The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-09-05

between Nazimova and the ex-
Czarina-a blond edition, OF
course"
DO really look badly"
Helen asked wistfully.
Darling, you may be suffer
ing from shattered ideals but
I think frankly it's mostly in
ertia. The shattered ideals
aren't so easy to cure. I know,
although I should think you'd
be so happy at being free from
those Rileys that your ideals
would mend themselves very
nicely together again. But the
inertia is inexcusable. If you
did Something-get out, get in
terested in something, you'd be
able to forget much more easily.
And you're not eating your
lunchn
Helen dutifully took a mouth.
full. What could I do?" she
asked finally. Go back to
manicuring? 1t would be a
grand finale to my little trag-
edy. From rags to riches and
then back to buffers" Her
lips twitched.
There must be something
else you can do besides mani
curing, Helen. You could go
back to school. You could take
courses. Dear. you've got to do
something! Isn't there any
thing for you to do at the
apartment"
Il wish there was but Mother
Terhune clings to the manage
ment of the house and F. ID
ericks takes care of the chill
dren. Oh, I do work hard at
being ray of sunshine. My
face aches from trying to
smile but Daddy and Mother
Terhune are still all broken UP
over Dirk. Oh, Belle, all their
old gaiety is gone. It breaks
my heart. If it weren't for
the children and me, I don't
think they could go on. Ces,
too, has aged terribly, don't
you think?"
why don't you come and
live with us, Helen? Maybe
the atmosphere down there is
too depressing for you"
"Oh. I'd never leave them!
Besides a young married couple
should never be burdened with
relatives. Didn't I learn that
somewhere" She smiled crook,
edly.
You'd never be a relative
Helen" Bellies eyes filled with
tears. But I wish you'd snap
out OF it and get interested in
something. It isn't normal for
a beautiful, young woman to
De so. $50. sad and so still"
II feer so old, Belle. I've had
a whole lifetime of living, it
seems to me. I've had love, pas
sion, hatred, struggle, divorce
1 pretend to myself that I'm old
and ugly. 1t brings me calm
at least. suppose that's the
compensation of age-to be free
OF turbulence; to be nice and
calm and resigned"
Guy anne to meet Belle after
the matinee. They begged Helen
TO go with them to dinner and
to the Philharmonic concert that
night but Helen was adamant.
MY dears, I can't. I've got
an appointment with the Lock
woods tonight"
But she didn't have an an.
pointment. She left Belle and
Guy at Broadway and Fortieth
Street and took a taxi while
they watched. AS soon as the
taxi reached Fifth Avenue, she
dismissed it and started to walk
slowly downtown. The shop win.
dowS were rich with Christmas
cheer and the crowds that
surged by were gay and lusty
and carried many bundles.
Helen walked on the inside,
studying the windows and the
people who passed her. She had
completed all her shopping. She
had bought gifts for everyone.
OF course. this year she didn't
have the Rileys-what a chore
it had been to buy them all
gifts!
Helen increased her pace as
the cold wind whipped against
her slim ankles. She buried her
chin in the warm fur collar of
her mink coat: the coat that
had been Walters Christmas
present to her last year-just IL
months ago.
Ito Be COntinued)
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