The Washington times., 1935-08-22

"I'll round up Fredericks and
the baby. Now go quickly and
make reservations"
They arrived in New York on
New Year Eve. It was clear but
bitterly cold, and Helen's blood,
thinned by three weeks in the
South, felt like ice in her veins.
Walt bundled them into cab
and in a few minutes they were
back in the apartment. Walter
had wired Mamie, so that dinner
was ready for them. In half an
hour Oracle was crawling about
the apartment and tripping over
rugs and rediscovering her toys.
It was as if Helen had never
been away. Walter left her
with a long fervid kiss to rush
over to his mothers.
Helen was unpacking and
cleaning out the drawers in her
dresser when Walter phoned.
Mammals pretty sick, Helen.
Her whole left sides paralyzed.
The doctor just left
"Will she recover, Walter?"
''He says she might. She's a
powerful woman. But she'll be
in bed for a month at least"
What a shame. I'm so sorry"
"Helen, mama's asking for
you. Will you come and see her
for a moment?"
Can she speak?"
"Oh, yes. but not very clearly.
Only one side is paralyzed. She
can't move but her mind is quite
clear"
VERY well, darling, I'll be
over in about an hour"
For two weeks AnaStasia's
health was the greatest concern
OF the Rileys. Walter was at his
mothers bedside every day for
an hour or more, holding the old
lady's hand and assuring her
that in a few more days she'd
nc DIS BOOU as AcW.
BY the end of February, Ana
stasia was able to sit in a chair
by the window and drive the
nurse frantic with her demands.
Mama is recovering" Irene
declared sardonically as the
nurse resigned and another had
tn be found. "This is the final
proof"
THANK the Lord" said
Walter.
Thank God" Irene echoed.
"By the way, how is Helen? No
one ever sees her any more"
"She'S busy and happy"
Indeed. She hasn't been here
hardly at ALL"
Nonsense, she's been in
every day."
Eyes, she breezes in like a
cinema queen, stays a few min
utes and blows"
Mamma is satisfied with her
visits" Walter rejoined stiffly.
"And since it doesn't directly
concern you, I'll thank you to
mind your own business.
my Lord, what a speech!
You ought to run for office.
And since when are you to die
tate to me who and what is my
business?"
"I'm not. You can Jaw your
head off but not about my wife.
And not to me. See." He turned
on his heel and walked off.
Irene looked after him in
0mazement. my Lord" she ex-
claimed piously, "he's gone off
his head!"
Now that Agnes Masker had
her afternoons free-She spent
only mornings at the Salon, she
had more free time than she
had ever had in her life before.
At first she didn't quite know
what to do with it and it hung
heavily on her hands. Ana
StaSia's stroke came as a god
send to Agnes for at least it
gave her something to do. She
sat at her mothers bedside and
read to her. Not that this was
particularly agreeable to either
of them. Agnes yearned to i'm
prove Anastasia's taste in litera-
ture which leaned to scandal
articles and particularly con.
1eSSion stories.
Agnes was embarrassed by
her mothers low tastes and
tried to interest her in the finer
things of life, but AnaStasia
baked at reforming just as her
FUR seemed to rise whenever
Agnes seated herself at the bed
side. Poor Agnes was in despair.
During Anastasia's illness
Agnes had seen practically no
one. but now that her mother
could sit up and thumb the
tabloids and look at the pictures
by herself. she no longer needed
Agnes. Agnes was grateful.
when os received a call from