There was nothing deliberate about
it, Gibbsl Tommy and went over to
see Aunt Elsie this morning, in the
small car. And Joe was home, and
asked to keep him. You know per-
fectly we'll"
II know perfectly well that any
crazy thing that Joe proposes appeals
to you! Anything to show me ow
absolutely Indifferent you are to my
wishesi"
"Gibbs, don't talk like that !" she
said, in changed tone, tone more
distressed than angry Ordinarily, the
faint indication of desire to con-
ciliate would have softened Gibbs, but
he was still in the prickly discomfort
of awakening after daytime sleep,
and he answered bitingly:
''Oh don't let anything / say count
I'm not Joe, of course~ And as Ell
len was silent, with hurt tears in her
eyes, he added grumblingly: IF George
Lathrop wants Joe for son-in-Iaw,
just because his daughter has set her
heart on him, and If you want to see
your brother every day. and three
times a day-well and good All say
is: I'm donew
"Its Lillian that has set you against
Joel" Ellen burst out angrily. Il know
pleasant, amused voice of hers She's
made you think he was countryfied
and stupid and slow just because he's
never fallen in love woth her"
THAT'S enough |" Gibbs said, In
stern voice. Ellen, even as she spoke,
had had feeling that it was more
than enough. She stopped speaking,
ashamed and sulky, and went on with
her hairdressing. There was silence
in the room for perhaps two minutes,
and then Gibbs added with cold dis
approval: "After all Lillian has done
for you-treating you absolutely like
sister,"
Then again there was pause, bro
ken this time by the entry of Joe and
Tommy from the nursery through the
bathroom.
Tommy had had supper on the
yacht, 1t appeared. He was theoret-
ically anxious to be allowed to stay
up, actually his tired, sunburned little
lids were falling over his eyes. Ellen