Hueston Ethel - Eve to the Rescue

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The Project

Gutenberg eBook,Eve to the Rescue,

by Ethel Hueston,Illustrated by

Dudley GloymeSummers

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Title: Eve to the Rescue

Author: Ethel Hueston

Release Date: June 24, 2008 [eBoo

#25892]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

***START OF THE PROJECTGUTENBERG EBOOK EVE TO THERESCUE***

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You get nicer every day of your life.

Eve to the Resc

BY

ETHEL HUESTON

AUTHOR OF


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PRUDENCE OF THE PARSONAPRUDENCE SAYS SO,

LEAVE IT TO DORIS, Etc.

ILLUSTRATED BY

DUDLEY GLOYME SUMME

G R O S S E

D U N L A PPUBLISHERS NEW Y

Made in the United States of America


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Copyright 1920

The Bobbs-Merrill Company

Printed in the United States of America

To Carol

Who came to us in the form of Duty,but who has brought us only Pleasure


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CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I In Defiance of Duty

II The Cote in the Clouds

III Everybodys Duty

IV The Irish-American LeagueV Her Inheritance

VI A Wrong Adjustment

VII Painful DutyVIII She Meets a Demonstrator

IX Admitting Defeat

X The Original Fixer

XI The Germ Of Duty

XII The Revolt Of The Seventh Step

XIII She Finds A Foreigner


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XIV New Light On LoyaltyXV Service Of Joy

XVIMarie Encounters The SecretService

XVII Spontaneous Combustion

XVIII Converts Of Love

XIX She Doubts Her TheoryXX She Proves Her Principle

XXI Her One Exception

EVE TO THE RESCUE


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EVE TO THE RESCUE


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CHAPTER I

IN DEFIANCE OF DUTY

To-morrow being Saturday afternoon,began Eveley, deftly slipping a dish osweet pickles beyond the reach of th

covetous fat fingers of little niecathalie,to-morrow being Saturdaafternoon

Doesnt to-morrow start at sunrise a

usual? queried her brother-in-lawcuriously.

As every laborer knows, said Evele

firmly, Saturday begins with th


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afternoon off. And I am a laborerTherefore, to-morrow being Saturdayafternoon-off, and since I have trespasse

on your hospitality for a period of twmonths, it behooves me to find me a homand settle down.

Oh, Eveley, protested her sister in a sofroubled voice, dont be disagreeableYou talk as if we were strangers. Arenwe the only folks you have? And aren

you my own and only baby sister? If yocant live with us, where can you live?

As it says in the Bible, explaineEveley, truthfully if unscripturally, nowo families are small enough for on

house.

But who calls you a family? interrupte

he brother-in-law.


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I do. And nice and sweet as you all areand adorable as I am well aware am I, alof you and all of me can not be confined t

one house.

But we have counted on it, persisteWinifred earnestly. We have looked

forward to it. We have always said thayou would come to us when Aunt Eloisdied,and she didand you must. Wewe expect it.

England expects every man to do hiduty, quoted Burton in a sepulchravoice.

Then Eveley rose in her place, tall anformidable. That is it,duty. Then let mannounce right now, once and for allBurton Raines and Winifred, eternally and

everlastingly, I do not believe in duty. No


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one shall do his duty by me. I publiclprotest against it. I wont have it. I havhad my sneaking suspicions of duty for

ong time, and lately I have been utterlconvinced of the folly and the sin of itWhenever any one has anything hateful odisagreeable to do, he draws a long voic

and says it is his duty. It seems that evermean thing in the world is somebodyduty. Duty has been the curse ocivilization for lo, these many years!Then she sat down. Please pass the jam.

Oh, all right, all right, said Burtoamiably, have it your own way, by al

means. Henceforth and forever after, wpositively decline to do our duty by youBut what is our duty to you? Answer mhat, and then I guarantee not to do it.


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It is our duty to keep Eveley right herwith us and take care of her, saidWinifred, with as much firmness as he

soft voice could master. She is ours, andwe are hers, and it is our duty to stanbetween her and a hard world.

You cant. In the first place I am awfullystuck on the world, and want to get reachummy with it. Any one who tries tostand between it and me, shall be fired ou

bodily, head first.Oh, Eveley, came a sudden wail froWinifred, you cant go off and live byourself. What will people think? Thewill say we could not get along together.

That is it,just that and nothing more. Isnt duty that bothers youit is What

will-people-think? An exploded theory


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nothing more. Then she smiled at hesister winsomely. You positively are thesweetest thing, Winnie. And your Burton

absolutely love. And your babies are thmost irresistible angels that ever came tbless andenlivena sordid world. Buyou are a family by yourselves. You are

used to doing what you want, and wheyou want, and how you want. I would ban awful nuisance. When Burton woulncline to a quiet evening, I should have

party. When you and he would like to slipoff to a movie, you would have to bpolite and invite me. Nobody could b

crazier about nieces and nephews than am, but sometimes if I were tired from mwork their chatter might make me peevishA n d you would punish them when

hought you shouldnt, and wouldnt do i


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when I thought you should, and think of tharguments there would be. And so we alagree, dont we, that it would be more fu

for me to move off by myself and thecome to see you and be company,rathehan stick around under your feet until yo

grow deadly tired of me?

I do not agree, said Winifred.

I do, said Burton.

Then we are a majority, and it is alsettled.

But where in the world will you livedear? You could not stand a boarding

house.

I could if I had to, but I dont have to. have been favored with an inspiration.

cant imagine how it ever happened, bu


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perhaps it was a special dispensation tsave you from me. I am going to live in mown house on Thorn Street. Of course i

will be lonely there at first, since AunEloise is gonebut just listen to this. shall rent the down-stairs part to a smalfamily and I shall live up-stairs. Part o

he furniture I am going to sell, use what want to furnish my dove cote in thclouds, and the rest that is too nice to selbut cant be used I shall store in the easbedroom, which I wont use. That wileave me three rooms and a bath

bedroom, sitting-room and dining-room.

can fix up a corner of the dining-room inta kitchen with my electric percolator angrills and things. Isnt it a glorious ideaAnd arent you surprised that I thought o

anything so clever by myself?


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Not half bad, said Burton approvinglyfor Burton had long since learned thahe pleasantest way of keeping friend

with in-laws is by perpetual approval.

