Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-13

DERED.
hand supporting the baby's back, she
was tossing water up over us httle
breast and stomach. ,.,
As he watched. she lifted Muriel
expertly from the tub to big batn
towel. She was too busy TO look az
him and he sat down quietly to Watcn
her.
warm with feeling. She had never
looked at him like that. \ wave OF
revolt surged up in Martins heart.
After all, didn't she owe him some
thing? ,,,.
she have done? And then he was as
quickly ashamed. He sat very qulelI
until Nan had finished drying ana
powdering the baby a+d bu'tonihs her
into her night things.
She turned to him with n snort
laugh. Her face was flushed from the
steamy water, her eyes were starry
She held Muriel i'm her arms. ana I'M
puIselv she held her out TO him.
He had risen to his feet. but he did
not nut out his arms. He felt that
he couldn't hold the child. lie didn
want to have anything to do with H.
Wasn't another man its father?
Nan flushed scarlet. she Sd" hel
mistake.
I'm sorry, Martin" she said almost
in a whisper. Then she was arrang-
ino tho habv in its bassinet. With
exDert fingers she was smoothing
blankets and tucking them carefully
in at the side.
From a basin Of warm water tnat
stood on the table she took Dottie'
already prepared. Her lips curling IN
a smile. she gave it into Muriels
hands. They closed and her small
mouth fastened. AS she drank sne
half opened her eyes to look up at
her mother. Nan hung over INC
bassnet intoxicated.
Was there ever such WonderIui
baby? Nan was completely and en-
tirelv absorbed in her. She was so
perfect. And she was so good. She
never cried. Nan trying to be
verv scientific with her. She was fox
lowing a book on the subject OF babies
because she wanted Muriel to grow
IN strong and we'll. And now as she
hung over her child she forgot all
about her husband in the background.
He sat and watched her and queer
thoughts surged up in him. Alter aii'
she was his wife. But he was proud:
He couldn't seem to force hifhSelI
upon her. 1neTe were lIlilSo ~
wondered if he would ever win her.
What he wanted was wiling sur
render. but always when she was alone
with him she seemed to wear mask.
He knew that she was bored with
his friends, and in a way he didn
blame her. Nan had so few lnsincerl'
ties, and most of the wives OF the men
he knew had so many.
Still he was conventional enough 10
want her to take her place IN MS
world. He wanted TO see her enter
tain his friends.
Nan lowered the light and turned to
Martin.
I'm finished now"
He rose at once and went into the
living room. Nan had done very little
| to il. but it seemed much more charm
| ing. She had simply added book
| shelves. and books in open cases as
she had always wanted them. Then,
| too. she had streWn the huge library
| table that backed the davenport in
very correct fashion, with the newest
| magazines. 1t gave an informal touch
| TO the otherwise formal room. She
| longed for piano. But she didn't
nlav very we'll herself. and she hated
to ask Martin for anything more.
He loved watching her light the
lamps. one by one. He loved watch
ing her curl up in corner of the big
davenport. Even now he wasn't used
To the fact that she was actually in
his life. But would she ever love
him? That was the question.
Downright. 1927
CONTINUED in Mondays Starr