Evening star., 1935-12-22


Failures are expensive"
I'm sure we can find something for her to
do" Cora said kindly, aware that Joan was
weeping silently into her tea.
"But | can't stay here! can'tr' Joan
said wildly. "You are so good to want me, but
can't b0sSibly!"
Ada put down her knife and fork She was
very pale 1--WE may as well talk this out"
she said. Henry took out ten thousand
dollar accident policy in our favor"
"And I'm so glad so glad he didr' Joan
said quickly.
"And after doing so he met and married
you and - had he lived - would undoubt-
edly have transferred it to you. Don't you see
that, unless you will share our home and our
inheritance we shall feel obliged, in honor
bound, to turn the whole sum over to your"
"Oh, no, no! You mustn't feel sor' Joan
cried But they did. She could see that they
did, looking round at their stern faces. They
were large bodies of women entirely sur
rounded by conscience. She dropped her eyes
to her plate. Very we'll, she said in a small,
snothered voice. "I1l stay. couldn't bear
to make you unhappy so near Christmas time,
and I'd be horribly lonely :"
A small portion of Joan's pretty belongings
were established on six hooks and in three
drawers. She slept on narrow. uncom-
promising couch and tried to take up as little
space as possible and to be helpful about
dishes and BEDS but she could not compete
with the swift efficiency of her half-sisters-in-
law. They put things back exactly where they
belonged almost before they were used; they
rolled tooth paste tubes from the bottom and
extracted the last smear; they promptly faced
front in elevators and called their floors in
clear, ringing tones. Joan felt untidy and
extravagant and careless in spite of their
unfaing civility.
1t was Agnes professional opinion that she
needed good rest before undertaking any
sort of training, so they gave her no duties;
she was free to walk in the park and 90 to the
galleries and think about her mother and the
holidays. She screwed up her courage on the
twenty second of December.
would you you are all so busy - would
you let me do the tree2" They were all deep
in library books "a good, solid, two-volume
biography, recent treatise on nutrition, and
some findings on children who seemed unable
to spell. Joan had to speak twice 81 mean, our
Christmas tree"
my dear Joan, we never have Christmas
trees" Ada said pleasantly, polishing her
glasses. "In this small fiat -"
"But they have such cunning tiny ones,
and have trimmings in my trumk!''
Agnes shook her head. "It's hardly worth
while, for grown people, she said. "Of course,
where there are children -
II remember that Henry's mother made
quite fuss over the holidays" said Cora.
"But we are very practical about Christmas,
Joan. We do useful things for each other. and
Aunt Hetty sends us checks and we send her
plant. Which reminds me! must order it
Tomorrow
Joan cried as quietly as possible on Christ
mas Eve. If the half-ssters-in-law heard her,
they made no sign, doubtless considering it
wiser and kinder to let her alone. Her eyes
were heavy and shadowed in the morning,
but she was the first at the breakfast table
and laid exquisitely wrapped parcels at the
other three places.
"Wel, WELL what's all thisp' Ada said
crisply Joan, you shouldn't have done this!
We appreciate the spirit, but with your
scanty savings -"'Her package was all in