Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-29
INSTALLMENT XXI.

INSTALLMENT mi.
- DITH and Gail had the Wilcox
l. cottage at Carmel for two
dreamy August weeks, reveling
IL in the atmosphere of pines, sea
air, golden dunes and charm
ing. Friendly. informal neighbors. They
did their marketing in the rambling
little main street every morning, laugh
ing and gossiping as they wandered to
and fro along the plank sidewalks.
Afterward they finished the play
housekeeping that was all the Wilcox
cabin demanded and took a picnic
lunch and the inevitable books down
to the shore.
There on the sun-warmed rocks
they idled for hours, dreaming, read
ing. talking. doing. The sea crept In
to their feet and frctted itself into lace
over the sharp stones; its deep, surg
ing rush and boom was the undertone
to all the other noises of the world
gulls' shrill piping. their own voices.
And often at night there was some
thing to do in the community theater,
or a terrace supper of salad and fruit
In the house OF some girls like them
selves. with moonlight and good talk
to follow. Young teachers. girl doctors.
scientists, all the world of young. eager
working womanhood went to Carmel
for vacation days.
- These were peaceful days, definitely
happy DAYS
again" Gail said.
1T has done everything a vacation
ought to dol" Edith agreed contentedly.
And somehow now We can go on,
EIDE" the older sister added soberly.
II know. Everything last year was
oh. horrid" Edith unused aloud.
Il never saw myself, at IS content
TO be a Clippersvile old maid" Gail
said, as if half to herself, as If think
ing aloud.
Edith was silent a minute. You
don't have to be a Clippcrsville old
maid Gail" she said then lightly, but
with touch of pain in her voice.
MARY Rumbold told me you we're the
most popular girl in town. Gail
II pfesume in a perfectly respectable
way l am," she admitted without en-
thusiasm. After the jazz age. the
nicer type of man seems to look about
for my sort of girl. I've had my fun
with the peters, he says. now I'll
find some girl about whom there's
never been a whisper"
"Ah. don't be bitter, dearest!" Edith
said distresSedly in the silence.
Il don't think I'm bitter, EIDE. But
somehow-vell, at 20 it would have
driven me out of my senses with JOY
to have two or three of Clippersville's
Sning young citizens want me. But
now it iust-doesn't click, that's all.
I'm vaccinated."
WAS it Van, Gail?"
They had been to the edges of this
ground before. many, many times. But
in the more than two years since the
fatal Christmas night that had ended
one phase Of the Lawrences' life for
ever. Edith had not quite dared this
much.
yes, partly. I suppose" Gail now
answered simply.
"You did not care for him. CALI"
mo" she said thoughtfully. He
wasn't the sort of boy for whom one
cared But I was sick of Clippersville
end poverty and cishwaShing, and
when Van came along I sort of lost my
bearings. I thought You could force
your-well. your fate. Grasp what YOU
wanted. 1 did everything he wanted
me to do won't about with those rich
people. although I knew all the time
I didn't belong there and that they
didn't want me. And in the end I had
nothing to show for it
"As if that wasn't natural enough
Gail, for girl of your age!"
"Oh. II was natural enough. But II
I didn't have much sense at %. Ariel
vas only baby at IT, She saw me
discontented and reckless. She wasn't
going to be caught in the trap YOU
and I were in, PERFECTLY respectable
end not having any fun"
But then Why" Edith said. think
ing it all out. why should she refuse
Tan?"
You think she dido"
oh Gail, what He was SIM
ply hanging around - house all that
Autumn: and then her note said. IT'S
always been Dick!'" Edith said ami
ma tedlv.
Il know. But I always feel that 1t
was because Van went off without
making things definite and didn't