Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-08
Here Is an Un-
usually Mo ving
Story of Modern
WOman Wh0 Be-
comes Jealous of
Her Daughter.

an hour later from some tea III
or committee meeting finding him cool
ing his heels on her little hearth rug,
smoking cigarettes in nervous expecta-
ton, thinking over what he had TO say.
Breeze in on him. very casually con-
trite laughing lightly:
My dear! How stupid of mel Did
say So"
NarcisSa knew all that. She under
stood the art of living. And she I'M
derstood Dick Dick had no interest IL
in slaviSh devotion. Not that Dick had III
any interest whatever in her devotion,
slavish or otherwise. Any more. II
Not even his note, crashing into her
life after an interval of five long years,
could shake Narcissas cynical certainty
on that point. But still he had written. II
IT want to see you, CisSy. I have some
thing to tell you that only can ex-
plain"
Despising herself. she went up to her
room Immediately after luncheon to
prepare for that casual call.
It was q losing fight, this trying not
to look your age. when it was the I'M
speakable one at which she had just
arrived. Dark, slim and-well-yes, 40,
and a widow. But she didn't look it.
If it hadn't been for her daughter
Patty, she could have passed for-cer-
tainly not more than 49, But not even
Patty's denouncing presence at dinner
table and in drawing room could make
her admit to day over 81.
WHAT could Dick have to tell her?
What was there to TELL after the
stark fact, never told, but so dread
fully implied. five years before, that he
didn't want to marry her? She had
hardly seen him since just casually
at parties
Why hadn't Dick wanted to marry
her? When she wanted. SO dreadfully
to marry him? Was it just that she
was older? With great strapping child
like Patty?
Stretched on her bed room sofa,
waiting for the hours to pass. NarciSSa
forgot Dick for the moment, in her
maternal solicitude over Patty. She /
didn't pretend to understand young
people.
A queer unawakened generation, for
all their freedom and the reckless use
they made of it. So Sef-sufhcient, so
sure they were right. And yet SO very wror
in their persistent undertaking. of the wor
of sentiment.
Why, Patty was grown up. She would mari
some day soon. Jimmy Livingston, perhap
He was always under foot.
But Patty, of course might marry any on
Narcissa never knew, really. whom she W;
seeing.
A ring of the door bell woke Narcissa al
ruptly from reverie Was it So The clock {
the mantelpiece pointed only to A. But IN
was Patty's step on the stair.
Mother? Are you asleep?" That was Pat
on the threshold, hat in hand, fresh and 70:
from the wind looking like wood nymph
her russell sport suit. II want to telephone
ITO whom are you telephoning, dear?" aske
Narcissa.
Jimmy" said Patty briefly.
"Timmys such a nice boy" said NarcisS
sympathetically.
Hes a good egg" said Patty absently, r.
ceiVer at
Hello, hello Tim! Can't you guess? Ho
many other girls ring you up in office hour!
I bet our name is leglon Well. this is you
side kick. Yes. Pat. Now listen, Jimmy,
got your message. This is just to say III
there, dearie, I'll be there. Yes The usu
place at the usual timel Come early. TT
operas a waShout. I'll leave before the La
act"
She hung up the receiver.
Patty said Nsrcissa severely, what a
you planning? You can't leave Mrs. Mackey
op<ra party before the last act"
':Just watch me-" said Patty serenely. "Yc
don't know what you can do till you try
Abruptly she left the room.
Really, thought Narcissa helplessly she ougl
Ito do something about Patty. But not no.
It was 430. Dick would come in half q
hour. She hoped Patty wouldn't burst in c
their tete-a-tete. But she wouldn't, Of cours
She never bothered with her mothers friend
Narcissa, having combed. for the last tim
her short, dark locks and decided irrevocsb
on the green, descended the staircase and coy
templated the charming little interior.
Narcissa glanced at her image, reflected fro
the doorway in the mirror over the Replace.
that golden light, against those faded Geogia
panels. she looked young and really lovely
her soft green draperies.
The door bell rang. NarciSSa felt suede
surge of panic. Incredible devastating, TO thir
he had not been in this room since that oth'