Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-01-18

| keep us hluffing all the time, and
trading on the fact that your fathers
| rich man and that some day you
may be a rich woman.
The tradespeople are easy with US
| because your fathers rich-they nag
| and nag, but they don't go too far.
And we bluff along. We know we're
poor as misery, but we never know
where we stand. ! wouldn't mind
| living on any kind Of an income If /
| could just feel for once l had my bills
| all paid for the month. Why-for
| seven years we've been living on an
| income about half big enough to sup
| port us as were living-on that and
| your fathers tips. He likes to keep
me eating out of his hand"
The fat was in the fire. Even if
he had wanted to forget the subject,
| Sheldon could not now, with jeans
head so stiffiy in the air. They went
into their delightful living room
| furnished with TillinGhast donations
or wedding presents sprung from
Jeans connections. Ordinarily Shell
don loved his home. Tonight he felt
sternly that it Slapped his manhood.
1t was Betty who really hurt him.
She lay in her ivory white bed, which
was a gift from her grandmother.
Il want" said Betty, "a pony l can
ride on. Dorothy has one. She let
me ride, too, with Ellen holding me.
VIII you get me one, Daddy2"
Even at six Betty could be plead
ing;
1T costs too much. dear. When you
get little older"
Betty remained blithe. "All right"
she said. III ask grandfather"
Her father stared blackly down at
her and then left the room. 1t was
Jean who got the brunt Of his anger.
II may take tips" he stormed, but
1 will not have my child trained to be
beggar. She Is TO get along on
what l give her. She's to under
stand it,
& +
lean did not cry until Sheldon went
a. out, shutting the door with an in
sulting forcibleness that resembled a
slam. Then she INDUCED herself.
He drifted to the club for some
cigarettes, and Will Brewer hailed
him to make d fourth at bridge.
When he got home, he found Jean
sitting up for him and still looking
intense.
Perhaps" Jean said darkly.
there's something behind all this
sudden discomfort. Perhaps you've
met some one-some woman?''
"Oh, Jean, you know adore
YOU
He knew the remedy for that kind
of talk from years of experience, and
tried to caress her. But she remained
intense.
In the morning they both felt under
slight strain, which was made the
less difficult because it was Jeans
birthday. On birthdays they always
went to the Tillinghast house. The
celebration was doubtless already
under way. 1t was almost impossible
to refuse. Still, when Jean, after be-
ing sweet with elaboration all
through breakfast, asked, will il be
too unpleasant for you to dine at
fathers tonight" Sheldon wished
that 1t wasn't Jeans birthday and
therefore a day hallowed to her
wishes. AS it was, he merely smiled
and assured his wife that dining at
the TilIinghast's would be pleasure
But he felt that she had the better of
him, and when she added that she
hoped it wouldn't be inconvenient for
him to come out on the surface car
because she hated to borrow fathers
cars so often, he realized that she had
planned these statements last night,
and his own hostility began to rise.
Several times that day his COL
leagues noted a grim dignity on his
face, and once or twice his lips moved
as IL in defamation.
Whats eating you, Shell?" one of
them asked. Going to make a
speech?"
You bet I am, one of these days"
answered Sheldon.
Opportunity was nearer than Shell
don knew. David Harrison Filling
hast was in the library when he ar
rived that evenfng-old D. H. T., as
he was known in financial circles. He
welcomed his son-in-law heartily. He
was fond of Sheldon.
THAT young Fielding Davis is a
smart young man. Know hfm?"
What's he doing?" asked Sheldon.
He's been organizing his own COM
pany. Bought out the White Label
Flour Mills. Came to US for money
the other day and got it,"
who backed him?"
Several of us. Glad to do it."
Sheldon's lips grew grimmer. If D.
II. T. wanted to advance money, why
didn't he give 1t to himself, Sheldon?
He could buy into the Parke-Austin
Wholesale Grocery Company at this
very minute, if he had the money
Austin's sons wanted to sell. And
what he couldn't do with that defunct
company!
THE presents were put at Jeans
place for dessert. That was the
custom. There was silk lingerie from
her mother-not too unexpected, as
Jean had been careful to admire Just
what she needed last time she had
shopped with her mother-a dozen
embroidered napkins from Aunt Della,
a purse from Sheldon, which Jean was
charming about.
81 love it, Sheldon"
TT isn't much" he said, heartened
by her thanks.
quite enough-quite enough" said
old D. H. T
Then they waited for Jeans father
to reveal his present. A stealthy feel
ing in Sheldon which he resented,
hoped that it might be a check. A
thousand dollars would go so far in