But you can never find a small family take the down-stairs part of the house,

came pessimistically from Winifred.Oh, but I have found it, and they are ihe house already. A bride and groom. Th

cunningest things! She calls him Dody, an

hey hold hands. And I sold part of thfurniture yesterday, and had the resmoved up-stairs. But there is one thinmore.

I thought so, said Burton grimly. remember the Saturday-afternoon-off. hought perhaps you had me in mind fo

your furniture-heaver. But since that i


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done it is evident you have something famore deadly in store for me. Let me knowhe worst, quickly.

Well, you know, dearie, said Eveley inmost seductively sweet tones, you knowhow the house is built. There is only on

stairway, and it rises directly from thwest room down-stairs. Unfortunately, mbride and groom wish to use that room foa bedroom. Now you can readily perceiv

hat a young and unattached female coulnot in consciencenot even in mconscienceutilize a stairway emanatinfrom the boudoir of a bridal party. And

here you are!

I am no carpenter, Burton shoutedquickly, when Eveleys voice drifted

away into an apologetic murmur. Get tha


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dea out of your head right away. I donknow a nail from a hammer.

No, Burtie, of course you dont, shsaid soothingly. But this will be versimple. I thought of a rambling, rustistairway outside the house, in the bac

yard. You know the sun parlor was anafterthought, only one story high with a flaroof. So the rustic stairway could go up the roof of the sun parlor, and I could

make that up into a sort of roof gardenWouldnt it be picturesque and pretty?

But there is no door from your room the roof of the sun parlor, objected

Burton.

No, but the window is very wide. I wilust cover it with portires and things, an

am quite active so I can get in and ou


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very nicely. And when I get around to itand have the money, I may have a Frenchwindow put in.

But, Eveley, I cant build a stairway. dont know how to build anything. couldnt build a box.

But you do not have to do this aloneBurtie. Just the foundation, that is all expect of you. You will have lots oassistance. Not experienced help perhaps

but enthusiastic, and love goes in witevery nail,that sort of thing. I have sennvitations to all of my friends of th

masculine persuasion, and we have startea competition. Each admirer is to builwo steps according to his own design an

plan, and the one who builds mos

artistically is to receive, not my hand an


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heart, but a lovely dinner cooked on mgrill in my private dining-room. I have thist here. I figured that twelve steps wil

be enough. Nolan Inglish, two. LieutenanAmes, two. Captain Hardin, two. JimmWeaver, two. Dick Fairwether, twoArnold Bender, two. Arnold is Kittys

beau, but she guaranteed two steps fohim. Wont it be lovely?

To-morrow being Saturday afternoon,

said Burton bitterly.I ordered the rustic lumber last night, ant was delivered to-day.

And you consider it my duty as thuckless husband of your long-sufferin

sister, to lay the foundation for thwabbly, rattly ramshackle stairs your pe

assortment of moonstruck admirers wil


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build for you?

Not your duty, Burtie, certainly not youduty. But your pleasure and your great joyFor without the stairway, I can not livhere. And if I do not live there, I musive here. And remember. When you wan

vaudeville, I will incline to grand operaWhen you would enjoy a movie, I shalhave a musicale here at home. When yoare in the midst of a novel, I shall insist o

a three-handed game of bridge. When yoare ready to shave, I shall need the howater. When your appetite calls focorned beef and cabbage, my soul shal

require lettuce sandwiches and iced teaot your duty, dear, by any means. I do

not believe in duty.

Quite right, sweet sister, he said


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pleasantly. It shall afford me infinitpleasure, I assure you. And to-morrowbeing Saturday afternoon, you shall hav

your stairway.


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CHAPTER II

THE COTE IN THE CLOUDS

As Eveley had prophesied, what hecarpenters lacked in experience and skilwas more than compensated by thei

ambition and their eagerness to please. OSaturday afternoon her back yard was veritable bee-hive of industry. Thfoundation was in readiness for th

handiwork of love, for Burton Rainesfeeling that he could not concentrate obusiness in such sentimental environsexplained patiently that he was only a

ordinary married man and that lov


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rhapsodies to the tune of temperamentahammering upset him. So he had taken thmorning off from his own business, to la

he foundation for the rustic stairway.

olan Inglish, listed first because he waalways listed first with Eveley, appeared

at eleven oclock, having explained to thofty members of the law firm of which hwas a junior assistant, that serious familma t te r s required his attention. Thi

enabled him to have the two bottom-mossteps of the stairway, comprising hiportion, erected and ready for inspectioby the time Eveley arrived home from he

work. He said he had felt it would bonely for her to sit around by hersel

while everybody else worked for her, andhaving provided against that exigency b


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doing his labor in advance, he claimed thprivilege of officiating as entertainer-inchief for the entire afternoon.

Arnold Bender appeared nexaccompanied by Kitty Lampton, one oEveleys pet and particular friends

Although Kitty was extremely generous iproffering the services of her friend ibehalf of Eveleys stairway, she franklystated that she was not willing to expos

any innocent young man of her possessioo the wiles and smiles of her attractiv

friend, without herself on hand tcounteract any untoward influence.

Captain Hardin and Lieutenant Ames camogether with striking military cla

accompanied, as became their rank, b

wo alert enlisted men. After introducin


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heir enlisted men in the curt officiamanner of the army and having set thegrandly to work on the rustic stairway

Captain Hardin and Lieutenant Amemmediately took up a social position ihe tiny rose-bowered pergola, wit

Eveley and Kitty and Nolan and th

emonade.

A little later, Jimmy Weaver rattled up inhis small striped gaudy car, followed

presently by Dick Fairwether on a noismotorcycle. They took out their personasets of tools from private recesses of theimachines and plunged eagerly into th

contest.

So the afternoon started most auspiciousland all would doubtless have gone wel

and peacefully, had not Captain Hardi


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most unfortunately selected aexceptionally good-looking young soldiefor his service,a tall, slender, dark

skinned youth, with merry melting eyesEveley never attempted to deny that shcould not resist merry melting eyes. Sshe left the young officers and Kitty an

olan and the lemonade in the rosebowered pergola on the edge of thcanyon which sloped down abruptly ohe east side, and herself went up t

superintend the building of her stairway.

