Evening star., 1936-05-18

turbed with the idea that she might
marry and leave him some day. But
when she was 25 he breathed more
freely. For by that time every one
spoke of Patience Keats as an old
maid.
Her red hair seemed to have lost its
youthful sheen and settled straight
back into permanent nondescript bun
at the back of her neck. She was tall,
and straight as post, and seemed
| to grow thinner and less colorful every
day. Some times, when her long face
broke into its warm, big-toothed smile,
Patience, for the Pickering of a second,
was almost pretty. But she was too
busy and saddled with cares to Smile
often.
Hilary Totten. I'd. thought her the
most remarkable woman he had ever
known. A brain like a man, was his
favorite compliment. If it hadn't been
for her her father and mother would
never have kept their ranch. Jan
Keats was hard-working man. But
you couldn't lick the elements single
handed, with a frail wife and two
daughters to support Not with all
the sand in Kansas stacked against
you.
When Janell was old enough to go
to high school Mr.. Totten had given
Patience the use of an unrented cot
tage so the two sisters could live to-
gether economically, and the younger
sister have an education. At JAMS
graduation he had seen that she got
the job at the telephone exchange,
and given Patience deed to the cot
tage as a reward for IA years faith
full service. The house. her coupe, a
nest egg of insurance and few dollars
in the bank gave Patience a feeling of
security and well being, so that she
was usually quite happy.
There had been bitter years Of
loneliness before Janell was old enough
to move to town and go to high school.
Years when Patience Keats felt she
couldn't 60 on, that life was robbing
her of all the things that were the
right of every woman. But she had
thrown herself into Mr.. Totten's
interests and forgotten.
Janell had reaped generously the
benefits of her old maid sisters de-
sire for child of her own. She was
never too tired to sit up and sew so
that Janell could be as well dressed
as any girl in Green Acres.
It was Patience's hard-earned money
that paid for JAMS dancing lessons
for three years. Patience thought
herself fully rewarded when Hilary
Payne Totten, Sd, began singing Jan
out for the local parties when he was
home from college. When people be-
gan asking Jan to give exhibition
dances at their parties and benefits
Patience had the greatest thrill Of her
barren life.
When Hi had driven away in his
car, Mrs. Smith went in for her after
noon nap. Janell threw herself into
a chair on the porch to collect her
scattered wits. The wide, cottonwood
lined street seemed deserted and un-
bearably sitting in the mid-July day.
JAMS first worry was what to wear.
It would be wonderful never to have
to worry again about clothes and how
much money you spent. Few people
knew that Mr.. Totten was a mil
lionaire. But he was. Patience had
said so.
Mrs. Totten took money and the
social life as seriously as her 200
pounds would let her. But Mr.. Totten
went on pretty much the same as he
had before he started speculating in
grain and the stock market and made
q killing. He never refused his son
anything and Jan supposed he never
would.
Finally she went into the house to
do her packing. bathe and wash her
hair. It seemed hours before Patience
opened the gate and hurried up the
walk. Her sisters usually pale face
was flushed.
Il ran all the way" Patience threw
herself into a chair and caught her
breath. II thought you were sick.
Mrs. Smith came in o little while ago
and said you hadn't been to work"
II wasn't" Jan watched her sister
In the mirror Of her dressing table.