Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-06
INSTALLMENT XVIII.

town he'd come to see me and take me
to a movie or something. And l go'
work to do You don't have much
chance in the movies. but got start
Ariel Adair they called me-only
didn't like it much. So got small parts
with a stock company We played Hcl-
lywood and Venice and Glendale ano
Pasadena-that was kind Of fun
And then last year when Murchlson' s
Mills failed Van came to Los Angeles
again, settling things. and he came 10
see me. He told me he had never look
ed at another girl and he wanted to
have me 60 back East with him. But
then it was my time to say no.
But you haven't told me, darling
Gail interrupted. What happened to
you. Were you ill?'
"Oh. ves-or not so terribly i'll. They
said it never would have been healthy
baby" Ariel said. They said it was
lucky it died"
Motherhood The magic word. the
magic estate of which Gail had dream
ed. She was silent from sheer shock
sheer inability to speak.
"All that made me feel never want
ed to see Van Murchison again. But he
was having his hard times, too. Every
thing was crashing, and he was work
ing hard in the New Jersey plant To
save what he could. He's there now
When he came cut last year We had lots
of long talks and in way he did what
he could. He said he knew he had be-
haved terribly. but that he was a
spoiled kid"
She was not very angry at him even
now. Gail saw, with a sort of stupefac-
ton. that what the great Murchisons
did was still sacred, still above crltl-
cism, to Ariel.
Finally We arranged it that If he
went back and g1t good start with
these people who have bought the
mills" she resumed, then I'd come on
and we'd announce our marriage. And
that's what has happened"
You're on your way East now?'
He meets me in Chicago next week. :
pause Then Gail said: You still
lo-e him. Ariel?"
4 don't love the idea of living in
New Jersey Ariel said after a brief
pause.
But you're not unhappy"
oh no" Ariel drawled. But
mind you. l was as much to blame as
he" she added with sudden force.
Gail unused on the whole story, her
ewes on her sisters face; tumult in her
heart and the drum drum drum OF the
rain falling softly on the porch roof.
Ariel was looking about the cid kitch-
en-. Il can stay here, Gail, in spite OF
the Wiser tribe?"
Daring. of course! And they're not
such a tribe" Gail answered, laughing
with a touch of hurt and reproach.
Just Lily and the boys. And look-this
Is the baby. This is Gail
They named her Call"
Lilly would have it
You might know she'd take your
name. Gail. 1 suppose she's more a
Lawrence than us Lawrences!'
To this Gail could make no reply.
"EverythingS changed, and l miss
Edith! Ariel burst out suddenly, laying
her head en- her locked hands and be-
ginning to cry Gail come over to her
and bent down to crook an arm about
Ariels bowed head. Her own eyes were
Drumming.
Afterr'ard they went upstairs to talk,
deSultorily, nconsequentially. Of any
thing and everything. When a wall
from the kitchen took Gail down there
again on flying feet, Ariel, bareheaded
and looking young small and tired
again. came. too and then Lily, Phil and
the boys came in and there was babel
and confusion in which somehow Gail
and Ariel managed to have cup OF
tea
But when Gail weat upstairs after
dinner. supposedly to superintend the
little boys retiring, il was to be noted
that she remained there some addi-
tiOnal moments. When she came down
she wore her newest gown. simple
thin black velvet gown that left her
slender brown arms bare and fell away
in long line from the straight column
of her throat and the curve of her
young breast At the throat there was
golden old lace, her mothers lace. and
tonight Gail wore her mothers cid
cameo ring. The tawny locks that had
been bobbed three years ago were longer
now and gathered in a cluster of curls
at the nape of her neck.
Phil, Lily. Sam, Ariel-they all sat
In the living room. In the fireplace
logs cracked. The boys blocks and
books were stored on the shelves. and
a ring of comfortable, shabby old chaira
Circled the hearth.
Lily only listened tonight She was
a good deal older than Ariel. but she
seemed little afraid of her. Gail was
rather silent, too. She sat at Phil's
knee on a cushion.
Sam drafted for tomOrroWs Chal-
lenCe tho announcement that would
take all Clippersvlle by surprise. Little
Ariel Lawrence, Mrs. Van Murchison
Ariel listening. correcting, appeared the
least concerned of the five.
There was a step at the side door, q
gust of rain-sweet air penetrated to the
sitting room Gail had known this
must come. She did not stir. except tc
raise her eyes to Dick Stebbins as he
came in.
Phil did most of the talking. Dick
talked too, 70 Lily-to all Of them, ex-
cept Gail. To her he did not speak d.
reCtly until the clock struck 10 and she
got to her feet.
Ariel, you must go to bed. You must
be dead. Come on!'
Are you coming back, Gail?" said
Dick then with a glance.
Il think not! We'll be talking" Gail
said with smile all night"
Tomorrow III have to hang around
thu hospital in the hope Of seeing poor
Willoughby."
If he died Dick?" Phil asked,
would that kind of throw the monkey
wrench into your plans?"
We'll in a way There are two or
three other propositions I could follow
up." Dick answered, unruff1ed.
He was the old Dick and he was a
new Dick. too A quiet. big man. very
sure of himself. His manner, his voice,
were all more authoritative than they
had been.
"Willoughby is doing the London
work for his Eastern firm" he said.
"And there was some talk Of my going
with him"
IF YOU didn't, might you practice
here. Dick?" This YVES Gail.
Il don't think so; not in CLIPPERS
Vile he answered decidedly. Inter
national law, you know. Seen Cara