Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-14
INSTALLMENT XXI.

NATRICIA began to find her timtt
with Helen more curtalled thar
she liked. Ethan did not keeI
so strictly to Office hours dowT
at the quarries. His car (Heler
had always listened for its sound, sht
knew now would be heard coming IN
before Helen left Patricia; Ada and M
would keep Helen, nothing loatn. 10
dinner; after dinner the three OF then
would sit together around the f1re II
the big hall, or, more often, in the IL
brary, talking together OF little things
or not talking, as friends may. some
times they would play bridge with MRS
KinpsWay, who was a brilliant player
sometimes Helen and Ethan would ge'
out the cheSsmen and play, Mrs. Kings
way watching them lazily, or perhap.
playing Garfield, or pulling some Ole
book out of the case nearest her anc
reading a scrap to the chess players
Which, as she pointed cut, she had nc
business to do. Presently Helen tolc
Ethan that they must set some sort Of
a limit to the time she spent there.
But it's so natural" he said. al
seems wrong when you're not here
Helen. love, when is the King Of
SPANS daughter going to stop visit
ing me?"
She purposely misunderstood him.
why. was just now trying to sug-
gest visiting you a little less often
Really, Ethan, think I'm shameless
wretch. Not only did he go and gel
ensnared by the governess, like ar
English novel of the dear old days, but
she came and spent all her evenings
with him!"
They were in the paneled center hal
at Kingsway, and it was noon. Ethar
had come home for luncheon, as he
had taken to doing very often now, anC
they encountered as Helen went
through on some small errand. He haC
just come in, bringing gust of the
cold fresh air about him. She was
passing upstairs, but he barred her way
tall and gray-eyed and laughing, his
fair head a little bent to her. She knew
there was no way of passing the gray
tweed arm that seemed thrown across
the balustrade so lightly. She tried
nevertheless.
mo wonder your mother says the
Kingsways are Steel" she said, ruefully
An, let me pass, Ethan. I'm on an
Grand"
80 am T." he said. my errand is tc
convince you that you are dreadfully
needed in this house. Whole time, moi
part time"
Dissatisfied with my services?"
time"
Il certainly am! Ethan, dear
Ethan, darling-Marietta wants to know
about the cooks day out"
She dipped lithely under his arm
burnt-gold curlS and slender brown
serge shoulders, and was on the stair
above him, but he caught her and held
her.
When are we going to get married;
we've been engaged a hundred years
It's long past Christmas time. Amonth:
Two weekS?"
Christmas is scarcely over. I still
look and feel like Christmas tree
She glanced down at the quaint
beautiful ring that shone on her brown
hand and the sparkling wrist watch
below it.
Wait till we're married. I'm wild Il
buy you things, Helen"
Good heavens. is this a bride? Be.
cause I'm not going to be married in two
weeks or month. Personally I'm very
happy as I am"
Personally you don't love me a:
much as I love you," said Ethan. His
tone was light, but his voice had the
note of intensity Helen had learned tx
know. She met it.
Ethan, you promised to believe ir
me always"
Butt isn't natural you should love
me as much as I do you. You scatter
your love so. You love everybody. ]
only love a few people," he said, "anc
very much indeed It's not disbelievine
in you to think love you more than
you do me-"
'"Do you want me to stop liking other
people? Because can't I do like
everybody. I suppose always shall,
Helen said mournfully. But. Ethan,
oughtn't it to be good practice for liking
you best?"
Her face was lifted to his, earnest
childlike. friendly in its loving perplex.
lity. He laughed--the laughter tina