Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-15
JIIT'ED
INsTALLMENT xxi.


N YINA'S letter was perfectly cool
calm and unangered. She made
no reference to her own earlier
4 idea that Ethan had never
ceased to love her since she
broke her engagement; she congratu-
lated Helen without a visible claw, sug-
gested New York boarding school for
the child and ended by setting date
for having Ethan and Helen to dinner
I'm writing on the Paris" she fin
ished, land by the time you get this
I'll be back in Kingsway. Telephone
me and say you can both come. I'm
having just the four of us; Ed Gaynor
is the fourth"
Then she did feel it, just little
For the fourth was a man who was
his own admission, to want to marry
Nina. She wished to be armored.
Helen came out and Met Ethan on
his way back to the Office.
Like Patricia, 1 want to know what
was in your letters" he greeted her.
You look very serious, dear. Anything
I can help about? Is the little sister
all right?"
"OR, yes" Helen told him seriously
But Nina's asking us to dinner!"
wherein France?"
No-hAnSS"dy! NeAI A"e0@"J wv
ming"
"Why, that's all right" he said
cheerfully. "Or don't you want to go
of Nina for any reason?"
Helen shook her head. She had
never told Ethan what Nina had said;
the calm taking for granted of Ethan's
love with which Nina had sailed of.
There was nothing for 1t but to
smile and promise, and write telling
Nina she'd go. She went slowly down
the hall. thinking it all over.
And then Patricia called her, and
she answered. They had planned to
spend that afternoon upholstering
chairs for the first floor of dolls
house in the grounds. 1t was a thrill
ing late discovery of Helen's, an ador-
able house big enough to crawl inside
with actual stairs.
They put on their wraps and went
out through the sharp air. They
crushed through the deep snow in their
galoshes. laughing and snoWballing each
other. The mood persisted all the aft
ernoon, after they were through taking
the measurements for the house, and
sitting before the fire in the long salon
parlor.
Marietta had spread sheet carefully
down before the fire, having her suS-
picionS of what glue and cretonne and
cotton might do to the Aubusson carpet
she loved more than its owners did
And in the center of the sheet Helen
and Patricia sat, their hands very sticky
with glue and their hair very full of
cotton. The little wooden chairs they
had found at a Philadelphia toy shop
were set in two semi-circles, one of up
holstered ones, and one-there were
only three left now-plain wood.
The fascination which making
things has for most adults caught ADA
Kingsway, who came in first. In spite
of the danger of drafts, she dropped
down, pinned her gray crepe de chine
up over its slip, and began to tuck in
difficult corners with her twisted
like Ethan'S.
1t was so Ethan found them, entering
last of all, after a long hunt for some
mislaid papers.
Wen never any of us have tea I'M
less something drastic is done" he said
taking in the intense industry that pre-
vailed among his womenfolk.
Patricia, darling, go get three damp
towels, said Mrs. Kingsway. Ethan
you are the only one here with hands
fit to touch anything. We are all glue
from head to foot, even Luella. Gould
you pour the tea, do you Think"
Ethan, considering, thought he could
and went down on one knee beside
Helen to do it. Patricia came back
with the towels, and they all sat in a
heap in the freight among the little
chairs and the scraps of cotton and
cretonne.
They were all hungry, and were in
danger Of running the o'clock dinner
which was fatally near.
Helen happened to glance down at
the wrist watch that sparkled in the
frelight, and Sprang up, finally
Good heavens! It's z, and 1 must
have dinner at home, I've only been
there once this week"
"Oh, nonsense" said Mrs. Kingsway
and Patricia reached up and held
Helens skirt. Ethan, lying back on q
couch he had pulled up, was laughing
at them all, waiting till the persuasionS
of the others had failed before he tried
Into the half-lit room came an I'M
certain step. Helen turned, and saw
Doris Milliken's hesitating figure, stand
ing at the door.
II came-to bring you home" she
began, and then her voice broke. She
to her.
What is the matter, oh, what is it
Doris, dear?"
I'm just silly" Doris sobbed, bury
ing her head in her arm against the
door. you all looked so happy, and
you were laughing so, and I'm-I'm SC
tired of not being happy, that's ALL"
Helen drew her out in the hall.
II ought to go speak to Mrs
Kingsway." she sobbed.
mo, indeed. Mrs. Kingsway will un-
derstand."
Doris powdered her face and got hold
OF herself. The two girls, when Helen
put her wraps on and said a hurried
word Of explanation to the others, went
out and drive home in Doris car.
What is it really, Doris?" Helen
said.
'Nina's back" Darts anwsered to the
point.
Il know. I'm dining with her