Evening star., 1935-12-16

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CHAPTER II.
Nut Kay was to meet another
- delay. Nancy Towne stopped
her. Nancy was two years
- younger than Kay, tall and
thin, with abundant black hair cut
square across, and surrendered to a
tossing disorder. She saw Kay from
across the street and came running
to intercept her, her eyes shining,
crying out her news in torrent Of
words
Kay, Kay, what do you think, it's
all settled, I'm going to Holyoke in
the Fall, got word today, and I'm
going, I'm going. LIN so excited I can
hardly stand, Kay, I don't see how
you've stood it, to wait so long, If I
had to wait two years I'd die, think
you're marvellous, but /"
mo need for you to wait. There's
only one of you," Kay reminded her,
smiling. Nancy never used periods.
She talked until she was interrupted,
took a quick breath while any one
else was speaking, and burst into words
again at the first lull..
II should think you'd just hate
Emily" the girl cried. as Kay paused.
3 Having to wait for her to get
through"
II don't" Kay assured her. II feel
as if I'd helped some by waiting
We're awfully proud of Emily, you
know. She's done so wonderfully.
And, Of course, father couldn't afford
to have us both in Wellesley at once
, Really, haven't minded at ALL
p But, darling" Nancy protested.
"To just sit and twiddle your thumbs,
! when you're all ready and everything
? I just couldn't bear it, don't know
+ how I'm going to wait even till Fall.
Just think. Kay, we'll be in college to-
[ gether, at the same time mean, even
II We are in different colleges, III GER
tainly be glad to get out Of this town."
Kay smiled in faint amusement.
= Twill you? I like Carvel," she de-
clared.
so do I, of course" Nancy virtu-
ously insisted. In a way, but you
an get tired of a place, don't you
think. I'm never coming back here,
! promise you, even if I have to just
slave or wash dishes or anything
never, never"
mot even for vacatlons?" Kay
asked. her eyes twinkling.
"Oh, of course, vacations" Nancy
ssSented, 'and new clothes and going
to parties and being important, but
I mean to really live, you know what
I mean, don't be absurd. Kay, I'll bet
you never come back either I don't
believe Emily will stay here after she's
graduated, you wait and see"
"Of course, she will" Kay insisted.
"Lillian Radford told me this morn
ing that Miss Farmer is resigning after
this year. I expect Emily will try to
get her job"
Teach SCHOOL," Nancy cried in hor-
rified tones. And go on teaching
school and teaching school and teach
ing school and never see any men but
Just the same boys you've always
grown up with"
There's new man coming to run
the power plant" Kay told her mis-
chievously. Ned Pastor! Just out of
Tech and rich! And Ethan Frame
gets through at Dartmouth this year.
He'll be home. new car and all"
"Old Luke will put him to work."
Nancy predicted. That's all the peo-
pie in this town think of is putting
you to work. Father wanted me to
give up college and go to work next
Fall in the store and I told him I
wouldn't, I positively wouldn't, and
mother Stoop up for me"
Kay, continuing homeward when
Nancy's ebullience was at last abated,
smiled once and then again, as though,
even in retrospect. Nancy were anus
ing. Then she forgot Nancy as she
came nearer home. She turned in
from the road between twin hedges of
lilac just yearning toward bloom, and
crossed the lawn to the side door. and
SO came into the side hall. into the
kitchen. The kitchen was empty. and
she called:
Mother! Mother!"
When Mrs. Brannan did not imme-
diately answer, Kay went into the
front hall. Her mother must be up
stairs. Kay, her hand on the rail,
called again:
"Motherl"
Mrs. Brannan came to the head of
the stairs, a compact little woman,
calm, composed and sure:
Hush, Kay" she whispered. your
fathers asleep"
But, Mother, there's a letter from
Emily!" Kay whispered in a soft de-
light.
And Mrs. Brennan, with a quiet
eagerneSs came down the stairs.
Emily was only two years older than
Kay, and Kay was ready for college;
but to have both daughters in WelIes-
ley at the same time would have i'm
posed upon the family finances an
1nsupportable strain. So Kay must
wait till Emily's four years were done
Emily was senior noW-and In the
meantime she eased her own impa-
thence by her pride in Elnily's success
The older daughter had a quiet
strength which commanded the re-
spect of her classmates, lust as her
aptitude at her studies won the re-
spect Of the faculty This year she
was head Of Student Government, a
leader not only of her class, but of
the undergraduate body as a whole.
Her letters home were always events. |
She wrote easily and at length, know
ing how hungrily Kay and her father
and mother devoured every word.
Usually what she wrote was con-
cerned with her work or with her ex-
trascholastic activities; but this letter