The handsome one required an inordinatamount of superintending. The othe

soldier detailed by Lieutenant Ames, aordinary young man with a sensible facand eyes that saw only hammer and nailsgot along very well by himself. But th


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handsome youth, called Buddy Gillianrequired supervision on every point. Hfirst consulted Eveley about the design o

he two steps entrusted to him foconstruction. He could think of as many awo dozen different styles of rustic steps

and he explained and illustrated them al

o Eveley in great detail, drawing plans ihe gravel path. It took the two of the

nearly an hour to make a selection, anhen it seemed the style they had chose

was the most difficult of the entirassortment, and was practicallmpossible for any one to construct alone

So Eveley perforce assisted, holding thrustic boughs while he hammeredcarrying the saw, and carefully picking ouhe proper size of nails as he require

hem.


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Didnt you have more sense than to brina good-looker? Nolan asked CaptaiHardin in a fretful voice. Dont you know

hat Eveley cant resist good looks?

I told him he had no business to brinGillian, put in the lieutenant. Look a

Muggs, whom I brought. Nobody noticehat Muggs needs any help. See there nowhe has finished and is ready to go. Canyou do something to stop this, Mis

Lampton? he pleaded, turning to Kitty.As long as she leaves my Arnold alone, shall mind my own business, said Kittdecidedly. If I cut in on her affair withyour Buddy, she will try her hand onArnold to get even. Captain Hardin goyou into this, it is up to him to get yo

out.


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And Kitty heartlessly left the pergola anwent up to the rustic steps to hold thhammer for Arnold.

Then Captain Hardin, after rapidldrinking three glasses of iced lemonade tdrown his chagrin and to strengthen hi

flagging courage, left the cozy pergolwhich had no attraction for any of thewith Eveley out at work on the rustistairway, and went up to the corner wher

she and Buddy Gillian were carefully anconscientiously matching bits of rustiumber.

I do not think I should keep you anonger, Gillian, since Muggs is ready to

go, he said kindly. I can finish thimyself now, thank you.

Yes, sir, said Buddy Gillian


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courteously, and stood up. Then to EveleyShall I gather up the scraps, MisAinsworth, and tidy the lawn for you? It i

pretty badly littered. Only too glad to bof service, if I may.

Oh, thank you, Mr. Gillian, that is swee

of you, said Eveley gratefully. Supposwe begin down in that corner by the rospergola, and gather up the scraps as wcome this way. Ill carry this basket, and

you can do the picking.But even this humble field of usefulneswas denied Private Gillian, for LieutenanAmes came out from the pergola and saiwith official briskness, Oh, never minhat, Gillian. I can help Miss Ainswort

with it. Youd better run along with Mugg

and enjoy your liberty period. Muc


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obliged to you, I am sure.

So the handsome Buddy looked deep intEveleys eyes, and sighed. Eveley heldout her hand.

You have done just beautifully, shesaid, and helped me so much. And whe

are you coming to tell me the rest of thahrilling story of your life in the trenches?

The question is, when may I?

Well, Tuesday evening? Or can you geoff on Tuesday?

Oh, yes, since the war is over we can ge

off any night. Tuesday will suit me fine.Sorry, Gillian, put in Captain Hardigrimly. But unfortunately I have arrangedfor a company school on Tuesday night


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Taken all in all, only Kitty Lampton andEveley considered the raising of the rustistairway an entire success, although ther

was much light talk and laughter as theate the dainty supper the girls haprepared for them in the Cloud Cote, aEveley had already christened her hom

above the earth. But the men, with thexception of Nolan, were doomed tdisappointment.

When Dick Fairwether asked her to go ta movie with him in the evening, and wheJimmy Weaver invited her to go for anight drive with him along the beach, an

when Captain Hardin suggested that shaccompany him to the Columbine dance ahe San Diego, and when Lieutenant Ame

wanted to make a foursome with Kitty an


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Arnold to go boating, she said mosregretfully to each,Isnt it a shameBut my sister is having some kind of

silly club there to-night, and I promised tgo.

But to Nolan, very secretly sh

whispered: Now you trot along to thoffice and work and when I am ready tcome home I will phone you to come anget me. And we will initiate the Cloud

Cote all by ourselves.So the little party broke up almosmmediately after supper, with deep

avowals of gratitude on the part of Eveleyand equally deep assurances of pleasurand good will on the part of the othersAfter they had gone, as Eveley inspecte

her stairway alone, she was comforted b


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he thought that she could fairly smother iwith vines and all sorts of creeping anclimbing things, and the casual come

would not notice how funny and wabbly iwas. But as she went gingerly downclinging desperately to the rail on botsides, she determined to take out a

accident policy immediately, with special clause governing rustic stairways


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CHAPTER III

EVERYBODYS DUTY

Due to the old-fashioned, rambling stylof the house, the rustic stairway did noreally detract from its beauty. And as ther

were already clambering vines and rosen profusion, an extra arbor more or lesscould, as Eveley claimed, pass withouserious comment. Although the house wa

old, it was still exquisitely beautiful, witts cream white pillars and column

showing behind the mass of green. And thawn, which was no lawn but only

natural park running riot with foliag


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coaxed into endless lovers nooks andcorners, was a fitting and marvelouslbeautiful setting for it.

The gardens were in the shape of riangle, with conventional paved street

on the north and west, but on the east an

south they drifted away into the shadowcanyon which stretched down almost the bay, and came out on the lower street

of the water-front.

Eveley stood on her rustic stairway angloated over it lovingly,the ramblinhouse, the rambling gardens, the beautifurambling canyon, and then on below to thights on the bay, clustered together i

companionable groups.

Loma Portal, Fort Rosecranz, Nort

sland, Coronado, and the boats in th


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bay, she whispered softly, pointingslowly to the separate groups. And heeyes were very warm, for she loved eac

separate light in every cluster, and shwas happy that she was at home again, ihe place that had been home to her sinche days of her early memory.

Eveleys mother had been born in thhouse on Thorn Street, as had her sisterEloise, the aunt with whom the girls ha

ived for many years. And after the deatof her husband, when Eveley was a tinbaby, Emily Ainsworth had taken her twogirls and gone back to live with her siste

n the family home. There a few yearater she too had passed away, leaving he

children in the tender, loving hands oAunt Eloise. And the years had passed


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until there came a time when Winifredwas married, and Eveley and her aunived on alone, though always happily.

