Evening star., 1933-02-01
INSTALLMENT XVI.

friends who wrote her-"all that"
He said he would run over every Sun
day he was free. Free from what? A
remnant of the clear-eyed Carroll oc-
casionally persisted to question.
When he wasn't free Carroll could
60 home, and she did. to be shamed by
Jerseys warm welcome. 1t meant so
much to Jersey to have her home, but
she couldn't miss seeing Arch, and for
some reason he didn't want to come
to her mothers apartment. He said it
would make talk and that they'd better
not make any talk before they could
announce it.
Now, the third Sunday in September.
Carroll sat with Jersey in Jerseys bed
room. Arch had not been free" Jer-
sey's breakfast tray was by the bed and
the coffee pot was still hot enough. al
though clock hands stood at g. Sat-
urday night at the place was always a
long one.
Hon
"YeS, mother"
"Say, l was that surprised and
tckled sick to find you was here when
woke. You shoulda called me. What
did you come home SO late for any
ways, hon?"
Il didn't know could get away,
dear, until late" Arch's rejection slip,
sent by the kindness of the telegraph
company, was marked New York, 7
pm"
We'll it's grand to have you here.
How's your boy friend?"
"Oh, he's in fine shape mother"
Say, amt one to kick and even
my enemies know that lii thing, but
hon, it don't seem right to your ole
NANNY that he amt never come to
meet her. Why. I've never so much as
once lamped that glorious Lad (Hon,
give mamma her water-wave combs;
this darned heat just takes the heart
outa my perm'nant! An the comb
and why don't he come here? That's
what I'm askin. Damn these here
short hairs!''
We'll. you see, mother because the
engagement isn't announced; it makes
1t different, mother" Carroll explained
wearily. She had explained SO often
and no one understood!
Look here, hon, remember what ole
Mike says to you?" Jersey asked.
Il don't want to. mother, because
Michael doesn't understand; he's too
old, mother, to understand love"
"Aw, g'wan. kid, they amt no age
limit. I had grampaw down to the
place las night, I bet he was 80, an
he tried to date LizZie-She'S new one
I got sellin' cigarettes; she's nawful
pretty kid that way-and he was all fer
shown her the top of the world. and I
bet he'd done it, too, maybe, but she
slipped in my Office and looked him up
in Bradstreets. He didn't have nothin,
ole four-f1usher! Wasn't even listed
she got his name oIta his hat; stenciled
In, the whole name; guess old gram
pop was 'fraid of losin' his beaver. Hon.
give nanny a cigarette"
Carroll supplied the cigarette
An match" Jersey ordered, and
the lighting up done, she relaxed
against her pillows and took up the
original theme.
when ne said that anything that's KEEP
IN the shade ALA time goes sour. Mem
ber?"
Il remember, mother, but"
Now you shut up, hon, mammals
talkin' and she don't want no hornin
In from some one who amt dry behind
the ears. 1t amt polite and I'm sur
prlSed they didn't learn you no better
where you was at them fancy schools.
I tell yuh, kid, when was q kid and
interrupted my mother, she more than
once knocked me down. She was one
10 walIoW IN hard liquor, and how! God
rest her SOUL"
"Oh, mother" moaned Carroll.
Lie was, at moments, so terrible. Archs
paternal grandmother wouldn't sew
from fear she'd spoil the beauty Of her
hands, Arch had told Carroll with a
smile at this that seemed real.
We'll, what's eatin' your" asked Jer-
sey. sitting upright in bed
Nothing, mother"
oh, is zat so? Sounded like it was
nothin'. guess-may aybe-you're get
tin Ill 'shamed of ole Jersey"
Mother, I'm mott" Carroll denied
loudly, and she meant it. She sat
doclle, then Jersey explained that
Michael had meant a hidden engage
ment might sour; fact Carroll had
understood at start, but there was moth
Ing to do but listen.
That the rest Of the day was fairly
pleasant Carroll was to remember so
long as she could remember anything.
She sat, dinner done, with Jersey, who
played solitaire with very soiled deck
OF cards and Theresa came in and
Carroll told them of how she really was
sat school,
You always was smart with yer
needle" said Jersey; now amt that
the hell? That jack would park unner-
meath where can't get it Member that
lii dress you made for the one-legged
doll you named Maggie, outa pink Silk
mamma got you?"
=, A moment of truth came to Carroll
tnen that was to solace her later; she
SAID, Mother, you've always given me
way!''
"Aw g'wan!" Jersey advised. but she
smiled. That lii dress was cute!" she
added. II can see it now. An. hon
now wouldn't that get you! That IoIsev
queen turntn' up-Mike'S still got them
10 r.
shoWln' me one afore he went away
proud as Punch, too, good ole Mixer
is ne away?" asked Carroll, sur
prised. startled hurt.
-, AS she rode back to Philadelphia late
that Sunday night Carroll thought a
great deal Of Michael and also of what
fer mother had said concerning his
leavlng the country without saying
good-by to her.
yer 1eet," Jersey had stated "Tressa
says he knew you was in that day YOU
wouldn't see him. She says she could
eel by the way his face froze up and
the way he went white. And honest.
$lo. ne done everything for you, but
tpu forgot. Folks do, sometimes"
Not me-" put in Theresa
no, said Jersey, you never did"
Had she treated him like dirt? Car
SO1 "oilueIto one Ir1eQ TO consider
the past dispassionately He must have
been hurt in any event; he had left
without saying good-by.
And he had known she was in,
Theresa said, that day she had felt she
couldn't see him because Arch had dis
appointed her little and she was
afraid she would tell Michael Of it.
She had had many years of telling
Michael everything and old habits cling
even to the very young.
And now he was somewhere In France
with his sister, Mrs. Allenby. She could
hardly believe it, but Jersey said he
was and that he had come to say
good-by to her.
Carroll drew a deep breath and it
didn't help at all. Then she traced a
pattern on the SCOT of q window sill