The Washington times., 1936-12-01

far away. hate to see a young
girl like that so serious. And then
-well-I don't know what I want
for myself. To get somewhere
guess. I've changed You've
changed, too, David"
mo-" he said, that's the trouble,
I've just stood still"
Afterwards, after he was gone,
she thought, does that mean that
he still cares for me?
But it doesn't matter. Nothing
mattered.
The postman rang. Evelyn, who
had slipped off her pumps, and
was comfortably curled up on the
Chesterfield, with a new fashion
magazine and a bag Of chocolate
wondered whether it was worth
while going down. Probably just
a bill.
Still, it might be a letter.
So she CROPPED around for her
pumps, and went downstairs.
The postmark startled her
Manila. Months since she'd heard
from Francesca. Months since
she'd written her, too. Shed given
up expecting anything from her
And now, out Of a clear sky,
Francesca wrote:
Were going to make a trip
to Japan next month. Partly
business for Jim, partly pleasure.
I know you've written about your
girls coming out, but, but things
have been rather hectic here and
Jim's such an old crab, he
wasn't enthusiastic about a house
full of young people.
ut occurred to me that one Of
the girls might make the journey
from San Francisco to Yoke
hama, and we'd meet her there.
She'd be quite all right, young
girls make the trip alone, fire.
quently. It's an ideal arrange
ment, because she'll be able to
see quite a bit Of the Orient, be-
fore we take her on to Manila
with us.
IT say one Of the girls. because
Jim thinks that two young
things would be too much for
him. It might be wise for you
to think it over and then make
the decision. If, by chance,
neither girl cares to come, would
you care to? Jim will arrange
for the ticket and all that"
Over and over, Evelyn read the
letter.
One invitation, one ticket. And
they were three.
OF course I can't go, Evelyn
thought. It will have to be one
of the girls
But for just minute she let
herself imagine that she was 60
ing. She saw the ship, her state
room banked with flowers. She
saw herself at the rail, waving
goodbye. She even thought Of
the clothes she would take. The
mink coat was still good. With
a new hat and shoes, and the
right print for a travel dress . .
a few light dresses and one de-
cent evening gown, and she could
manage.
But Of course she wasn't go
ing. It would be one Of the
girls.
Which one? Jan had never had
a chance. If she went, and had
the right social background for
once, the Kramers would be more
justified in encouraging her mar
riage to Lowell. . Still, Jan
had managed so well without a
chance. It was Dorathea who
really needed the trip. If she
didn't have something to shake
her out of it, she might go on
mourning Bonnie for months
for years, even. And ruin her
whole life.
All day she Rugged the news
to herself, deciding first one way
then the other. One moment she
thought warmly Of Francesca
whom she hadn't seen in twenty
years, and could only din1ly re-
call. The next she almost hated
her, for asking only one, and
putting the responsibility up to
her.
It was too much to ask a
mother to choose between her
children. And why had Fran
cesca put it off this long? Why
couldn't she have sent the in
vitation last year, before Dora
thea met Bennie-while life was
still ahead of her
In spite Of the worry over it,
she felt important and happy.
She could do something for the
girls again. Something big.
Ito Be COntinued)
Copyright. 1895. BY King Features
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