The Washington times., 1935-08-10

able"
For the first few days 1t
seemed to Helen that Stella had
really changed. She was so
quiet-she scarcely spoke at all.
Most of the time she just sat
staring ahead Of her.
Helen kept little Oracle out
of stella's range of vision. She
knew Stella must be suffering
because of her frustrated
motherhood and her only desire
was to spare her and make her
loss easier to bear, but Stella'S
presence in the house was like a
cloud that shuts out the sun.
For the life of her, Helen
couldn't analyze the reason
why, when Stella came into the
room, Walter, on the sofa be-
fore the fire; his arms around
Helen, would suddenly drop
them and get to his feet to
search for q cigarette or q
match.
Don't let me interrupt the
little love scene," she would say
lightly. Il just came in for a
book. Honestly, Walter, I didn't
know it was in you! You're a
regular Don Juan!"
"Quit your kidding" Walter
managed to say it lightly. He
even resumed his seat but now
Helen sat stiffly erect. All the
magic had gone out Of their
evening.
Or else when he came in at
night and kissed Helen hun
grily, Stella would suggest sar-
donically, Shall I leave the
room?"
Most of the time Helen tried
not to let Stella see their love-
making. She knew Stella'S love
for Jerry still consumed her.
But this was difficult, for Stella
was always about. And Walter
too felt her presence depressing
him. She put damper on his
playfu1ness. Once when he
caught Helen up in his arms
to dance with her, Stella's acid,
Don't be a clown, Walter"
sent the blood receding from
his face so that even his lips
were white. He tried to ignore
her but it was impossible to be
gay after that.
Summer melted into fall; au-
tumn merged into winter and
Stella was still there.
And now. the serenity Of
Helen's days as well as evenings
had fled. Stella suddenly re-
covered both her equanimity
and her poise. She was getting
a divorce from Jerry. He had
obligingly furnished her with
adequate evidence so that she
didn't need to bother to go to
Reno.
She enjoyed her new freedom
from the Salon-Miss Norma
was in charge Of Forty-fourth
Street-although Stella made a
feint of supervising by phone.
During the late summer and
early fall she swan every day,
took up her horseback riding
again and learned to drive the
car so that Helen found her
self obliged to ask Stella II she
was using the car whenever
Helen needed it. At Stella's be-
hest Walter joined the Country
Club.
my DEAR" Stella exclaimed,
"there are the most attractive
men there. I took quite shine
to that young Jellicott chap. I
hear they have loads Of money,
and he seems snitted with me.
My dear! I've invited him for
dinner tomorrow night"
Maybe we can marry her
off," Walter suggested hope.
fully. after all, the poor kid
has had a rotten time Of it.
And she's so much SWeeter,
don't you Think"
Unwanted Guest
Helen, who had hoped when
winter came that once again
her home would be her own,
and that Stella would go back,
bag and baggage, saw now that
her expectations had been in
vain. Stella decided she was
still too rundown to attempt
to go back to town. Besides,
she knew If she returned to New
York she'd have to resume her
work at the Salon. Irene, Of
course, was now definitely out
Of Fifty-Seventh Street. They
were all a little aghaSt to see
how beautifully the shop ran
without Irene.
Ito Be Continued)