Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-13
INSTALLMENT Xxx.
TINE gale of greeting, of wonder

ME Bdlc VI BIcSLlLBs Vi WOANSA,
Of congratulation was over. 1t
had been congratulation with
Il a subtle note of respect in 1t,
Helen realized afterward. She
had never thought, in the hidden en-
chanted days in the garden with the
KingswayS, just how much of social
control marriage to Ethan Kingsway
would mean.
Finally they were alone in the car
together again, rushing down the road
in the crisp, starry evening wind. Pa
tricia, on the back seat, was nearly
asleep. Ethan, his eyes ardent, turned
impetuouSly to Helen, taking her hand
where it lay slim and brown and un-
gloved on her knee.
Ethan" she said, with an effort, at
was very chivalrous of you to do that.
But 1 don't want love on an i'm
pulse. And / don't want to have your
love at all unless you can believe in
me. I-oh, I couldn't stand 1t! Be
cause-I believe SO in you"
Ethan ordinarily drove as easily and
effortlessly as he did most things, but
the car gave jerk under his surprised
hands as he checked it beside the road.
why, He.en!" he said. Il know it
was taking too much for granted. For
give me. But-Cur talk on the way
over-you knew 1 loved you. thought
you loved me. 1t was a crazy way to
have it happen. But there wasn't any
chivalry to it. Rather the reverse, /
should think; think I had a nerye!"
She dared to look to him; his face
turned to hers, was warmed, made gay
with happiness. He bent to her His
arms went around her again, she felt
his lips on hers and everything was
suddenly good and joyous and right
again. She spoke into his shoulder:
Il thought-you were angry because
you saw me being kissed BY prom
iSed not to tell you who he was, even.
thought you'd gone back to not trust
ing people named Heather because Of
Nina-and had to love me, just the
same-against your wishes. I couldn't
stand that"
But, Helen, don't you know what
you are to me? The King of SPANS
daughter from the old rhyme! The
most wonderful, the most perfect The
princess from the legends, always!
Helen, I'll confess. For flash I was
angry. 1 had just come to feel that
you were mine, nobody else's. I hadn't
even kissed you-and then, I saw who
it was-young Higginson. I'd heard
he was in love With you. I spoke and
acted out of jealousy first, I suppose
and then nothing More or less than the
immediate, intense desire to know you
were mine, to have you in my own
arms"
Ethan! 1t is getting fearfully late
fer quiet little Kingsway village. You
must take me home"
After he had left her she sat a long
time, not seeing anything but the hap
plneSS that had come to her-a happi-
ness in which she was wrapped, sur
rounded-safe. That was it-she was
safe with this courtesy of Ethan's that
was chivalry.
HE thinks I'm wonderful now be-
cause he didn't think / was as good as
was before. Oh, 1 must try to be
very, very wonderful!"
Patricia few at her, of course, with
shrieks of delight, when. trying to look
as If nothing had happened. Helen came
into the library next morning. But it
was no use. Her yellow-brown eyes
were more alight than usual. and her
tall, slim body in its sedate, smart
brown cloth dress, white-collared and
white-cuffed, moved more lightly, more
happily than it had. Patricia had a
hawks eye for differences.
"Oh, you look all pleased and happy!
I knew you'd like the idea of marrying
Ethan once you got used to it." said
this amazing child
Who told you?" Helen demanded.
NaA ACOId. EsfeIyoooy III the mouse
knows. Didn't you notice anything
when Marietta let you in? Ethan must
have told Cousin Ada last night. She
was as pleaSed-you'll see! And Cousin
Ada told Marietta when she was help
ing her to get to bed. And, of course.
Marietta told the cook and Andrew and
Gladys"
Patricia was excited to her depths
by what had happened, and it took all
Z oil ekr -.
SO much, at that, today-to pin her
down to copy book. But Patricia won
cut. after all; for they were scarcely
settled together at the long, low carved
library table before the door opened
and Mrs. Kingsway's slender, bent fig
ure stood there. She was smiling and
holding out the hand that was not
neeSed for her cane with that radi-
ance Of happiness over things she liked
which had always made Helen love
her So
Helen sprang up. laughing and blush
ing, and caught Mrs. Kingsway in her
arms.
II wasn't going to be Official" she
said. Il thought I'd give Ethan time
to break the news. And, oh, dear Mrs.
I was as near as nothing not
coming at all this morning"
Mrs. Kingsway kissed hsr.
I'm very glad you're going to belong
to me-" she said, sincerely.
Honestly, it's too much good luck!"
Helen said. naively. ITO be as crazy
over you as I am and get to be IA
relative"
You're going to be my daughter, and
I'm going to be your mother. And
when I think" said Mrs Kingsway,
settling into the biggest armchair with
3 sigh of relief, and lying back in it,
her lined, Sallow, indemnitably bright
face and great knot of red hair light
against the dark leather: when think
Of the girls I was simply terrified to
death might have been her-and it's
you, you blessed little Helen! know
I'm being ungrammatical, but I'm
gladden. than I'm calm"
There wasn't need for an engagement |
luncheon to announce anything this |
time. AS Ethan had said, the an