Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-31


~ light found herself
enjoying it after all. KingsWay
villages ritual for engaged girls was
released about her. Mrs. Delamater, a
little overpowdered and overelegant IN
the manner Of her day, little set In
her phrases, as a society leader of
small place is likely to be, came calling
and welcomed her into the family
sitting, white gloved and sttfly mar
celed, with Just a tinge Of condescen-
sion coloring her sentences about being
happy and delighted.
And you don't know what it means
to NE to feel that my dear boy, after
all bis fitting from flower to flower, as
one might say. has been made to settle
down by such good little devoted girl
as you dearest Helen"
Nina broke in. Nina was q match
for any two mothers of only sons.
IF you think Helen made Tommy
settle down, you're wrong. Tommy has
been badgering the life out of Helen,
and fighting OF other men in a way
that must say think waS-weu, Of
course, he's so mad about her that he
couldn't really" said Nina silkily, play
quite fair"
MY SON" said Mrs. Delanater, "is
the soul of chivalry and honor"
Isn't hep" said Helen with innocent
enthusiasm.
Mr.. Delamater Is descended" said
Mrs. Defamater' firmly, from the first
Mayor of Wayne"
How wonderful for him" said Nina
TT sounds like song, doesn't 1.-THE
Mayor Of Wayne''
Mrs. Delanater, to Helen's intense
surprise, turned deep pink under her
coating of white poWder, and even the
spots of pink carefully done on her
cheek bones.
Helen bolted from the room with
gasping excuse about Tacy having for
gotten something.
Tacy had forgotten nothing. She
was standing just outside the door that
led across the hall to the kitchen In
an attitude which made it clear that
she had missed nothing. Helen held
to her broad shoulder and let herself
laugh.
Tacy made no pretense Of not listen
"Lettin' the good work go on she
replied with relish. You let her alone.
She knows how to handle Lydie Della
mater. Listen
Mrs Delamater was returning to the
fray CALAMITY, playing Mr.. Delamater's
ancestors as you lead card in bridge,
smaller ones first, better ones later
Ninas pleasantly metallic voice admired
each in due order, but admired them
with the sweetness Of patent charity
with which one says, Yes, dear, very
pretty" to a child's efforts at painting
or sewing. Against them she led with
due elaboration various negligently Of
fered possessions of the Heather gene
ology. Conquered finally by a Colonial
governor saved for the last, as one saves
the ace of trumpS, Mrs. Delamater,
nearly hyster1cal, demanded shrilly
where Helen had gone and Helen, re-
turning found herself greeted as If she
had been a nfeboat or Blucher's bat
talions at Waterloo. The lady left as
soon after that as she could in an order
of compliments and violent sachet, but
she went defeated.
Nina dropped into chair, laughing
to herself at the recollection of some
of her best shots.
Ever notice that she plays her hus-
bands ancestors, not her own, Helen?
I don't know where she came from,
baby, dear, but it's a lead you might
follow. You might hnd it useful
Helen stood dismayed, shaken out of
her dream Of world where every one
was kind.
Don't you think can ever make
you may" said Nina, ringing for
Matte, but you'll have to beat her up
first, dearest"
Helens heart was heavy for a mo-
nnent. Then the glamour of being in
love with Tommy flowed around her
again. It was only Nina's way of see
ing things. Mrs. Delamater and she
loved Torany-they must love one an
other sooner or later
A. L.
Of Helen already Her mornings and
afternoons with him now were only
hard because he kept stopping to say
how glad he was about 1t. Mr.. Della
mater was of a genial, paternal type,
Welghtily aggressive and impressive,
except in his own home, where Mrs
Delamater's precise purring voice, laden
with dear" and darling" preflxes to
every name she spoke, quelled his every
utterance.
Tommy took neither Of his parents
very seriously. He let his mother fuss
at him and adore him, his father blus
ter and indulge him with the same
cheerful carelessness with which he
stood on his mothers Louis Quinze
chairs to put OF and on his elaborate
lighting systen-for Tommy was still
experimenting with his elaborate sys-
tenn of kleig lights.
To Helen, Tomny's enthusiasm seemed
among the most lovable of his char
acteristics. He always swept her along
with him laughing and delighted.
II hope he'll get excited about golf,
she said, Tommy says we're to take up
golf and bridge and be very sedate when
we're young married set. Can't you see
Tommy being sedate?"
They both laughed lovingly over the
picture OF tanned, bridge playing,
golhng, married Tommy.
What with a rush of parties for her,
and a very insistent Tommy, and her
once work and her preparations for
marriage, Helen grew more gay and
excited, and thinner. She slept light
to herself to laugh all day long. There
was double work to do. She had re-
fused to let Nina order her all her
lingerie, and now she was sorry, be-
cause Nina had merely bought mate
rails instead, and they had to be made
up. Exquisite ninons and crepes and
laces and rosy and golden satins.
The red coat from Jessica had come.
It wasn't as bad as Helen had feared
1t was only SOS. Helen sent the check.
Tommy, to Helens disn1ay, told his
father (and mother, Helen feared all
the circumstances Of JeSsica and the
coat and the approaching baby. And
Mr.. Delamater lectured Helen, very
much as Nina had done, but more
sparingly and more clearly. Helen was
nerved by the wisdom which he had
for every one but his own son, to add
scolding to her next letter She told
Jessica about her engagement and i'm
pending marriage.
Then came the chore Of getting Nina
OF.
Nina kept Up her own social affairs
to the last moment. Nina always
rested before and after any parties
given or received, because, as she said,
she owed 1t to herself. This worked