The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-26

I didn't she take help when Marie
offered it, at 8 o'clock in the morn
ing?
Her footsteps slowed as she
rounded the walk to the rear of the
house. She knew what she'd find
inside.
There was no one downstairs
All the furniture was crowded into
the hall, except the chesterfield
and the piano and the dining.room
table. The rugs were up. The
floors looked oily and damp.
| Sounds of cleaning came from
upstairs.
The kitchen was just as it had
been left after lunch. Breakfast
dishes piled on one end of the
drainboard, lunch dishes still on
the table. Chaos everywhere, even
to orange rinds and potato peeling
in the sink.
Marie looked around with dis
gust.
Shed offered to do the dishes
and Mrs. Wilson had said CURLY
that she wasn't ready to work in
the kitchen yet.
She certainly didn't feel like do
ing anything about it now, but If
the house was to be Strengthened
out before Bee and Mr.. Wilson got
home from work, there was no
time to lose.
Reluctantly-her pleasant "un-
derstanding" all forgotten, and
only antipathy left. she put on
Bees rubber apron, and started in.
She didn't mind doing the dishes,
but why did Mrs. Wilson have to
dump everything into the sink?
She and Julie put everything into
paper bags, then into the garbage
can-never made a mess!
Well, it was finished. She
scrubbed the sink again, for luck.
The kitchen floor was next. She
might as we'll scrub it. Julie and
the good natured Mexican woman
who came twice week to help, al
ways used mop, but Mrs. Wilson
scorned mops. Very well, Marie
would get down on her hands and
knees, too.
At half-past four, just as she was
finishing, Mrs. Wilson came down
stairs.
"oh, you're doing the floor" she
said.
That was all. Not a word of
thanks. Not a sign of apprecia-
ton.
Angrily, Marie gathered up
soap and pail. do you want me
to help you put the living room
and dining room things back?"
she asked stiffly.
Just as Stiffly, Mrs. Wilson said:
I'm not through upstairs yet!..."
could I do it alone?"
IT can't imagine it,"
Very well, Marie thought, an
grily, just as you like. She went
upstairs to her own room, which,
thank heaven, her mother-in-law
kept out Of, and wrote letter to
Julie.
But when it was finished, she
tore it up.
1t was too revealing.
She tried again. That, too, was
failure. She tore that up. There
was just time to powder her nose
and comb back her hair as Ed
ward, his father, and Bee came
into the house together.
Edward ran upstairs two steps
at time. You don't happen to
know if my dress shirt is clean,
do you?" he asked.
Marie didn't.
He started through the bureau
drawers, crumpling the other
shirts that she had ironed so care
fully.
She wanted to say, Are we 60
ing somewhere" 1t had been
weeks since they had dressed up
and gone out together. Her one
formal. the peach faille with the
high neck and low back, and the
sweet little jacket with big
sleeves. had been worn just once
since she brought it from Holly.
wood.
Presently Edward said: I'm
sorry can't take you, honey.
This is stupid dinner. but l won't
call it time wasted if I get a job
out Of it. Friends of Helene's-
lousy with money"
DO they know you're married?"
she asked in a low voice.
He looked so beautiful in his
dinner clothes. No one could tie
a tie just the way he could. No
one could wear clothes better. His
tux" was three years old. On
anyone else it would have looked
what it was-cheap. On Edward
it was perfect.
His fair hair lay back smoothly
but not too moothly. He looked
} IN the cheap suit. the five-and-dime
Gull links and studs like a young
arlstocrat. Arrogantly he an
SWered: They don't care whether
I'm married or not. If they give
me chance, it won't be because
I'm married, or not married Fol
heavens sake, don't make it any
harder han you can help. It's
tough enough now"
There was nothing to say.
Dinners ready" Mrs. Wilson
called. YEARLY.
They sat around the kitchen