Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-23

and husband. That job took talent. If you
did it well. 1t took sleep. too-and strength.
She heard Mike come upstairs. His very
step sounded discouraged tonight It was all
wrong. He was young he was really COM
petent; he had good product to sell. She
could make him see that, too, if she were feeling
normal and he was She used to do it. She
got up and started to dress.
There were eight people at the McKinnons'.
just two tables of bridge They fingered q
long while over the dinner table. Celeste did
things beautifully. There was an atmosphere
about her dinners, simple as they were, whic
made them distinguished. If she only had
little more vitality thought Kate, locking at
her, she would be delightful
It was late when they started to play bridge,
for after dinner Celeste had gone to the piano
with rather more interest than usual. She tried
some modern music that was unfamiliar 10
Kate. They were things she had never quite
perfected, she explained. She was going to
get to work ON them as soon as she could. She
said 1t automatically, but without much ex-
pectation, and finally left the piano for the
bridge table.
Kate played bridge with John Merrill, and
Blake and Celeste took them on. The score
growing loss for Kate and John. They cut
for new partners. Kate stin lost.
And chime clock an Celestes mantel struck
1880.
WELL" said Kate. ct guess that's all for me
tonight"
They all looked at her.
whats the matter?"
mot thing in the world except that want
to get to bed by H."
'.But we haven't finished the rubber"
We'll" said Kate. I'VE finished loe Of
other rubbers.'
"Your luck viii turn said Blake cheerfully.
mot tonight it won't Because there isn't
tT hn 01nf{f NVNfv
body"
From the other table Mike heard vaguely
what was going on.
whats the matter?" he asked "It's early"
at win be midnight by the time we get
home"
Doing Cinderella?" asked Helen.
"A more or less permanent Cinderella"
Alec stood up and came over. Didn't they
treat you right? Aren't you having q good
timer"
1--WE had an especially good time 1t was
the best dinner I've had in months. And your
music, Celeste, was incest of ALL"
"Im glad"
Kate spoke to Celeste by herself.
you don't mind if go home? It's just be-
cause it's been such good party that want
to go home while I'm not too tired to enjoy It."
Go along" Celeste encouraged her. IT hate
these endurance tests. too. think perhaps III
break away myself before long"
why don't you?"
Maybe will. I wish / had your nerve.
You've started something anyway, Kate"
Kate didn't quite know what she had started
Alec McKinnon looked little insulted and
sounded cold as she said good night to him,
and MerrillS were silently but clearly of the
opinion that she was leaving because she was
losing. As for Michael. she couldn't tell what
he thought. He was probably sulking again.
But she didn't care for the moment 1t was
such fun to feel her life in her own hands
again, to feel her hands on its controls re-
wouldn't be so hard to steer
Not 30 hard at all. They were just going out
Of the garage when Michael spoke.
"Weh, maybe you're right. Katie" he said.
@Early to bed. You know what the saying is"
And he might have thought Of &c first. from
his manner IS he kissed her IN that hushandIy
protective way.
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