Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-06

for him and mother. When / was a little girl
We had no carpets on our floors. Dad kept
reaching a little more recognition, but there
were the babies. We could do without carpets
better than without babies mother said"
You sweet kid" said Fred. You peach! Is
it still like that?"
mo, not exactly. Father has a good and
loyal church in st. Joseph now He's quite
happy and we're much more comfortable but
when he got to that place the babies
growing up and had to be educated. You see,
that's how we Skippings are. Certain things
awfuly important to We're always
spending our money on something high-falut-
ing instead Of on carpets. Every Skipping child
had to have a college education. John was the
first. He was through his first year at a school
of architecture when the came. He was
killed In September Of 1918"
FRED slid closer on the padded window seat
and recklessly laid hold Of Doras hand.
Dora went on with a catch In her throat.
Then there was James He got an appoint
ment to Annapolis. His expenses were covered
by the Government, but now and then We
wanted him to have extras, though 1t was hard
to make him take them. He chose aviation
and we won't let him give that up. Well you
know how expensive the service Is. About all
he can give US, now at any rate Is glory"
when are you coming?" growled Fred, very
1ercey and protectiVely.
Tn next When 1 was stih small, my
grandmother sent mothers piano from the
South. She thought she was doing q kindness,
but almost at once 1t was discovered that was
musical. Then we had music lessons instead Of
carpets. You couldn't have q much more
pensive talent than music. OF course, nothing
would do but the best teaching. And the fam
lily was so thrilled We Skippings again! When
any one of US is to do something we all forget
everything else to get behind that person and
push. And here 1 am. The idea is that
I am getting a touch OF college education with
my music. Sol finish in June. Yes. But
I want year to pay of a little of my debt.
The family doesn't feel that way. 1 do
Il see said Fred, how you feel, but and
still-could you make any real money the first
year?"
"I would! There's always teaching For
concert practice there's radio brOadcasting
station that will give me work once or twice
a week and the organist in fathers church Is
getting very old. I'd fill in there"
IN bet a nickel" said Fred, II could give
you twice much money to put on that debt
and never feel it, I'd be glad to-"
My dear" said Dora softly. I'm sure you
would and could, but it wouldn't be the same.
I want to give them something all myself"
Are there more kids?"
Three" Dora freed her hand suddenly to
make clasping gesture indicating inspiration.
"Fredi The holidays begin week after next.
Couldn't you come down some time during
Christmas week and meet the Skippings?"
If come" said Fred, IN bring the largest
and most emphatic diamond ring can buy and
I'll dash their hopes of you entirely. Still in
viting me- Dora?"
II haven't made you know the Skippings at
all, goose. When tell them about you which
I shall at once, if they don't know already,
they'll say only, How wonderful for Dora!'
Gracious, what is all the commotion about?"
Fred shot out his left wrist to look at his
watch.
"Ten-twenty," he announced. "At 10 80 well
all be booted out the door," He stood before
Dora smiling, coaxing, that fattering run of
color under his year around Sunburn. Sweet
ness" he whispered, won't you come outside
to tell me goodbye"
The dormitory opened a stone archway
through which q miserable wind swirled and
whistled; but the only annoyance that at all
marred the sweetness of that farewell was the
fact that four other pairs Of lovers had got
Fred's idea ahead Of him. It was all he and
Dora could do to find q stone buttress with q
shadow suggesting oblivion.
Go now on o Friday morning a week later
in the midst of her washing and cleaning
was there any reason In the world why Dora
Skipping should think her lot hard one?
when she had hung her wet wash on patent
lines above the radiators and turned on the
heat full and opened the windows to speed the
drying, she unfolded an ironing board and
warbled. On q desk before the board she
propped book on harmony and hattered her
self that she was doing ear and voice exercises
in sight reading. Strangely, however, the har-
mony exercises began, no matter what the key
or the phrasing, Dora warbled lines from