Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-03
THE LUCKY LAWRENcEs
b KATHLEEN MORRIS


| AS she went to ana fro she looked
often at the great washbasket, lined
with dotted Swiss and blue ribbons.
| asleep.
"You little darling' she would say,
standing to look down at the puckered
| little face.
Suddenly she heard a motor car on
the old side drive; the engine stopped
and a car door slammed. Then there
were footsteps on the porch and the
handle Of the kitchen door turned.
second later as Gail turned an inquiring
glance that way and said aloud, PHILIP"
the door swung open and the dimly
! lighted aperture framed a woman's
slender figure. A young woman in
furred coat spattered lightly with rain,
with q small hat drawn down over
drifting fly-away golden hair. Ariel.
Gail stood stricken motionless for
moment. Then a great trembling and
weakness came over her and she took
step toward her sister and stretched
birds flight across the kitchen and
flung her own arms tightly about Gail.
"Oh, my darling-my darling" Gan
whispered, her wet cheek against Ariels
wet cheek. YOU'RE back!"
Call" Ariel sobbed.
"Oh, deareSt-deareSt!
There was no bitterness, no memory
now. 1t was Ariel, the adored young
est, here against her heart again, living.
loving, sorry, eager to be forgiven; there
was nothing in Calls feeling but one
great ache Of Joy and pain and love.
Gail, I've wanted you sol"
"And you! But-but what fools we
are to cry!" Gail stammered. laughing
and crying both. with trembling lips
and trimming eyes.
Il know!"
They drew apart. hands linked, and
looked at each other.
You look-oider, Ariel. You'll
hardly knew you!"
Ariel shrugged in the old. Indifferent
way "Oh, we'll"
"Oh, well, naturally" Gail finished it
for her with q laugh.
Ariel saw the basket and the baby;
she gave Gail frightened glance.
oh, no. no. That's Phil's baby. Lily's
baby"
Ariel's proud mouth curled in the olo
naughty way. 81 heard he had married
her" she said, displeased, and there was
little pause.
She's awfully nice, really" Gail pro-
tested. feeling a. if a fall Of cold water
had suddenly enyeloped her.
"Oh. how can you say so! That hor-
rible Wibseri" Ariel said impatiently.
Suddenly they we're back in their old
relationship, and there was reproof In
the voice in which Gail said. BE care
full, Ariel She isn't here, but Phil may
be any minute"
DO you mean to tell me that Joe
Cass' divorced wife"
Joe Cass died, Ariel. And they were
here" Gail said as the other voice
stopped on an indignant note; they
were here when Edith-and they've
been here ever SINCE" she added after
another pause.
IT see" Ariel said in a gentle, low
cred tone. The old hoarse, boyish voice
and the old penitent look in the hazel
eyes-how they brought back the days
of long ago!
"Is Dick with you. Ariel?"
Dick? Oh, yes! He's coming in with
the bags"
And are you going to stay in Clip
persville?"
Are we? Oh, heavens, no"
Ariel said expressively.
But you are happy, darling?"
The younger sister had seated herself
at the table: her bag and gloves had
been flung there. Now she loosened her
coat. Nothing to cable home about.
collect"
| something SeeIlcO W SIlIItCl III odA
heart at the tone Can We announce
your marriage now. Ariel?"
Instead of answering. Ariel fastened
bright, curious eyes on her sister. do
you mean to say that nobody has ever
suspected?"
Nobody. 1t surprised me- OF course.
I told Lily. But she never told even
her mother And people have AZ taken
it for granted that you were down In
| = Anvafa
family. They didn't question it-not
one-half so much as I thought they
would. I believe they still think OF
you as a child rather than q woman
some one to be sent around ana
schooled-I don't know. Anyway, II
any one has ever connected your name
with Dick Stebbjns' I never heard it."
i've often wondered" Ariel said; rs
tening attentively. Mot" she added,
with her own little favorite air Of arro-
gance. mot that it made any difference
to mel But I've often wondered what
the old ladies in town were thinking
about it."
There was a moments silence. for
Gail sensed something unexpressed In
her sisters tone and waited, puzzled, Tor
an explanation.
I'm terribly glad" Ariel began,
hesitatingly. Call" she added sud-
denly on a more definite note. i've got
to tell you something; it's going to sur
prise you" She fell silent You must
have known that there was something
funny about all this2" she interrupted
the pause to ask irrelevantly.
There was a sound behind Gail at the
kitchen doorway. She turned and faced
Dick Stebbins.
Bigger, browner. with more Of that
sweet, homely, kind air than ever.
Some quality. reliable. trustworthy,
restful, seemed to emanate from him.
there was infinite strength for Gail In
the mere touch of his big hand. He
kissed her very simply and looked be-
yond her to Ariel. Gail, her sapphire
eyes and the disciplined sweet wide
mouth accenting her feeling of bewil-
derment and non-comprehension. sent
her glance from one to the other.
Had your talk?" Dick asked and the
remembered voice sent waves of thrill
ing weakness and joy and pain through
Calls whole being.
mot yet" Ariel said. Tell her. Tell
her the truth, Dick"
(To Be Continued.)
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