But investments had gone badly, andreturns went down as expenses went upSo Eveley studied stenography, and too

genuine pleasure in her career as business girl. With her salary, and theimodest income, the two had managenicely. Then when Aunt Eloise went out to

oin her sister, the Thorn Street house waeft to Eveley, and other property given to

Winifred to compensate. So that to Evelet was only coming home to return to th

big house and the rambling gardens. But tmeet the expenses of maintenance it wanecessary that part of the large housshould be rented.


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Eveley, always adaptable, movedserenely into her cote at the head of thstairs, and felt that life was still kind an

God was good, for this was home, and iwas hers, and she had come to stay.

She almost regretted the impulsiv

promise to her sister that drew her out oher dwelling on the first night of heenancy. Not only did she begrudge th

precious first-night hours away from he

pretty cote in the clouds, but she was nocharmed with the arrangement for thevening. She was an ardent devotee oclubs of action, rowing, tennis, country

dancing and golf, but for that other type oclub, which she described as where a loof women sit around with their hats onand drink tea, and have somebody mak


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speeches about things, she felt no innatenderness.

t was really a trick on the part oWinifred that procured the promise oattendance. For Eveley had been alloweo believe they were going to play card

and that there would be regularefreshments of substance, and perhaps ittle dancing later on. All this had bee

submitted to by inference, without a wor

of direct confirmation from Winifred, whohad a conscience.

So it was that Eveley Ainsworthrreproachably attired in a new georgett

blouse and satin skirt, betook herself ther sisters home for an evening meetinof the Current Club. And it was a decided

shock to find that neither a social gam


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nor a soul-restoring midnight supper wern store for her, but the proverbial tea and

speeches. She resigned herself, however

o the inevitable, and shrank back aobscurely as possible into a dark cornewhere she might muse on the charms o

olan, the beauties of the new Budd

Gillian, the martial dignity of CaptaiHardin, and the appeals of all the rest, ther frivolous hearts content.

n this manner, she passed through the firspart of the evening very comfortably, onldimly aware that she was floundering ihe outskirts of a perfect maze of bi

words dealing with Americanizationwhich Eveley vaguely understood to bsomething on the order of standing up tThe Star Spangled Banner, and marchin


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n parades with a flag and shoutinHurrah for the President, in the presencof foreigners.

The third speaker was a minister, andministers are accustomed to penetratinhe blue mazes of mental abstraction. Thi

minister did. He began by telling threfunny stories, and Eveley, who loved toexercise her sense of humor, came back tohe Current Club and joined their laughter

n the very same breath with which hended the last funny story, he begabreezily discoursing on everybodys dutas a loyal American. Eveley, to whom theword duty was the original red ragsniffed inaudibly but indignantly therself. And while she was still sniffin

he speaker left duty as America


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citizens far behind, and was deep in thntricacies of Americanization. Evele

found to her surprise that this wa

something more than saluting the flag anshouting. She grew quite interested. Iseemed that ordinary, regular people werdefinitely, determinedly working wit

ittle scraps of the foreign elementsChinese, Mexican, Russian, Italian, yeseven German,though Eveley consideret asking entirely too much, even o

Heaven, to elevate shreds of Germanfamy to American standards. At any rate

people were doing this thing, taking th

pliant, trusting mind of the foreignerpetting it, training it, coaxing it,untipresently the flotsam and jetsam of thOrient, of war-torn Europe, of the island

of the sea, of all the world, should b


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Americanized into union, and strength, anoyalty, and love.

t fascinated Eveley. She forgot that it waher duty as a patriotic American. Shforgot that nobody had any business doinanything but minding ones own business

She fairly burned to have a part in thwork of assimilation. Her eyes glowewith eagerness, her cheeks flushed a viviscarlet, her lips trembled with the ecstati

passion of loyalty.n the open discussion that followed aftehe last address, Eveley suddenly, quite to

her own surprise, found that she hasomething to say.

Butisnt it mostly talk? she askedhalf shyly, anxious not to offend, bu

unable to repress the doubt in her mind. I


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does not seem practical. You say we musassimilate the foreign element. But caone assimilate a foreign element? Doesn

he fact that it is foreignmake impossible of assimilation? Oh, I know

we have to do something, but as long awe are foreigners, we to them, and they t

us,what can we do?

The deadly silence that greeted her wordfrightened her, yet somehow gave he

courage to go on. She must be sayinsomething rather sensible, or they woulnot pay attention.

We can not assimilate food elements thaare foreign to the digestive organs, shsaid. Labor and capital have warred foyears, and neither can assimilate the other

Look at domestic conditions here,in th


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home, you know. People get married,men and women, of opposing types annterests and standards. And they can no

assimilate each other, and the divorccourts are running rampant. It does ngood to say assimilation is a duty, if it impossible. And it seems to be.

Your criticism is destructive, MisAinsworth, said a learned professor whhad spoken first, and Eveley was sorr

now that she had not listened to himDestructive criticism is never helpfulHave you anything constructive to offer?

Well, maybe it is theoretic, also, saidEveley smiling faintly, and although thsmile was faint, it was Eveleys ownwhich could not be resisted. But dut

snt big enough, nor adaptable enough


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nor winning enough. There must be somstronger force to set in action. Nobodcould ever win me by doing his duty b

me. It takes something very intimate, verdirect, and very personal really to get meBut if one says a word, or gives me ook,just because he understands me

and likes me,well, I am his friend foife. It takes a personal touch, a touch thas guided not by duty but by love. So hink maybe the foreign element is th

same way. Weve got to sort of chum upwith it, and find out the nice things in ifirst. They will find the nice things in u

afterward.But as you say, Miss Ainsworth, isnhis only talk? How would you go abou

chumming up with the foreign element?


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I do not know, Professor, she saidbrightly. But I think it can be done. And hink it has to be done, or there can not b

any Americanization.

Well, are you willing to try your ownplan? We are conducting classes, games

studies, among the foreigners, workinwith them, teaching them, studying themWe call this our duty as loyal AmericansYou say duty is not enough, and you wan

o get chummy with them. Will you trgetting chummy and see where you comout?

Eveley looked fearfully about the room, ahe friendly earnest faces. II fee

awfully quivery in my backbone, shfaltered. But I will try it. You get me the

foreigners, and I will practise on them


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And if I cant get chummy with them, anike them, why, I shall admit you are righ

and I will help to teach them spelling, an

hings.


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CHAPTER IV

THE IRISH-AMERICAN

LEAGUE

Several days passed quietly. Eveley wenserenely about her work, and from he

merry manner one would never havsuspected the fires of Americanizatiosmoldering in her heart ready for anstraying breeze of opportunity to fan the

nto service.

