Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-05
TWENTIETH INsTALLMENT.

TWENTIETH INSTALLMENT.
~ IRBY PHELPS came back tri
u umphant from his long alb
n Sence. The factory site wa!
A ~ bought, the plans made. Il
was a great time in which tt
live, to be an engineer. A subway Il
be driven under New York City, ram.
med through the living rock; talk Of
huge steel combine: new oil fields be-
ing opened up; rumors of new device
for speech without wires. But above
all the automobile, steam, electric, gaso-
line. Still experimental, still to be
tinkered with, improved, beautified, but
come to stay.
Sitting in the train he thought Of
Missile. He felt very happy, very ten
der, strong enough for both of them
He would marry her, and together they
would face the future, that future which
promised so much for an engineer.
When Missile learned that he wa,
back she sent for Eileen.
What's the matter? You look sick
I'm going to have baby" said Mis-
sic alphabetically.
Well. it's time. Maybe Yves will set
tie down now. must say"
Yves doesn't matter. Let him live
his life and III live mine. Eileen,
want you to tell Kirby Phelps"
Eileen sat down suddenly.
What business is it of his?"
Il was fond of him and he knew it.
I wouldn't like him to come here now
It changes good many things"
What kind of things?" Eileen de-
manded suspiciously.
But Missile was still inarticuiate,
vaguely protecting Kirby. IT don't
want to see any one, really" she said.
I'm III, for one thing, most of the time.
just want to get it over, the best way
can"
But it seemed that Kirby had taken
Elleen's news very hard.
i was sorry for him. He looked
crushed" Eileen said. You didn't say
he cared for you, Missile
He'll get over it. They all do, don't
they?' said this new Missile.
Eileen. however, did not tell her how
Kirby had received the news; how he
had looked stricken at first and how
then ne had laughed. Had laughed
until she was shocked. and then had
polted out of the house
When Missile could think she wanted
boy. Women had too hard a time.
Life trapped them.
After time she found that Wesley
was not only reconciled, but that he was
secretly proud. He even made an effort
to be considerable. He was at home more
but he was poor company for himself.
He did not read. He would sit down
over a book and drop asleep. And at
last he would give up the effort alto
gether; would tiptoe to her door, find
her light out, and with relief 60 down
again, get his hat, close the front door
quietly behind him.
She was gentler with him and she
saw that after his fashion he was try
ing to be kind. At night sometimes he
would walk around the block with her.
The arclights had vanished from some
OF the city streets and some visionary
had built series of huge skeleton tow
ers, so feet In the air. They threw a
pale moonlight over the roofs and left
the streets submerged, dim CANYONS
walled with brick.
Within month of Eddie's birth Mis-
sic felt that she had found the meaning
Of life. All that had gone before had
been directed toward this one end, that
she should bear this child. When she
lifted him she held the world in her
arms. She would sing him to sleep.
rocking backward and forward, with a
soft, exalted look, and once Wesley, came
IN and saw 1t. He stopped awkwardly
and kissed her.
He was trying hard, she saw that. He
brought her gifts; a barpin set with
pearls a Sealskin coat, and once again
he tried sitting at home in the eve
nings, yawning over a book. But he
loathed reading: he liked the company
OF men, men who played cards or talked
business; or of women, gay. sparkling
women who laughed who made It a bus
mess to amuSe him
And often Missile took pity upon him
Don't you want to go TO the club,
Yves? It's so dull for you here"
He would try to hide the eagerneSs
IN his eyes.
How about you?"
I'll be all right. I'll 60 to bed early"
He would affect reluctance, move slowly
TO get his hat, his stick, his gloves. And
outside on the pavement he would draw
a long breath, hurry, almost run.
Yes, he was trying. During her con-
valeScence she had heard much saving
of wood, hammering She had asked
no questions. But on the day she was
to take her first airing it was no livery
stable hack which drew up at the door
1t was shining new brougham, with q
rair Of handsome gray horses. Wesley
was on the pavement, nonchalantly
waiting, boyishly delighted.
Well, how do you like it?"
She was moved almost to tears. He
got in beside her; she felt the springs
sag under his weight. Suddenly she
put out her hand to him and he took
1t awkwardly.
Friends again. eh?"
I'll do my best, Yves"
Incredible to think that only a fen
months before she had been hating him
planning to leave him. She knew, sit.
ting there In the brougham beside him
that she could never love him as she
had loved Kirby. But she was growing
ripening. There were still untoucheC
depths of tenderness in her. There wa.
still a chance that between them thel
could build their marriage into a sue.
cess. It must be. for the boys sake
He must grow up in harmony, in peace
in beauty.
why can't we be always like this
Yves? I'll try to do better, be NOR,
what you want"
That's the girl" He squeezed hel
hand. let go of it. sat little forward
in the seat so as TO be seen. "Ther,
goes Yves Dexter. New brougham, too
He's a coming man; making money
hand over fist" He threw out oil
heavy chest, settled his tie, raked hi
hat.
They had named the boy for he
family. Colfax Dexter. Trust Wesls,
for that. But it was unwieldy for I
child, and Missile called him Eddie.
She had not seen Kirby Phelps again
That part of her life was closed of
like locked and shattered room. Sht
did not want TO see him; it would b,
bopening door to emptiness Nor dix
- IL