The Bismarck tribune., 1934-09-12
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know-it is 50 important"
II speak it." Caroline said, but
now her voice had lost the overtone
Of confidence.
eyes, Of course. but !. not, a I
remember. terribly well, dear"
Caroline saw now that her host
ess's eyes showed . faint distress,
and her manner, rs she lighted Z
cigarette, was perturbed.
Il see," Caroline said slowly,
Sorry to have made that necessary.
"Otherwise," Temple said quickly,
"1'd be happier than you have any
idea, to have you, Caroline. The as
sociation for the children, you
know"
Embarrassment fingered between
them, in spite of Temples softening
assurance. Caroline took IN early
departure, although Temple had
urged her stay for luncheon and
bridge-"just q few tables"
"Not with my luck" Caroline
laughed. Temple told her guests
later that Caroline was taking it
all beautifully-a little absurd in
looking for work when she could
marry almost any man-but . good
sport just the same."
"Well," Caroline said to herself
on the way home. "what now?'
What price education? Mind train
ing at college-and she couldn't do
. single piece Of worthy work
work that other people would pay
for. Misfits in their new world, al
Of them-her father, her mother,
herself. Incredible-but the things
they could do seemed to have no
economic value.
For the first time Caroline was
Jared into a thorough appreciation
Of the sociological aspect Of her life.
II can't cook, can't sew-I
wouldn't even know how to do .
scrubwoman's job well if l got one!''
Was she, were they all, Of no
worth? Would her mother slip
deeper into apathy-her father into
futility? And shelf she couldn't
find work, what would she slip into? ?
Encouragement had settled heav-
lily upon her by the time she reached
her home. Her father was there.
I'm glad you came," he greeted
her. "Jenny Is complaining about
having to stop her work to prepare
my lunch. / wish you could get
someone elsa servant who knew
her place."
"But father, Mrs. Wade does ev-
erything for US. It's laundry day,
you know. and We have so much. y
II only wanted . tongue sand
wich. but ! wanted it grilled."
Caroline prepared it, and . salad
for her mother. Her own appetite
had left her. but she sat at the table
with them. slipping = tomato Juice
cocktail.
Her father observed her pallor.
the droop Of her lips. "Why don't
you marry, and get out Of this?" he
threw at her suddenly.
For . moment she did not answer.
then: Because ! love Howard" she
said Internationally.
Her father looked away. sHe's
back cav him this morning." he
said quietly.
Howard had not come back 70
her-Caroline could not escape the
truth Of that. But still she held to
IN unreasonable hope that he would
call.
Her father knew-once she told
him she was ashamed Of being .
slave to . love that was 90 utterly
hopeless but that she could not help
It. This was when her father, think
ing Howard was standing in the
way Of her future. had denounced
the young man roundly.
II agree with you-hs isn't
sound" Caroline had said wearily,
hut love isn't = thing Of sugar and
spice and everything nice.~ You
know - well o. ! do, Father. that
We don't love people for their vir-
tues. We're just lucky when those
10 love happen to b worth it."
He had said no more against
Howard at that time. Caroline, at
any rate, he saw with satisfaction,
was not going to .sit and pine for
the young no-account.
Just where she went and what
she did during tho days and weeks
that followed he did not know be-
yond the mere fact that she was
still looking for . position.
The disappointmenta the dis
couragement, she kept 70 herself.
But around her eyes dark shadows
appeared and she was unwontedly
silent except for infrequent periods
Of forced gaiety. Her mother-in
ignorance Of their increasing finan-
cial distress-was lacking in SYM
pathy toward her ambitions. Her
father did not seek 70 oppose her in
her desire to work, but she felt he
had no true understanding Of her
viewpoint. Their ideas and ideals
had diversed; their talk was made
talk