Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-21

ailce was newly important 100. EOI
the women of Vans set had taken her
home, as they frequently were in mid
week, Mary Spence or Lucia would
come to Clippersville to stay with
Lenore, and they would all straggle into
the library during the dull forenoonS
to try to coax Gail to come of with
them to q country club lunch.
She had always taken her vacation
In August, usually spending 1t reStfully
ut home, doing the mending, darning,
strengthening of books, changing Of do
nestle arrangements for which the
took 1t in seven successive Saturdays
and Sundays.
Life at this accelerated pace fairly
burned her up. The new pleasures
enchanted her, but never satisfied,
leaving her always straining for more
which indeed was the position of them
all.
They went everywhere, anywhere,
they did anything and everything that
might promise fun. Gail was surprised
to discover what they thought fun and
what bored them. Breakfast on the
Maccleishes' yacht for example; life on
the MaccleiShes' yacht had nothing to
do with sailing or the water. The yacht
I1lgEC as well nave DeSn HlOOTeu ~ leeI
underground in a COAL mine for all its
gay party ever saw of the sea- Yet
there was something distinguished
about being asked to spend week end
on a real yacht!
Every one slept late on the Lazy
Lady and breakfasted under an awning,
in pajamas, about IL. Then they all
played bridge, even Gail, for her home
game was rapidly developing under the
sting Of losing a half-cent point. She
bet that much and Van carried the re-
manning AZ cents. Gail hated to have
him lose money on her game, but he
would have 1t that way.
A sandwich lunch was served in the
cabin, and after that every one dis
appeared for a siesta.
After dinner. beautifully frocked and
groomed, they settled down eagerly like
a flock Of vultures to the green-topped
tables again.
But visiting on the Maccleishes'
yacht was not merely matter OF the
hours one spent on it, of course. The
glory spread far ahead OF 1t and far
behind it. Gail saw her name in the
Clippersville Challenge more than once
during this amazing Summer, listed
among the guests at affairs whose dis
tinction a few months back was beyond
her widest dreams.
She had a feverish feeling some
times of having lost Edith, lost Phil
and Sam and Ariel, lost touch with
her work at the library and her duties
at home; one could not live two lives,
after all. and Vans very eXactionS were
q delight, an answer to her wild young
ardent prayers of last Spring. Moth
ing mattered but that she should please
him, should keep close to him. She
grew wittier, quicker, gayer as the
weeks went by; their talk together was
merely a quick croSs-flre of repartee.
Fun at the time. But it left her
little to remember
One night in late August she and
Van walked home from a movie in
Clippersville. The night was insult
ferably hot.
"Whew! That was frightful," Gail
breathed. turning her barred head up
to the stars. Her arms were bare,
her. throat bare. her thin dress was
brief and still she felt smothered.
This is a snorterl" Van commented.
''Los Gatoes tomorrow. hey? And into
the pool. How about ice cream at
Dobbins'?"
They sat at the counter and had
grape juice on chopped ice. All Clip
perSville came in and out of Dobbins'
on a hot Summer evening and Gail
kept wheeling about on her high stool
to greet library acquaintance and
neighborS and friends.
Ariel came in with the regular high
school group; girls in white MILDLY
blouseS with long scarlet ties, grinning
boys in sleeveless jersey sweaters
Take our places" Gail said getting
down; we're done!"
She walked along beside Van silently
In the street. The man kept up his
regular stream of chatter for a minute;
somehow it Jared tonight. Gail broke
across 1t suddenly.
The reason wanted to come away
was-my brother Phil was In Dobbins,'
there"
Your brother Phil was!"
Yes. Way over in the corner, in one
Of the twoSomes-"
Why didn't we yell at him?" Van
asked simply.
She had to have sympathy; she had
to test him. With a sudden letting
down of the bars she said, Because his
girl was with him."
And don't you like her?" Van de-
manded with his delighted air of dis
covering something amusing.
II despise her!" Gail answered SOM
berry.
Not really!" he exclaimed ecstati-
cally
She's not a girl really. and it's
very serious" Gail said determined to
sober him. Shes divorced woman
and she has three little boys"
oh, I love it," Van said with relish.
Phil! Old sobersides!'
Van. how can you say sol" Gail
reproached him, hurt. shes a ter
rible girl; she comes from Thomas
street hill; she was one of the Wibsers."
oh, I think it's perfectly grand"
Van said with his raw Joyous laugh.
mo honestly, VAN" Gail persisted,
not to be won, 'it would be absolutely
terrible for us all to have Phil marry
Lily Cass!"
She sounds just my very IDEAL"
Van chuckled
But suddenly perceiying that she was
of anger and disappointment was keep
ing her silent. he changed his tone
and said rallyingly. lightly, why,
what do you care who your brother
marrles! You don't have to marry herl
It's his funeral"
Il suppose So" Gail conceded after
moment, YEARLY
The car was parked hundred feet
from the Lawrence gate Gail went to
the fence that had once been their
meadow fence and leaned on the bars
and stared into the night that was now
lighted by the moon.
"Phils marrying would simply wreck
our home" Gail said, reverting to the
topic, deliberately desperately.
oh, forget it! He won't marry her."
Van assured her easily.
Il think" she began little thick
ly, Il think what worries me is Ariel,
she is giving me good deal of anxiety.
She Is running around with that Buddy
Raisch crowd-of course they may be
perfectly descent crowd under
meath"
Why, she's nothing but a school