Evening star., 1933-01-27
INSTALLMENT XI.
A DOOR at the front of the apart
Y ment was flung open and JerseJ
n heard Michael'S voice.

back way"
Then, after a deep. shaken breath,
Jersey advanced toward the front OF the
apartment as she thought lady would.
She swayed a good deal, she held her
chin high and she smiled fiXedly. But
when she saw Carroll, she sung out,
'Mammy's baby!" and tears began to
stream down her checks: she knew Car
rolls heart had not changed.
And Carroll was clinging to her and
Carroll was crying, too.
Michael. who had paused just within
the door, turned to it but Carroll halted
him: Mike dear, don't 60" she beg
ged, you know you're really part Of the
family"
THANK you" he murmured wanly;
he thought he was probably cast for the
role of the benign bachelor uncle; a
CALLING irony, for he had never before
been so ready to be young.
Jersey had. in decorating for the
kid" impaired to the living room truly
night club flavor. Ribbons of violently
pink paper were suspended everywhere
and pink roses were crowded brutally
into every available vase.
Theresa came shifting in, wiping her
hands on an apron.
"Tressa!" said Carroll, stepping back.
Then. that hugging and kissing done,
she looked around. Its lovely,
mother" she said its beautiful" She
turned next to Michael. 1T is beauti-
ful " she said, as if he had disputed it.
1T is. Carroll" he agreed.
She moved toward him. laughing a
little unsteadily, laugh that rose from
relief. You're the same Mike" she
said, and for a little space. coming
here, I thought you'd changed. you
oaI rty DIT oc
dear as ever and you know what really
is beautiful-and so few people do"
Her face was raised to his and he
had to kiss her. but the kiss was that
of the benign uncle.
They had a cocktail: Michael raising
his glass. said, To our Carroll and to
everything that will make and keep her
happy"
His lips were a trifle stiff this done.
Jersey said. Say off some French
for ole nanny: all she knows is peau
de sol and Sprechen sic DeutSch."
Carroll said off considerable French.
smiling mistily at her mother as she
old it.
Michael said her accent was really
extremely good and Theresa said she
had never expected to hear no French
spelled in this particular spot. Jersey
sighed, rapturous, wet eyes fixed upon
Carroll.
Mike" she said, assuming the man
ner of her night club introductions,
This lii kid I'm showing you is one
wonder; take a look. She comes back
here from her fancy schools and the
first few days she says, I cahn't,' and
when she sees that gets my goat-it
makes me feel like I was parked in
some morgue-she switches back, easy
as you please, to 7 can't like 1 say it
So she talks French. night club an
high hat. an boys an girls
Give the little girl a hand, Carroll
put in lightly, but tenderly. And turn
ing to her mother she Rugged her
You're the wonder" she said, now
serious. ''and how's the place."
Grand, darling honest, I'm pulling
In money that would make your Ill
jaw drop, an it's all yours, baby; your
mannmy's maxim it just for you! I'm
parkin' it in the sock fer her, Mike"
Alta grill" said Michael, who. with
all thin-skinned folk, assumed a shade
chameleon fashion
They had very elaborate luncheon
at which Theresa served as well al
talked-lobster and champagne on the
menu, everything that cost 'rea
money" There were cream puffS al
the finish and they did something ode
to Carroll. for she covered her eyes
seeing them. and for a moment hel
shoulders shook.
Then she dropped her hands tc
smile an April smile
ITS everything that's upSetting me,
she explained. but mainly-its love
and being here, where love is all around
mel
Carrolls school days had not always
been easy. She had an innate gentle
ness that helped to roll the road, but
her honesty had been handicap AL
her school fellows had known soft
cushions and fine seams. When they
talked of home as they so often did
Carroll was isolated.
what do you Go Christmas. Carroll?"
Ida PAGE had asked of Carroll, who
sat silent
"Oh. not much of any! hing: you sec
Christmas ewes a big night at mothers
pace and she sleeps, usually, all day
Christmas"
Oh and it is quite remarkable what
oh can express when sired by sur
prise and out of condescension.
One year." said Carroll hurriedly
(she die want them to know that she
too, had good times at home) mother
took me to the Follies matinee"
MY mother has never let me go to
the Follies," said Ida. virtuously
Nor mine said some one else.
My mother doesn't think it suitable
for a girl before she's out" yet another
added. The pack huddleS; those who
do not conform to the smallest rule
often run alone: especially when the
world is at spring and black and white
are very Clear and measures rigid.
And this is a picture that, with
slight variation, charts many Of Car
rolls moments.
She had learned in her first school
that one does not refer to ones father
Ms "lousey carp" but she had never
learned, in any school, to lie. And
honesty can be a Judas.
Now Carroll sat, cross-l legged on her
bed in her little room that Jersey had
redeCorated for her home coming. Jer-
sey. in limp purple kimona with a
solled neckband, sat in a chair by the
window. She was chewing gum nerv-
BUSINESS made by 'gettin' the kid back
had made her smoke that day until her
throat felt like a nutmeg CRATER She
made many loud. moist noises chewing
gum. And occasionally her fat. short
index finger sought space in a rear
tooth where had been filling; when
this happened her face contortcd, and
Carroll locked at her with utter love.
No r'Orc need be said
JcrseV spoke to say, Tell your ole
nanny about the ship. hon. I've kinda
dreamed that way about gettin' On one
OF them high-toned liners and goin'
SomeWheres. I seen-I saw one in the
moves; I tell yuh it was class; the
ladies' and gents they all got into each
others cabins kinda mixed up. I most
died laffin; and they was drinkin' AHA