The Washington times., 1936-12-02
NOW READ ON
Rv HAZEI, LIVINGSTON

"Party?" Jan asked.
"JuSt u.s." Evelyn answered, feel
ing warm and good, because she
had dinner all ready to serve, and
had a momentous surprise besides
Dorathea, looking wan and
tired, emerged from her room
where she had shut herself all
day.
"Avocado!" Evelyn said, point
ing.
Dorathea smiled family.
And abalone - because Jan
likes it,"
"You like it, too, don't you,
mother? And avocado?" Dora
thea was ashamed of herself be-
fore she'd uttered the words. She
didn't want to be nasty. Mother
was trying to be extra nice to
them, for some reason or other.
But she just couldn't help 1t. She
felt so mean, she had to hurt
someone.
Evelyn's face flushed, but she
didn't answer. They ate in silence
Presently she couldn't wait any
longer. She said:
There was letter today, from
Francesca. It's an invitation! u
She spread the double sheet OF
blue gray paper, -ScraWled with
Francesca's careless, fluent writ
ing, on the table before them.
They read it together.
Nobody spoke.
II thought" Evelyn said, II
thought it would be best" But
after all, she couldn't say it.
"Of course, Dorathea will 60"
Jan said. "It's only right"
Evelyn's tense features relaxed.
Dear Jan. Saving her. Making
it easy for her. Dear, good little
Jan.
Dorathea looked at Jan out of
her deeply circled, tragic eyes.
She said scornfu1ly, why Dora
thea? Why not Jan?"
You're the logical one to go.
I've got job and" She almost
said LOWELL 1t had almost
slipped out. OF course, they had
their own ideas about Lowell, but
she'd never said anything really.
Shed never, tell until Lowell was
ready for her to announce it.
Eyes" Evelyn said, Jams sort
Of settled, and you"
I'm the problem. I can't get a
Job, and my husbands left me-
Maybe if I'm shipped off to the
Philippines to Aunt Francesca
she'll find another husband for
me. I'm pretty, girls are scarce
there-some man will be fool
enough to take mel"
"Dorathea-how can you talk
like that! How can you say
eyes, out in the Philippines no
body will know I've had a scanda
lous affair with a married man
and got him away from his wife
but couldn't keep him.
It'll be just young divorce
like any other young divorce
And Aunt Francesca can say I'm
a Failey-out there they won't
know anything about us-she car
say anything and get away with
it! And I'll be far away where
you won't have to see me cry fol
Bennie- you can forget you
ever had any trouble with me aflo
boast about your daughter Dora
thea who's visiting in the Orient
I'll marry somebody rich and ole
and Jan will marry Lowell Kra
mer, and then you can put on the
airs again and be one of those
pretty, young-looking mothers
It was pretty bad. Dorathea
cried so hard she was sick. Eve
lyn was up half the night, bring
ing aspirin and cold congresses
when she was feverish and hot
water bags and hot drinks wher
she shook with nervous chills.
AS she waited for the water tc
boil, standing by the stove in the
old lavender bathrobe that haC
been her mothers. hugging her
self to keep warm, Evelyn thought
we're giving up the trip to her
when it would mean so much tt
Jan or me, and she doesn't want
It. She really doesn't want it
All she wants is Bennie, and Ben
ME only wants his children anc
Helen.
Tears Of defeat, of disappoint
ment, stood in her eyes. She felt
old and cold and unwanted.
She poured hot water from the
tea kettle into the bag. She stooc
for a little while holding it close
Lajoying the warmth.
She thought. II I could Just bt