She was finding it deliciously pleasant tive in a Cloud Cote above a bride an

groom. Mrs. Bride, as Eveley fondl


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called her, was the dainty, floweryfluttery creature that every bride shoulbe. And Mr. Groom was the soul o

devotion and the spirit of tenderness. Tohe world in general, they were known a

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Severs, but toEveley, they were Mrs. Bride and Mr

Groom. It served to keep their new anshining matrimonial halo in mind.

She was newly glad every morning tha

he young husband had to start to his worbefore she left home for hers. When shheard the front door open down-stairs, shran to her window, often with a roll or he

coffee cup in her hand, to witness thdeparture, which to her romantic youneyes was a real event. Mrs. Bride alwaystood on the porch to watch him on hi


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way to the car until he was out of sighSometimes she ran with him to the cornerand always before he made the turn h

waved her a final good-by.

t was very peaceful and serene. It seemehard to believe that recently there ha

been a tremendous war, and that even nowhe world was writhing in the throes opolitical and social upheaval and changen every country, men and women wer

grappling with great industrial problemsand there were ominous rumblings anhreatening murmurs from society i

revolution. But in the rambling whit

house in the great green gardens at the toof the canyon, one only knew that it waspringtime in southern California, that thworld was full of gladness and peace an


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oy, and that love was paramount.

Several days,and then one evening thercame the call of the telephonethreveille of Americanization in the persoof Eveley Ainsworth. A class of youngforeign lads had been gathered and woul

meet Eveley at the Service League thaevening. No instructions were given, nsuggestions were forthcoming. Eveley haasked for foreigners with whom she coul

get chummy and call it love. Here werhe foreigners. The rest of the plan wa

Eveleys own.

She was proud of her maturcomprehension of the needs oreconstruction, and of her utter gladness tassist. She felt that it signified somethin

rather fine and worth while in he


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character, and she took no little pleasurn the prospect of active service. She wen

about her work that day wrapped in a vei

of mystery, her mind delving deep into thdeals of American life. She carefull

elaborated several short and spicy storiesof strong moral and patriotic tone

emphasizing the nobility of love ocountry. And that evening she stood beforeher mirror for a long time, practisinpretty flowery phrases to be spoken with most winsome smile. Remembering thaher subjects were boys, and that boys aryoung men in the making, she donned he

daintiest, shimmeriest gown, and carefullcoaxed the enticing little curls intprominence. Then with a final patriotismile at herself in the mirror, she carefull

climbed through the window and crosse


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he roof garden to the rustic stairway.

As she walked briskly up Albatross toWalnut, then to Fourth where she took thecar, and all the way down-town she wacarefully rehearsing her stories and thmost effective modes of presenting them

She knew the rooms of the Service Leaguwell, having been there on manoccasions while there was still war anhere were service men by the hundreds t

be danced with. Half a dozen men anboys were lounging at the curbstone, anhey eyed her curiously, grimly, Eveleyhought. She wondered if they knew sh

had come there to inspire them with lovof the great America which they musearn to call home. She straightened he

slim shoulders at the thought, and walke


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nto the building with quite a martial airas became one on this high mission bent.

A keen-eyed, quick-speaking woman meher at the elevator, and led her back intowhat she called your corner of throom. Evidently the room was divide

nto countless corners, for several groupwere clustered together in differensections. But Eveley gave them only fleeting glance. Her heart and soul wer

centered on the group before her, eighboys, dark-eyed, dark-skinned, of fourteeyears or thereabouts. They looked aEveley appraisingly, as we always loo

on those who come to do us good. Eveleooked upon them with tender solicitude

as philanthropists have looked on theisubjects since the world was born.


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The introductions over, the keen-eyed onhurried away and Eveley faced her subAmericans.

Then she smiled, a winsome smile beforwhich stronger men than they have fallenBut they were curiously unsmiling i

response. Their eyes remained appraisinalmost to the point of open suspicionPerhaps her very prettiness aroused thnherent opposition of the male creature t

female uplift.Eveley began, however, bravely enoughand told them her first and prettiest storof sacrifice and country love. Theistened gravely, but they were nohrilled. Struggling against a growin

sense of incompetence, Eveley talked o

and on, one story after another, prett


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word following pretty word. But eacword fell alike on stony ground. They saike graven images, except for the brigh

suspicious gleam of the dark eyes.

Finally Eveley stopped, and turned them. What do you think about it? sh

demanded. You want to be Americansdont you? You want to learn what beingan American means, dont you? Her eyewere fastened appealingly on a slende

Russian lad, slouching in his chair at thend of the row. You want to be anAmerican, I know.

Suddenly the slim lithe figure straightenedand the dark brows drew together in frown. What are you getting at? came ia sharp tone. Im an American, aint I

You dont take me for no German, do


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you?

No, no, of course not, she apologizeplacatingly. Oh, certainly not. I meanyou want to learn the things of Americaso you can love this country, and make iyours. Then you will forget that other lan

from which you came, and know this foyour own, now and forever.

Eveley was arrested by the steady gleaof a pair of eyes in the middle of the row

There was open denial and disbeliewritten in every feature and line of hiface.

Why? came the terse query, as Evelepaused.

Eveley gazed upon him in wondermenWh-what did you say?


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I said, why?

Well, why not? she counterednervously. This is your country now. Youmust love it best in all the world, and musgrow to be like us,one of us,Americfor Americans only, you know.

You tell us to forget the land we camefrom, he said in an even impersonavoice. Is that patriotism,to forget thand of your birth? I thought patriotis

was to remember your home-land,holding it in your heart,hoping to returo it again,and make it better.

Butbut that is not patriotism to thicountry, protested Eveley, aghast. Thasdisloyalty. If you wish to be always o

your own land, and to love it best, yo

should stay there. If you come here, to ge


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our training, our education, oudevelopment, our riches,then this musbe your country, and no other.

Why? he asked again. Why should wnot come here and get all the good thingyou can give us, and learn what you ca

each us, and take what money we caearn, and then go back with all these goohings to make our own land bigger an

better and richer? That is patriotism,

hink.No, no, protested Eveley again. That inot loyalty. If you choose this country foyour home, it must be first in your heartand last also. This is your home-land nowthe land you believe in, the land of youove, America first.

But America was not first. The home


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and was first.

