Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-14
By Margaret
Widdemer
Copyrisht 1881. by Alliance Inc

came SO easily to him now-and kissed
her and gave it up.
She ran up the stairs singing, happy
in the happiest of all possible worlds.
And Ethan, smiling to himself, went
down the hall. But he was in earnest
about wanting her to marry him soon.
He spoke to her about it again at
luncheon before his mother. But Ada
Kingsway backed Helen up. She was to
| take all the time she wanted, and not
be bullied into matrimony.
Though it's pure unselfishness on
my part" she added, smiling across
the old-fashioned beautiful damask that
hid the mahogany table. There was
never so unanimous a feeling on the
part of any family as to acquiring you
permanently, my dear"
by the way, here's your mail" Ethan
added. II stopped by your place and
picked it up on my way from the office"
Who's it from? Who's it from?"
clamored Patricia.
Ethan, at the head of the table, held
it away from her small clamoring
fingers.
who's it for, you mean," he said.
Not you, my child
"You never let me ask any really
interesting questions" sighed Patricia.
II never want to know if people are
well, and have to ask them. And 1
always want to know what's inside
letters, and 1 get stopped"
Ethan'S slim, long hand, with the
gold signet on the little finger, pushed
the letters to Helen, facing Patricia.
I'll tell you" she consoled the child.
This letter is from my sister Jessica,
I can tell by the postmark. And this
one is"-she had to tear it open to find
out-"from a man who wants to sell me
beautiful hats by mail for So, if I'll sell
some raincoats for him. And this"
They were watching her, gay together
over little things, as people are who live
together and like one another-and the
three who loved her saw Helen's face
suddenly turn serious. Its from my
cousin Nina" she finished, laying it
down by her plate and beginning to
break the brown, crumb-covered chicken
croquette which lay on her plate beside
a sprig Of cress, with her fork.
Read it," demanded Patricia
mot now" Mrs. Kingsway took a
hand. "Afterward"
Ada Kingsway picked up the CONVEX
sation and carried it: Ethan. manlike,
saw no reason for concern to Helen in
letter from her cousin. He hadn't
wanted to marry Nina, and had no
feeling about her beyond the calm
neighborlineSS a man has for woman
he has known some time.
You don't owe your cousin anything,
my dear" Ada said in a low voice as
they rose from the table. Read your
letter, and don't worry"
Ethan helped his mother back up
stairs, Patricia flew out of the roof
after the evasive Luella, who knew
mealtime very well and was most de-
voted and charming cat until they were
over, when he relapSed into his ordi-
narlly Warllke state. Helen went into
the library to read her letters.
The one from JeSsica was just the
usual weekly letter; full of news about
Lester and the little apartment, and the
bridge club, and shopping, and small
worries about the approaching baby.
She wished Helen wasn't marrying the
Northerner, because they would always
be so far apart, but he looked awfully
handsome in the snapshot. And do be
sure he makes you a good allowance"
wrote JeSsica sadly because all the
girls say if you don't have it out before
hand you never have the whiphand; I
tease and tease Lester, but he only
makes silly excuses about my spending
too much; as If / didn't know how TO
get wonderful values! :"
Helen sighed and smiled little over
that, sitting in the deep window-Seat
under Master Everard Kingsways black
browed portrait. Her trouble with
Ethan would always be the ether way;
already he was getting out of hand in
his passion for piling gifts upon her.
And poor baby Jessica, with her Won
derful values She remembered those
in her fathers day-$l5 to spend on
some necessity, and proudly paying $25
for it--lamp or rug or ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
it was "such a wonderful value" She
must try to pull the child up. not now,
but next Spring. Poor Lester, who
adored affectionate, plaintive JesSica,
and was always giving her an allowance
3 or taking IL away In sklae vain hone of