Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-23
By Margaret
Widdemer

IN nice QuleL way ana BeG lieu up, To-
morrow. say!"
Tommy, you are incredible" was all
she could find to say.
Nearly but not quite" he said
blithely. Most real and devoted, my
love. And father will be tfrilled-you
always liked dad"
He waited. smiling, nearly certain.
You're talking nonsense" she said
briefly. beginning to clear things away
and wrap up the debris preparatory
to burning II.
well, at least you came with me,
which proves quite lot You wouldn
If you were really so mad over Kings
way" he said conclusively.
She shivered No, she was not
going to marry Kingsway
They drove home, earlier than Tom
my had planned.
I'm call you up after dinner. BY
that time you'll be over your little
tantrum." he told her obstinately as
she stepped out of his car.
She smiled and faced about. Not all
the kings horses" she repeated.
And then inside the Nottingham lace
Of Mrs. Birchs parlor curtains, she saw
the outline of man.
She knew who 1t was. Only Ethan
had that tall grace. Ethan, whom she
had lost; Ethan. who would always think
her bravery shallowneSS, VINO had de-
manded faith and love and loyalty,
who had taught her a high code and
then refused to believe her capable OF
following it It was dreadful-it
was unendurable-she must do some
Very we'll" she said desperately to
Tommy. Call. You may hear Of
something TO your advantage" She
managed even TO smile and wave her
hand to him as she went in. She
heard his triumphant voice floating
back from the runabout-Ethan could
have heard it, too
1T knew you'd give inl See you later
and always"
She made herself walk into the
room. Ethan stodd there waiting for
her She shivered, and pulled her
self together to face him.
ask you to forgive me-
Don't ycu know where I've been?
Where you thought, before. I've been
of all day with Tommy, Don't you un-
derstand? Tommy Delamater. He wants
me to marry him again. He wants me to
marry him tomorrow. IL shall marry
Tommy"
She stopped talking and stood facing
him. and waited for what he would say.
His voice, close to her. 1t was pas
sionate, half angry, possessive.
II don't CARE he was saying, where
you've been. don't care what you've
done or what you've promised. believe
in you entirely and absolutely, as
you deserve And you are going to
marry me and nobody else, unless you
can tell me honestly that you love him
better than you do me- He came close
to her and put his hands on her shoul-
ders.
"Oh, Ethan" How long could she
stand this? Don't 60 through all this
again. Haven't I told you, it doesn't
matter how much you love me If you
don't trust me?"
IT do trust you. Always. entirely. I
ask you again to forgive me for distrust-
ing for even little while"
You aren't just saying this? Not 10
get me back?"
Il wouldn't say it, even to get you
back-I couldn tiff it weren't true.
Didn't you get my note?"
mo, I went off this morning before
the mail came. 1t was later than usual"
she said mechanically.
II wrote to you last night, thank
heaven, before I'd been told anything
by Ronny," he said.
"Ronnys told YOU"
He came close and took her IN his
"Ill explain everything. but, oh
Helen, I want you In my arms again
firSt, mine"
They were in each others arms sud-
denly, blessedly; as If II had been years
since they were parted.
"Oh, is it real?" Helen thought; and
heard Ethan say softly.
IT can't believe it's real darling. :.
Helen let's get married tomorrow!
Suddenly she laughed and spoke.
"Oh, forgot. I can't marry anybody
tomorrow. Not even II more inquiries
come"
ANY special engagement"
cts been a hard week for the Heath
er girls. My little sisters in trouble
again, real trouble, poor baby. and
have to go down and see what can 40
to straighten it out"
He nut his arm around her again.
you don't have to straighten out
snybody's troubles. dear. saw them
both and straightened it all out. Your
little sister wired me to break 1t to you
before she wrote you. They are both
very much in love and it wasn't hard"
And what about Lester?"
HE was desperate, poor young fellow!
But they are starting out all over again
down there. JesSica Is to have a little
the babies can play on the grass, and
the shopping district is IL miles off. So
Is Testers business. SO you mustn't
have them on your mind any more"
There came a thud on the door, fol-
lowed by the crash OF its opening, and
on top of that. Patricia. She made one
leap, in her rainbow flnery. on Helen.
Patricia caught her breath once and
then demanded:
rs it all right2 Helen. are you going
TO marry him? :. But you are. You're
friends. E. oh. Helen, I'm so glad,
even If I do owe Ethan six weeks allow
ancel 1t was worth it."
Helen Rugged the child close.
And you'll come back tomorrow
morning and stay with me?" Patricia
persisted.
"Of course"
"All right then. And I forgot Cousin
Ada said wouldn't you please come to
dinner II it was all right"
1t had occurred to them at the Kings
ways to straighten out the affair of Pa
tricia and the note.
But didn't she give you anything2"
Helen demanded. Il said, Take this to
Ethan and she said she would. 1t isn't
like Patricia"
Wait" he said. 1T remember now.
She did give me-a paperweight."
"A paperweight?"
why, yes I thought 1t was one of
her games. You know what mysterious
things she has way Of expecting you
"No-wait-I know! weighed down
the letter. Let me see."
She ran TO the table.
Here's your letter, Ethan!"
He dropped II into the bed Of Goals