Yes, it was first, she admittedpacifically. But America is last. Americas the final touch. And so now you wilearn our language, our games, ou

business, our way of life. You will live

here, work here, and if war comes agaiyou will die for America.

Then she went on very quickly, fearful onterruptions that were proving s

disastrous. That is why we arorganizing this little club, you boys and IWe are going to talk together. We aregoing to play together. We are going tostudy together. So you can learn Americanways in all things. Now what kind of clubshall we have? That is the American wa

of doing things. It is not my club, bu


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yours. You are the people, and so youmust decide.

A long and profound silence followedevidently indicative of deep thought.

A baseball club, at last suggested small Jap with a bashful smile.

That is a splendid idea, cried Evelebrightly. Baseball is a good Americansport, a clean, lively game. Now wha

shall we call our baseball club?Again deep thought, but in a moment froan earnest Jewish boy came thsuggestion, The Irish-American Basebal

League.

Eveley searched his face carefullyooking for traces of irony. But th

pinched thin features were earnest, th


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eyes alight with pleased gratification ahis readiness of retort.

A hum of approval indicated that the IrishAmerican League had met with favor. BuEveley wavered.

Why? she asked in puzzled tone. Ther

s not an Irish boy here. You are Italiansand Spanish, and Jewish, and Russian, swhy call it Irish-American?

My stepfather is an Irishman, his name iMike OMalley, said a small MexicanSo Ill be the captain.

Gwan, aint it enough to get the club

named for you? came the angry retorWhat you know about basebalanyhow?

Eveley silenced them quickly. Lets jus


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call it the American League, she pleaded

The Irish-American League is welknown, and gets its name in the paper,was the ready argument in its favor.

And this fact, together with the stronappeal the words had made to their sens

of dignity, proved irresistible. Therefused to give it up. And when Eveleyried to reason with them, they told he

slyly that the proper way to decide was b

putting it to vote.

Eveley swallowed hard, buconscientiously admitted the justice o

his, and put the question to vote. And ahe club was unanimously in favor of it

and only Eveley was opposed, heAmericanization baseball club of Italian

and Mexicans and Orientals went dow


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nto history as the Irish-American League

When it came to voting for officers, shagain met with scant success. They flatlrefused to have a president, stating that captain could do all the bossinnecessary, and that baseball clubs alway

had a captain. In the vote that followed thresult was curiously impartial. Every bon the club voted for himself. Eveley, who

had been won by the bright face of a youn

Jewish boy sitting near her with keen eyentent upon her, voted for him, which gav

him a fifty per cent. majority over thnearest competitor, and Eveley declared

him the captain.

A few moments later, Eveley was calledaway to the telephone by Nolan, wishin

o know what time he should call for he


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and the moment she was out of hearing, thclub went into noisy conference. Upon hereturn, the argumentative Russia

announced that the vote had been changedand he was unanimously elected captain.

But how did that happen? Evele

demanded doubtfully. Did the rest of yochange your votes, and decide he shoulbe captain?

There was a rustle of hesitation, almost

dissenting murmur.

The newly elected captain lowered hibrows ominously. You did, didnt you?

he asked, glaring around on his fellowmembers.

Yes, came feebly though unanimously.

Diddid you vote? questioned Evele


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remulously.

Sure, we voted, said the captaiamiably. We decided that I know thegame better than the rest of the guys, and can lick any kid in this gang with onhand, and we decided that I ought to be th

captain. Aint that right? Again he turnedowering brows on the Irish-AmericaLeague.

o denial was forthcoming, and althoug

Eveley felt assured that in some way thAmerican ideal of popular selection habeen violently outraged, it seemed the parof policy to overlook what might havoccurred. Some minor rules were agreeupon, and the club decided to meet fopractise every evening after school

Eveley could not attend except o


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Saturdays, and a boy near her, whosfeatures had seemed vaguely anbewilderingly familiar, announced that h

must withdraw as he worked and had nime for baseball. The captain professe

his ability to fill up the club to threquired number with exceptiona

baseball material, and the meetinadjourned without further parley.

This one meeting sufficed unalterably t

convince Eveley that she was totally anhelplessly out of her element. She was noaltogether sure those quick-witted boyneeded Americanizing, but she was sur

hat she was not the one to do it if they direquire it. She realized that she haabsolutely no idea how to go abounstilling principles of freedom an


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oyalty in the hearts of young foreigners.

t was with great sadness that she begaadjusting her hat and collar ready to ghome, leaving defeat and failure behinher, when a blithe voice at her elbowbroke into her despair.

So long, Miss Ainsworth; see you in thmorning.

Eveley whirled about and stared into th

face of the small lad whose features haseemed so curiously familiar.

To-morrow? she repeated.

Surest thing you know, at the office, hsaid, grinning impishly at her evidennability to place him. I knew all the tim

you didnt know me. I am Angelo Moreno

h e Number Three elevator boy at th


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Rollo Building.

Dodo you know who I am?

Sure, youre Miss Ainsworth, old JiHodgins private secretary.

How long have you been there?

About a year and a half.I never noticed, she said, and there wapain in her voice.

Oh, well, he said soothingly, therealways a jam going up and down wheyou do, and you are tired evenings.

But you are in the jam, too, and you arired as well as I, but you have seen.

Thats my job, he said complacently. got to know the folks in our building.


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How much do you know about me? shpursued with morbid curiosity.

He grinned at her again, companionablyYoure twenty-five years old, and yourestuck on that fellow Inglish, with Morrowand Mayne over at the Holland Building

You used to live with your aunt up onThorn Street, but she died and you got thhouse. B. T. Raines is your brother-inaw, and hes got two kids, but his wife i

not as good-looking as you are. Youstayed with them two months after youaunt died, but last week you got a bunch oyour beaux, soldiers and things, to buil

you some steps up the outside of youhouse and now you live up there byourself. Gee, Id think youd be afraid opirates and Greasers and things coming u


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hat canyon from the bay to rob youyobeing just a woman alone up there.

Eveley gazed upon him in blanastonishment. Dodo you know thamuch about everybody in our building?she asked.

Well, I know plenty about most of emand some things that some of em donknow I know, and wouldnt be keen ohaving talked around among strangers. Bu

of course I pays the most attention to thgood-lookers, he admitted frankly.

