Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-19
INSTALLNTENT XVI.

INSTALLMENT AAV1.
Ut was not till the next evening
that Helen found time to talk
over things with Lester. They had
put Jessica to bed with the new
novel Ethan had given Helen to
read on the train and sat down In the
living room with a pile of bills and
that builder of self-reSpect known as
budget. -.
Lester tragically. I'VE started with
budget" He hauled out dusty
pink-silk bound booklet with For the
Bride" on it. He found two others, less
decorative, and pushed them all across
to Helen, But it never seemed to
make any difference. Jessica-weu,
she's such a baby"
Helen nodded. Jessica was baby
And she always would be. And-Helen
faced the fact, with that clearer attl-
tude towards facts that association
own passion for petting people she
loved had contributed to making Jes-
sica a baby. And as soon as it was
kind she was going to have to be stern
with Jessica,-she must.
Things were as bad as they well
could be financially The going Of the
piano was what had made Jessica
break down and demand Helen.
"She loved that piano So" said Les.
ter, land, as she said, 1t was only SD
O month to pay on it.
"You still have the radio and phono-
graph" Helen pointed out, feeling ike
:. monster Of hardness. Now let's
count up what you're paying out IN
Snstallments-"
Things were not so bad as Helen
had feared. Lester was living beyond
his means. And the maid and the In
stallmentS on various things were Keep
ing him from doing anything but get
further behind. But a hundred dol
lars-together with the absence OF the
baby grand-would pull him out OF
IL for the time being. He would have
to borrow on his life insurance to man
age the hospital bills. But he had
expected to do that, anyway, and there
were prospects of raise.
"H you could explain to Jessica," ne
said, his face flushing, that can't
come home in office hours, even II I'm
passing near with a proSpect-you
know. girls don't understand about
such things. They won't like it, you
know-and We do need the raise
Helen nodded, smiling little to her
self. To Lester, JeSsica was all the girls
In the world Meanwhile :.
It hurt her pride q little to come tc
Ethan with less than an adequate
trousseau, but Jessica's needs came be-
fore that.
IT have more than that saved" she
told poor young Lester, whose eyes were
fixed on her, doglike as If she coulc
produce a solution from the air. q
get very good salary for looking after
Patricia, and I've been saving evel
since last August"
Lester flushed up angrily. Il cam
take money from GIRL" he said.
He was suddenly very stiff and proud
and Helen had long argument witt
him, so long that Helen finally had K
say. "H you don't take it, I'll give 1t te
Jessica, and you know"
"I hate to take it." he said. scarlet
again. ''I don't mean TO be ungracious
Helen, but you understand
The rest of it was various minor
plans; principally that Helen would dc
the housework till Jessica went to the
hospital That would save two weeks
wages for the maid.
After that Helen would and, II pos.
sible, responsible n1iddle-aged woman
who would be half-nurse, half-house-
worker-and they would have hope fol
the raise.
She sent Lester of to relieved sleer
IN the narrow white enameled ornatt
bed beside Jessica's: sat down to writ:
her nightly letter to Ethan, and ross
from it, as always, happy and warmec
and thrilled. She undressed in TIT
living room and opened out her daven
port bed, and went to sleep on it, con
tent and very tired Everything
Strengthened out
She was awakened somewhere abou
2 o'clock by Lester standing over her
white and excited. She was dressed
and ready In five minutes, while h
telephoned the hospital and for taxi
They brought Jessica home a couple
Of weeks later, very bright-eyed anc
proud, talking more than was quit
hopeful for the new budget about buy