Evening star., 1927-09-18

please stay all night, You haven't
since we were kids" Di said.
In the pale green and cream colored
bedroom, Kathy perched at the foot
of the bed. one of Diana's filmy night
gowns and a delicate chiffon neglige
of Diana's wrapped about her.
"Your clothes are so sweet, Dir
Mother spoils mer' Diana. sitting
at her dressing table, turned about.
and the lace of her green and silver
| robe shimmered in the shaded light.
And then, as when they had been
children, they talked.
I'm engaged to Gordon" Diana
confided. Mother won't let us an
nounce it until Autumn. He's-he' 8
a strange person, Kathy."
Kathy nodded.
"I-care a lot" Di said steadily.
More than he does. It's an awful
thing to say, but suppose that. II I
didn't have money-he hasn't much. |
Yet. he is fond of me. :"
"Of course, he is" said Kathy. ANY
one can see that"
"It's hard, sometimes. He's-oh.
suppose he's a flirt. But I'm getting
used to that. He always comes back
to me, Kathy. At first it hurt, but
afraid"
"Di, dear!v' Kathy's hand covered
her friends. 81 haven't heard from
Neal" she said. wistfully. Not at all.
Oh, life's so funny" Her voice
drifted off. family.
Funny" repeated Diana. gently.
Sometimes it's rotten. But ! guess
it's nicer to love some one than not to-
81 guess so. But you see, Di--"
e. H. TINA fhof "
Kathy's pent-up emotions released
themselves in words.
Il +
CHE spent nearly the whole morning
telling Aunt Min about the eve.
ming.
"Di has a bunch coming down over
the Fourth of July, Aunt MINI Her
voice heightened with excitement.
Lets have a party here! Then you
can see for yourself" She paused.
looking through the open door into
the dark green and brown dining
room. Then her face lightened. DO
you suppose Pa would let me fix up
the house a little?"
She searched him out in the barn.
Par Her fingers curled about his
rough hand. PA, let me fix up the
house? I can just see that dingy old
dining room with yellow walls and |
white paint! And if you'd let me paint
the furniture-every one does, these
days! The Pierces-"
He laughed. because she was so like
a younger Kathy he had known. Il
don't see that a little paint would
put us in the poorhouse." he agreed.
Par She kissed him. and laughed.
"And we're going to have million
people, most, for supper. and you've
got to carver
For days they planned and plotted,
her head and Aunt Minis close to-
gether over sheets Of paper. Some.
times Bert Snow came and laughed
at them. "You women! he would
say, and would make fun of Kathy's
careful lists and diagrams. 1t was
good to have something to do, it put
off the inevitable moments when she
sat, silent. looking out over the sea
at the horizon, wondering, hoping.
Neal-oh. Neal!
Aunt Min was sewing in the door,
way, while Kathy attacked the dining
room oak.
"Oh, it's going to be so pretty"
She sat back, surveying her handi-
work. Flushed and hot, with smear
of paint on one cheek, her bare
arms flecked with white spots.
There's some one, Aunt Mini saw
a shadow go past the window"
Aunt Min went into the kitchen
and, heedlessly, Kathy heard the door
slam-once-twice. She painted on.
Then:
"C'mon back, Aunt Min-Im get
ting lonely with no one to talk to-
She looked up and saw Neal Hunt
er standing in the doorway.
Perhaps it was the best thing to do
under the circumstances. In any
event, what kathy did was swift and
definite. She tipped over the paint.
1t ran in a thick, white puddle across
Here! Here, Kathy" Neal had
darted into the kitchen, and he re-
turned with handful of cloths.
Kathy mopped, dazedly.
Don't. Neal-youll get all dirty!'
81 don't care?' He laughed, kneelf
ing close beside her. "That'll do.
Come on out where we won't get
paint all over everything"
She stood looking at him. Neal
her Neal!
"I couldn't stay away. I've been
.d'you know what I've been doing.
Kathy? Finishing your portrait! I
thought 1t must be more lovely than
any living thing-but it's not so love-
y as your
She looked at him silently.
"Kathy!" Paint-wet hands grasped
hers. "Will you forgive me? Win
'ou love me again? / was crazy!
Observation-Disclosures Snow. do you
'ealize that I'm an old man? Twenty
'even years old! And you're a babe
# 10! was-oh, I was mad!
<athy, I've got passage for Europe.
Sext week! Will you come with
ne?"
Her lips parted. Europe. With
Zeal! She looked up the field, toward
he barn.
"Oh. I'd love to! But dearest, I
ouldnt! I want to awfully. I've
missed you so! But my father. and
lunt Min-not this Summer, Neal.
We got to stay herer'
"Oh. Kathy" Gently he took her
1to his arms. "Oh, my dearest one
~ love! Kathy, what makes you so
weet and dear and generous? What
lakes you--"
She kissed him. stopping his wordsl
I'm not, Neali But they're so aloneN
nd I love them so. They've been so
ood to me! And love-oh. my dear.
St" She looked up. mistily, at
er lover, returned to her. Love is
ko that Nealr'