Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-21

= VELEN was singing to herself as
she hurried upstairs to her
own room. She was scarcely
i inside before she heard Mrs
Birchs shrill call.
"Mr. Kingsway's downstairs in the
parlor," Mrs. Birch said.
Helen ran downstairs and into the
little green plush parlor a smile on her
face and a gay greeting on her lips.
Ethan rose to meet her, but his look
made her draw back, sobered, at once
why, Ethan dear, what's the mat
ter? How did you get back so Soon?"
It was only in Baltimore. My bust
ness only took a few hours. l drove
back through Wayne" he said. That
and his look told her what had hap
pened.
"Well?" she said defiantly. Then she
softened. After all, she had broken her
word. But she'd tried to get him-she' q
tried to explain-"I'm sorry, Ethan,
she said. II know I told you l wouldn't
see Ronny again. But this was ne
cessity. And 1 left you note to ex-
plain"
"I asked if you had left note. You
hadn't" he accused her, his imperious
jealousy getting the better Of him. He
lowered angrily over her There's no
explanation for a broken promise. I
suppose 1 should have been prepared
for this. But I could pass that
"well, what else? What more
crimes?"
Tom Delamaters return"
tom" she stood. as startled as an
CRY, for the moment. Then she laughed
scornfully. II remember Nina did tell
me he was back. just as l left for Jes-
sica's. I'd forgotten it. I didn't know
it interested you. 1t doesn't me-
YOU" he turned aside for a mo-
ment as If facing her was something
he couldn't stand You're a good &C
are"
She found nothing to say to this
Suddenly he caught her in his arms
81 don't care about any of it," he
said furiouSly. kissing her. II love you,
whether you lie to me or not"
The icy anger deepened. And he
felt it. too. for his arms slowly slack
ened their hold about her.
That's all" she said. IF you don't
believe in me your love is the sort of
thing I don't want" She slipped off
the slender platinum circlet with its
single emerald and held 1t out to him.
Love means trust" she said I'D
trust you, no matter what I saw you
doing. And 1 thought for year you
loved Nina. I've never thought Of 1t
since, though she's evidently been put
ting in her time well since I went
He held out his hands to her. She
shook her head.
He pleaded with her for an hour
longer there in the little garish parlor.
But he could not say he believed her
blindly. And she could not have any
thing less.
"Good-by." she said finally. IT can't
come back to Patricia, you know
. I'm sorry"
Finally he went away She picked
up the ring. He had refused to take it.
She could not leave 1t lying about for
Mrs. Birch to see. . She must
mail it back.
There was knock at the door.
Here's letter from your sister"
said Mrs. Birch's voice. II guess you
didn't see IL, goin' through the hall"
She handed her two letters. Jessica's
weekly letter. lying waiting for her in
the hall, was faint comfort.
Dear Helen" JesSica wrote. THE
worst thing has happened that pos
sibly could My life is ruined. And
can't see at all how it was my fault
Lester has gone off and left me-"
Helen sat back. She even laughed
little. a cynical, small laugh. All the
Heather girls seemed to be having men
go of and leave them.
1t was just because I'd
spent little bit Of money on some
thing I have to have. the most Won
derful value and I bought him
a lovely necktie, too, for a sur
prise All really nice babies have
them, and the rent could have waited,
or he could have got a little salary
advanced him If he was so fussy about
rent! ="
Helen read on, realizing that it was
really a crisis in Jessica's life. Helen
must come down Immediately and look
after her, or she would be in the poor
house It was an historical CRY OF