The Washington times., 1935-08-03

"Just an upset stomach" she
gasped, trying to smile. II feel
better"
agnes said you were going to
have a baby, dearest. Oh, my
dear, are you?"
agnes told you! Oh, WalterI
I wanted to tell you beautifully.
I wanted to tell it to you so beau.
tifully." Helen burst into tears.
He gathered her into his arms
and soothed her.
What difference how you
told me? I'm so happy. I'm
so pleased and thrilled. Oh,
Helen, our own little baby. Stop
crying, darling, you'll make
yourself sick"
IT wanted to tell you," she
sobbed brokenly. mot in the
bathroom. I wanted to tell you
so beautifully"
He led her weeping up to their
room. Belle got up abruptly
from the table and walked into
the living room. Agnes finished
her dinner.
Over Labor Day Irene and
Dirk motored out to the farm.
Agnes was still there. Belle had
left a few days before Labor
Day. Agnes whole attitude had
changed. She was less guarded
in her criticisms, and yet even
these were yelled in such
honeyed accents that no one
except Helen could appreciate
the full sting of their darts.
Helen ragged with impotence to
retaliate, but without Belle to
bolster her up she was at a loss
to know what to do.
She complained to Walter
finally in sheer desperation.
"Oh, my darling" he said I'm.
happily, what can I do? She
doesn't mean anything. She's
got q heart Of gold. I admit
she's tactleSs, but you've simply
got to overlook it."
why must I overlook it,"
Helen asked.
please, Helen, don't upset
yourself. It's not good for you
in your condition. Just try to
think of her life; she's had this
accident that's made an in
valid OF. her and then she's al
ways stewing because she's
older than Carl and now she's
probably jealous you can't
blame her-at your having a
baby. She can't have one, you
know, ever. I told you about
it."
II know all that, Walter. If
I didn't I couldn't have stood it
this long. But do I have to
suffer because she's frustrated
and miserable? Why can't she
be a little sympathetic to me?
She knows my condition. Why
must I do all the compromising,
all the understandings"
You're younger, for one
thing. And you're my wife.
In a way, you ought to share
my debts, too. Is it too much
to ask you to be tolerant and
kind for my Sake?"
Its not fair, Walter. You're
not being fair to put it that
way. I'll do anything for you
because I love you, but this
isn't fair. You're taking advan-
tage Of my love-" she protested.
"Oh, If were only clever. If
could only make you see that
your crazy sense of what you
owe them is making us both
slaves to them"
Helen, you're hysterical. I
cannot reason with you when
you're in such a state Of
nerves. You just imagine it.
I have eyes and ears, too. So
far as I can see, Agnes has
been unusually nice to you and
to Belle, too. Belle was here
all summer. was only too
glad to have her: too glad to
make her welcome, and I ex-
pect you to do the same for
my sisters"
"You compare Belle with
Agnes! Belle, who is so tact
full that she's incapable Of
saying an unkind thing!"
"Well, what do you want me
to do? Throw my sister out?"
Walters lips were a tight line.
His forehead was a maze of
ruts.
"You won't see," Helen de-
SPARED, her voice breaking.
"You won't even console me,
agree with me, make 1t easier
for mel"
you're being stubborn and
spoiled, Helen. It's unlike you
and I don't like it at ALL"
Ito Be COntinued)
Copyright. 1885. By Julian MessnOe.
Inc.l