Evening star., 1926-05-16
"D0n't Go to Any Tr0uble" ="
BY Margaret Culkin Banning
Barbara's Husband Urged Her to Take Things Easy.

her luncheons usually did, and 1t was
a great success, according to the
guests. But Barbara tasted nothing;
from sheer fatigue she had lost all
sense of hunger. Since O'Clock
| that morning she had been up mar
ing nodded salads and preparing
sweetbreads, and doing all the things
that Sarah would not have time or
skill to do.
At intervals her husband told her
| not to go. to any trouble about the
luncheon, just TO give the guests what
was easy. Having made those gen
eral recommendations in his most
| sympathetic manner, he seemed to
devote himself to Janice.
Janice did offer to help, but she
made Barbara SO nervous that she
| quickly gave it up. Barbara def
nitely did not like to have Janice
around the pantry or linen cupboard.
She insisted that there was nothing
she could not do more quickly and
| more easily If unaSSisted, and Janice
would go off with the children, dis
| organizing their routine, and bringing
them back gay and adoring and
laughing.
| 1t was on the evening of the sixth
day-Janice had agreed to stay seven
! that a crowd gathered again at the
a
theater party and Alan had brought
them all home for a drink of ginger
| ale. Barbara. stirred to final effort,
had made a lobster Newburg, cheese
| toast and coffee, and served a gener-
Gus buffet supper. 1t was long after
/ midnight when the guests went,
Barbara listened to their last jests,
their promises and compliments, with
u complete sense of unreality.
/ f- no.
the waiting kitchen. the table covered
with dishes which she had not stopped
| to wash. She knew that the kitchen
| must be clean, SO that in the morning
Sarah would be able to get a good
breakfast, with all the extra trim
mings with which they had served
breakfast since Janice came. And she
knew that afterward, some time to-
| morrow morning. she must sit down
and figure up what all this had cost,
and how to pare it off from some
other expected and calculated expense.
| The dishes first-the dishes first--and
then to pound up those pillows.
| Yes. indeed" she was saying to
Mrs. Granger, Its been wonderful to
| have Janice here. Yes l do
| hope l shall see more of YOU. It's
been very nice to get acquainted.
Yes, Alan is always lotk of fun" The
last statement was in response to va
1ous complimentary things Mrs. Gran
/ ;er was saying about Alan.
He was standing on the hearth rug.
| telling Granger a story. Comfortable
and healthy and happy. Barbara re-
aected that he had thoroughly enjoyed
| his week
How bitterly tired she was
Janice, radiant in a soft. brick.
| ,olored chiffon dress, came over ant
| slipped an arm through Barbara's and
stood that way as they said good night
together. She drew Barbara to the
door, and they watched the motors go
down the street.
Great party" said Alan. "Tired,
girls"
Barbara Is" said Janice.
Barbara turned accustomedly to the
| dishes on the card tables.
Don't wash these tonight" said
Alan.
You know what Sarah is" sighed
Barbara.
well, let me do it," Alan suggested
afably. as usual. with the familiar
gesture of responsibility.
can do 1t more quickly myself"
Don't go to any trouble" began
She won't" said Janice She's go. |
ing to sit right down here in front |
of the fire. Take the dishes out and |
wash up, Alan. I'll straighten this |
room
Barbara sat down, protesting. and |
with a few amazingly swift gestures
Janice made the room presentable.
Then she lowered the lights and sat |
down by Barbara
'I'd better go and do those dishes" |
said Barbara.
NO let Alan do it."
But he doesn't know how, Janice |
He never
"Oh, let him begin. It's my last
lazily. She stretched her body out |
comfortably, feet crossed on the |
hearth. and the position was some |
how contagious. Barbara found her |
muscles less tense. Off in the pantry |
Alan was doing something very
remote.
She made a last struggle.
Il ought to go help him, at least
'Why? He's big and husky. Can't |
he wash a few dishes? Let him learn. |
Most men are more competent than
you think. But they never show it if
you keep doing things for them"
Barbara looked curiously at her
guest. A crash of dishes came from
the pantry. Barbara jumped up
Don't bother" said Janice.
Didn't you hear?"
DIcIl OIOhc, IL!
Il was using my Spode," exclaimed
Barbara, almost with wall
Better have cracks in your dishes
than wrinkles in your face" said Jan
ice clearly.
Barbaras hand went to her face.
Wrinkles?
They aren't there yet. but they will |
be. Sit down and be easy. Let him !
smash few, and pay for them"
Have you any idea of what it |
means to pay for them?'
I've a perfect idea. married his |
brother, didn't L? They're as alike as |
two peas. Only, I'm managing to stay |
in love with my husband, Barbara" /
II don't see quite what you mean" |
Barbara's tone was icy.
Come" said Janice, II despise talk. |
Ing about such things. But we're the |
only two women in the world in ex-
actly the same boat. We married the |
same temperament. You are making |
Alan lazy and selfish, don't you see? |
You're letting him make his empty |
gestures and escape. How many |
times a day does he tell you not to |
go to any trouble, because he knows |
he can trust you to Cd to enough trou-
BILE to make him comfortable? 1t |
isn't conscious, l know. It's your
own fault. You are one of the women, |
Barbara, who let the world make a
hack of them"
II really don't quite get the point of |
this little lecture" began Barbara, but |
stopped, because her sister-in-law had |
turned to her again, her eyes frank
and honest and filled with affection.