Evening star., 1926-12-26

"Oh, that belongs to the fellow that
was in here" said the girl. Hell be
back after it, and I'll leave it outside
the door here for him." And she
went away.
Barbara unpacked her clothes and
hung them on the wall behind the cur.
tain that served for a closet She put
her little typewriter on the table, un-
locked 1t from it's case and raised the
KEYS. There was still in the roller a
faded sheet of paper. She took it out,
bent the creases from 1t, and inserted
it again carefully.
She had to write something And,
because nothing else came into her
mind to write. she made what looked
like a poem by one of the Younger
School:
The quick brown
fox
jumped
over
the
lazy
dog
Then she reached over to where tn
cigarettes and matches lay on the
table, lighted up. and sent a COT.
cloud of smoke across the room.
Barbara Locke's herself again,
she whispered.
1t didn't need any effort of the
imagination to transport herself back
through those five years to the ro-
mantle past which this room so vivid
ly symbolized. She was back there
at the happy age of almost 81. just
arrived in New York, and facing the
world with courage and curiosity ana
the will to success. Life lay before
her. She could make of it what she
chose.
When a girl married. she became
wife. She ceased to be a person.
And what was worse. by some terrible
alchemy which marriage brought, she
didn't care. She was happy in lust
being that mans wife. She gave up
her ambitions. She gave up her
name. She lived in and through him.
She had no life of her own: she
existed to love him, and comfort
him, and sew his buttons on. That
was all man wanted of a woman.
Well, she wouldn't be a wife That
was settled. She was going to write.
she turned again to her typewriter
A ND then Mrs. Casey spoiled 1t all
First there was discreet tap at
the door, and then Mrs. Casey, looking
very sympathetic. entered. The same
Mrs. Casey unchanged by the years
oh, Mrs. Riggs!" she said.
I'm not Mrs. Riggs" said Barbara
defiantly, springing up.
You poor darling chiId" said Mrs.
Casey, advancing with outstretched
arms. We'll do I know the troubles
that women have to bear. Tell me all
about it,
There's nothing to tell" said Bar
bara sternly.
"Of course there isn't" said Mrs.
Casey heartily Don't say a word.
Just put your little head right here.
and she indicated her broad bosom,
"and cry your heart out
Barbara't first emotion was of dis
gust at this ridiculous invitations: ana
her next emotion was of surprise, as
she found herself unreservedly ac-
cepting it.
She had got rid of Mrs. Casey at
last She was ashamed of that out
burst of emotion. But. after all. II
had served to clear her mind. She
had stopped crying and said to Mrs.
Casey, bitterly:
"Oh, you're right, I'm just woman
after all. And what foolish creatures
women are."
They're as the Lord made them"
said Mrs. Casey tolerantly. It's not
for me to be criticizing them. But
will say that it does seem queer some
times, the way we have to take on
about some poor stick of man. But
there's no getting around it. That's
the way we are"
But you don't behave that way,
Mrs. Casey-do you?" asked Barbara.
ITO tell the truth. l don't-not any
more. But you shouldn't judge by
me. Bless your heart, I'm an old rep
rebate; easy come, easy go, Is my
motto. I've my house to bother about.
But l was as foolish as any woman
in the world when / had a husband
of my own"
Mrs. Casey" said Barbara ear
nestly, what is there about marriage
that does this to us? I'd like to
know"