Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-05

ms HE'S coming TO-" said soft
SS voice across her. She opened
her eyes, conscious hrst OF .
violently aching head; next,
that the head was on q linen
covered pillow, and that she was I'M
dressed and In the middle OF Wloe
mahogany sleigh-bed. She moved the
head--which shot sparks INSIDE sS sne
did it--and saw the pile OF n1agn1ncent
red hair, the irregular featured, kindly
face, the slightly bent, slim figure OF
Mrs. Kingsway, whom she had seen drlV-
ing by now and again but had never
known. She leaned on cane hghtly
and spoke to some one across the oeo'
who came into view, known ngure
also; gray-haired, pleasant DR.. Caynor,
who came to dine at Nina's as often as
he could manage it. He SAID win pro-
1essional cheerinesS:
well, we'll, Helen, what have you
been up to? Dumping your head on
Mrs. Kingsway's pet tree, Ell? Here, my
child" to Patricia, whose restlessness
made Helen perceive that she had also
Joined herself to the party, never sit
on an invalids bed without an invita-
ton -. How do you feel Helen"
"As II I'd bumped my head against
tree" said Helm ruefully' "and rather
@shen he all right" said the doctor,
pr ng Patricia CT the bed, which she
too. as calmly as she did most things
''Keep he- there Mrs. Kingsway; J
know you like petting young things"
She had suddenly returned to an en-
vironment CT frienoliness and kindly
ways.
get up and go back" She turned CRATE
fully to Mrs. Kingsway THANK you
ever so much for being so kind. must
60 now :.
Mrs. Kingsway paid no attention, be-
yond saying, MY Marietta is always
complaining she hasn't enough to do.
She adores bringing people trays; and
think ones on the way now" She
smiled down on Helen, about her face
and whole personality sweetness and
charm that won Helen irresistibly. and
Smoothed out the wide oldfashioned
lace collar that was on Helen's night
dress, a garment Of soft transparent
linen.
You're so much taller than I am I
had to put a nightdress on you out OF
my mother-in-law's trousSsau," she re-
marked, rrelevantly.
"Cousin Ada looks like the godmother
In Cinderella, with the cane and all, :"
remarked Patricia, who never liked to
be long out Of conversation, and was
not delicate in her consideration Of
feelings But Mrs. Kingsway only
laughed.
And my nose, too she added cheer
fully. Il inherited it from the wrong
and reassure Ethan, who doubtless
thinks he has murdered you, and leave
you 10 Marietta's trays"
She bent and Kissed Helen in a
nnotherIv fashion and was gone, more
lightly than one would have thought it
possible for any one who was crippled
with rheumatism. Marietta CIarkson,
the.wife Of Andrew the handy man, who
lived. at the little lodge outside the
gates entered very shortly with the tray
Helen had heard Of. 1t was worth
Birch's by its difference; beautiful old
ohgcng japanned tray, all bright, irri-
descent patterns, such as Nina had bid
high for at the last auction they at
tended, and failed TO get; but more
perfect On 1t was set a large two
handled bowl, blue and white, with a
pine-cone pattern; beside it lay an en-
broidered napkin and an oddly shaped,
clumsy silver spoon. Helen cried out:
why, they're all museum pieces!"
She knew a good deal about old glass
and silver and china. Shed had to
study such things to help Nina, and
besides had natural love for them.
She loved everything that was beauti-
fuL And these were each lovely Of
their kind.
yep, heirlooms,'' said Marietta with
pride. "The soups good just the same.
The Kingsways is queer that way. Eff
Ethan was hvin' down suller where
nobody sees him he'd use this sort Of
things Just the same. And there was a
time he could have used the money the
stuff brought. Here, le' me take the
lid off,"
She set the tray across Helen's knees,
and proped her UP. Helen found her
self really hungry; she rarely took more
than q glass Of milk for luncheon, and
this morning hadn't wanted much
breakfast. She dipped the oddly shaped
spoon In the old Worcester bowl and
found the food was very good; perfect