Thank you, said Eveley, with a fain

smile. Then she flushed. What nerve fome to talk of assimilation, she said. Wedont know how to go about it. We havebeen asleep and blind and careless an

stupid, but youwhy, you will assimilat


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us, if we dont look out. You are a bornassimilator, Angelo, do you know that?

I guess so, came the answer vaguely, bupolitely. I live about half a mile belowyou, Miss Ainsworth, at the foot of thcanyon on the bay front. Thats all the dif

here is between us and you highbrows iMission Hillsabout half a mile ocanyon. He smiled broadly, pleased withis fancy.

That isnt much, is it, Angelo? And iwill be less pretty soon, now that we arrying to open our eyes. Good nigh

Angelo. I will see you to-morrowreallsee you, I mean. And please donassimilate me quite so fastyou must givme time. II am new to this business an

progress very slowly.


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Then she said good night again, and wenaway. And Angelo swaggered back to hiscompanions. Gee, aint she a beaut? h

gloated. All the swells in our building inuts on that dame. But she gives em alhe go-by.

Then the Irish-American League, withouhe assimilator, went into a privatsession with cigarettes and near-beer in small dingy room far down on Fifth Stree

a session that lasted far into the night.But Eveley Ainsworth did not know thatShe was sitting in the dark beside hewindow, staring out at the lights thacircled the bay. But she did not see them.

Assimilate the foreign element, shwhispered in a frightened voice. I a

afraid we cant. It is too late. They go


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started firstand they are so shrewd. Buweve got to do something, and quickly, othey will assimilate us, beyond a doub

And werent they right about it, after allsnt it patriotism and loyalty for them t

go out to foreign countries to pick up thfinest and best of our civilization and tak

t back to enrich their native land? It ialmostblasphemousto teach them new patriotism to a new country. And yewe have to do it, to make our country saffor us. But who has brains enough anheart enough to do it? Oh, dear! And theydo not call it duty that brings them here t

ake what we can give themthey call iovenot love of us and of America, buove of the little Wops and the little

Greasers and the little Polaks in their ow

home-land. Oh, dear, such a frightful mes


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we have got ourselves into. And what dunce I was to go to that silly meeting anget myself mixed up in it.


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CHAPTER V

HER INHERITANCE

The worries of the night never lived ovento the sunny day with Eveley, and when

she arose the next morning and saw th

amethyst mist lifting into sunshine, wheshe heard the sweet ecstatic chirping oittle Mrs. Bride beneath, she smile

contentedly. The world was still beautiful

and love remained upon its throne.She started a little early for her work ashe was curious to see Angelo in thbroad light of day. It seemed so


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unbelievable that those bright eyes ansmiling lips had been in the elevator wither many times a week for many months

and that she had never even seen them.

So on the morning after her initiation inthe intricacies of Americanization, sh

beamed upon him with almost sisterlaffection.

Good morning, Angelo. Isnt this wonderful day? Whose secrets have yo

ferreted out in the night while I waasleep?

Angelo flushed with pleasure, and shove

some earlier passengers back into the cao make room for her beside him.

I thought youd be too sick to come thimorning, he said, with his wide smil


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hat displayed two rows of white and eveeeth. I thought it would take you twenty

four hours to get over us.

Oh, not a bit of it, she laughed. And am equally glad to see that you arrecovering from your attack of me.

This while the elevator rose, stopping aeach floor to discharge passengers.

At the fifth floor Eveley passed out with

final smile and a light friendly touch of hehand on Angelos arm.

This was the beginning of their strangfriendship, which ripened rapidly. He

memory of that night in the Service Leaguwith the Irish-American Club was verhazy and dim. Except for the tangiblpresence and person of Angelo, she migh


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easily have believed it was all a dream.

n spite of her deep conviction that shwas not destined to any slight degree osuccess as an Americanizer, Eveleyconscientiously studied books anmagazines and attended lectures on th

subject, only to experience deep grief ashe realized that every additional bookand article, and lecture, only added to hedisbelief in her powers of assimilation.

So deep and absolute was her absorptionhat for some days she denied herself t

her friends, and remained wrapped iprinciples of Americanization, whicnaturally caused them no pleasure. Andwhen a morning came and she called hasty meeting of her four closes

comrades, voicing imperative needs an


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fervent appeals for help, she readilsecured four promises of attendance in thCloude Cote that evening at exactly seven

hirty.

At seven-forty-five Eveley sat on the floobeside the window impatiently tappin

with the absurd tip of an absurd littlslipper. Nolan had not come.

Kitty Lampton was there, balancinherself dangerously with two cushions o

he arm of a big rocker. Eveley calledKitty the one drone in her circle ofriendship, for Kitty was born to goldespoons and lived a life of comfort anease and freedom from responsibility in great home with a doting father, and twoattentive maids. Eileen Trevis was there

oo, having arrived promptly on the strok


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of seven-thirty. Eileen Trevis alwayarrived promptly on the stroke of thmoment she was expected. She wa

known about town as a successfubusiness woman, though still in the earlhirties. The third of the group wa

Miriam Landis, whose inexcusabl

marriage to her handsome husband haseriously deranged the morale of the littlquartet of comrades.

Eveley looked around upon them. It is funny thing, a most remarkably funnhing! she said indignantly. Every on

says that girls are always late, and yo

hree, except Eileen, are usually later thahe average late ones. Yet here you are

And every one says that men are alwayprompt, and Nolan is certainly worse tha


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he average man in every conceivablway. But Nolan, where is he?

Well, go ahead and tell us the newanyhow, said Kitty, hugging the back ohe chair to keep from falling while shalked. But if it is anything about tha

funny Americanization stuff, you neednell it. I asked father about it, and hexplained it fully, only he lost me in thfirst half of the first sentence. So I don

want to hear anything more about it. Andyou dont need to tell me any more wayof not doing my duty, either, for I am nodoing it now as hard as I can.

Miriam Landis leaned forward from thcouch where she was lounging idly. Whas this peculiar little notion of yours abou

duty, Eveley? she asked, smiling. M


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poor child, all over town they arexploiting you and your silly notionsEven my dear Lem uses your disbelief i

duty to excuse himself for being out fivnights a week.

That is absurd, said Eveley, flushing

And they may laugh all they like. I dbelieve that duty has wrecked more homeand ruined more lives thanthavampires.

Miriam smiled tolerantly. Wait till youget married, sweetest, she said softly. Imarried women did not believe in dutyand do it, no marriage would last morhan six months.

