The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-11-27

Ellery even took Bonnie ASIDE,
"as an older, more experienced
man, to a younger one" and told
him that living with a mother-in-
law was just one Of the things
that wouldn't work.
Bonnie, who was a natural
mimic, gave an imitation of Ellery
giving him the advice and they
all laughed until they cried.
But when he went on to Anne and
Alice and made some coarse re-
marks about what was wrong with
them, Evelyn'S laughter died in
her throat and Dorathea looked
uncomfortable and said, Darling,
the infant" meaning Jan, who
chose to pretend she didn't know
what he was talking about. She'd
discovered long ago that it was
much simpler to look innocent and
pretend she didn't understand.
Four weeks rolled by and Ben
ME and Dorathea were still there.
Bonnie had to send some money
to Helen. One of the kids had to
have it's adenoidS and tonsils out"
(Which one?" Evelyn asked idly.
(Which one? How do I know?
Why do you suppose I care? Don't
I hear enough about it to Sicken
me with the subject? Wonder
how baby'S teeth are coming along
wonder if Junior still holds his
breath-wonder why Helen doesn't
Write!"
"Well, he's a father. Wait till
you have a baby. You'll want him
to be interested then"
I'm never going to have a
baby. What do you take me for?
He's got two to support now and
I wish they were-I wish they'd
never been born!"
"Dorathea"
"Oh, why not say it? OF course
wish it. wish Helen had never
been born either. She knows we're
married now. Why does she keep
on writing and Fostering him all
the time?"
II haven't seen any letters" Eve
lyn began.
"Of course you haven't. She
sends them to the shop. So I
won't see them. Just as If I want
ed to. And before he's through
I've had to hear every line of it,
from the baby's rash to Juniors
latest cute remark. But I'm not
going to stand much more Of it.
I'm going to say something"
you'd better not!"
why not? Can't I say what I
Think"
well, I wouldn't if I were you.
Suppose he does talk about the
children a little. What of it?"
Evelyn asked reasonably.
But before the week was out out
It was getting on Evelyn's nerves,
too.
It seemed that Helen hadn't let
him know about Juniors tonsils.
Letter for me?" he asked first
thing every night.
Tonight he asked again and
Dorathea said, mo, don't think
so. Oh, yes-somebody's garage.
There-that postcard. Advertising
a grease job or something"
IT mean, from Helen"
ooh, no! Why should she
be writing here?"
well, I didn't get anything at
the shop and I thought she might
have written here"
"How does she know you live
here?"
Get off the high horse! Be
cause I wrote her, that's why.
Why not?"
Silence from Dorathea.
II can write to her to ask about
my own boy, can't -"
Sure, go ahead, I can remem-
Der when you weren't so vitality in
terested, that's all"
why throw that at me?"
"Why keep talking about her?
How'd you like it if I kept talking
about my former husband?"
ooh, you don't understand"
IT do. That's what makes me so
mad. You said that you never
loved her and you were never
really happy together and you only
stayed together as long as you did
on account of the children! And
now"
They're still my children, and
she's got 'em. How do know how
the little fellows getting along?
Kids die o. tonsil operations"
Rats"
''They do! I know lots of kids
that did. Bled to death. Or got
pneumonia. I wish I knew how
Junior was"
Hes all right. I tell you!
Heavens. Jan and both had ours
out when va vera littlA. don't