Well, I qualify myself, you know, saidEveley excusingly. I do think everybod

has one dutybut only oneand it isn


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he one most people think it is.

For the sake of my immortal soul, telme, pleaded Kitty. It was you who ledme into the dutiless paths. Now lead mback.

Get up, Kitty, and dont be silly, said

Eveley loftily. This is not a driven dutybut a spontaneous one. And you dont neeo know what it is, for it comes naturally

or it doesnt come at all. Isnt that Nola

he most aggravating thing that ever livedEight oclock. And he promised for sevenhirty.

Go on and tell us, Eveley, said EileeTrevis. Maybe somebody is sick, and hao make a will, and he wont be here al

night.


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Oh, I cant tell it twice. You know howmany questions Nolan always asks, anbesides I want to surprise you all in

bunch. Look, did I show you the newblouse I got to-day? I needed a new one tAmericanize my Irish-AmericanSaturday. It cost ten dollars, and perfectl

plainbut I look like a sad sweet drean it.

Then the girls were absorbed in

discussion of the utter impossibility obringing next months allowance or salarwithin speaking distance of last monthbills, a subject which admitted of n

argument but which interested thedeeply. So after all they did not hear thrumble and creak of the rustic stairwaynor the quick steps crossing the garden o


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he roof of the sun parlor for Nolan waforgotten until his sharp tap on the glaswas followed by the instant appearance o

his head, and his pleasant voice said iones of friendly raillery:

Every time I climb those wabbly rattly

bangs that you call rustic stairs, I wondehat you have a friend to your name. HelloEveley.

Inasmuch as you made the wabbliest pai

of all, and since you climb them more thaanybody else, you havent much room talk, returned Eveley tartly, drawing bache portires to admit his entrance, whic

was no laughing matter for a large man.

You positively are the latest thing thaever was, she went on, as he landed wit

a heavy thud.


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Me? Why, I am the soul of punctuality.

You may be the soul of it, but punctualitydoes not get far with a soul minus willinfeet.

Anyhow, I am here, and that isomething, he said, making the rounds o

he room to shake hands cordially with thother girls.

Eveley hopped up quickly on to the smal

deskshoving the telephone off, knowinolan would catch it, as indeed he diwith great skill, having been catchinelephones and vases and books fo

Eveley for five full years. She clasped hehands together, glowing, and her friendeaned toward her expectantly.

I have called you together, she began i


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a high, slightly imperious voice, my foubest friends, counting Nolan, because need advice.

Do you wish to retain me as counsellor?asked Nolan, with a strong legal accenMy fee

I do not wish to retain you in ancapacity, Eveley interrupted quicklyMy chief worry is how to dispose of yosatisfactorily. And as for feesPouf

Anyhow, I need advice, good advicedeep advice, loving advice. So I havcalled you into solemn conclave, anbecause it is a most exceptional occasionhave prepared refreshments, good onessandwiches and coffee and cakeDid yobring the cake, Kit? And ice-creamth

drug-store is going to deliver it at ten


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only the boy wont climb the stairs; youlhave to meet him at the bottom, Nolan. S

hope you realize that it is an affair o

some moment, and notMiriam Landisare you asleep?

Miriam flashed her eyes wide open

denial on her lips, but Kitty forestalleher. That is a pose, she explainedBilly Ferris said, and I told Miriam hsaid it, that with her eyes closed, she i

he loveliest thing in the world. And sinchen she walks around in her sleep half thime.

Miriam turned toward her, still morndignant denial clamoring for utterance

but Eveley, accepting the explanation areasonable, went quickly on.

Now I want you to be very serious an


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houghtfulcan you concentrate better ihe dark, Kit? Because I know at seance

and things they turn off the lights, and

Oh, lets do. And well all hold handsand concentrate, and maybe well scare ua ghost or something. Then she looke

around the roomfour girls and Nolanolan, who had edged with alacritoward Eveley on the telephone desk

and Kitty shrugged her shoulders. Oh

whats the use? Never mind. Go on withe gossip, Eveley. I can think with thights on.

The ice-cream will be here before wget started, said Eileen Trevis suddenly.

Eveley clasped her hands again ansmiled. I have received a fortune

Somebody diedyou neednt advise m


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o wear mourning, either, Miriam. I nevesaw him in my life, and never even hearof him, and honestly I think he got m

mixed up with somebody else and left thfortune to the wrong grand-niece, buanyhow it is none of my business, ansince he is dead and the money is here,

suppose there is no chance of hidiscovering the mistake and making mrefund it after it is spent.

A fortune, gasped Kitty, tumbling off thearm of the chair and rushing to flinherself on the floor beside Eveley, wararms embracing her knees.

Root of all evil, murmured Miriamgazing into space through half-closed lidsand seeing wonderful visions o

complexions and permanent curls and


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manicure every day.

How fortunate, said Eileen in a voicpleased though still unruffled and evenA fortune means safety and protectioand

Who the dickens has been butting int

your affairs now? demanded Nolapeevishly, and though the girls laughedhere was no laughter in his eyes and n

smile on his lips.

Well, since he calls me his great-niece, suppose he is my grand-uncle.

How much, lovey, how much? gurgled

Kitty, at her side.

Twenty-five hundred dollars,announced Eveley ecstatically.


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olan breathed again. Oh, that isnt sbad. I thought maybe some simp had lefyou a couple of millions or so.

Eveley fairly glared upon him. What dyou mean by that? Why a simp? Whshouldnt I be left a couple of millions a

well as anybody else? Maybe you think havent sense enough to spend a couple omillions.

And why did you require advice?

Eileen queried.

Oh, yes. Eveley smiled again. Yes, ocourse. Now you must all thin

desperately for a whileI hate to ask smuch of you, Nolanbut perhaps thionce you wont mindI want you to telme what to do with the money.


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This was indeed a serious responsibilityWhat to do with twenty-five hundredollars?

You do not feel it is your duty to spendhe twenty-five hundred poundin

Americanism into your Irish-America

Wops? asked Nolan facetiously.Eveley took this good-naturedly. Oh, got off from work at four-thirty and wendown to their field, and we had

celebration. We had ice-cream and candyand chewing gum, and I spent twenty-fivdollars equipping them with balls and batand since I was with them an hour and quarter, I feel that I am entitled to the resof the fortune myself.

Well, dearie, said Eileen, it is really

very simple. Put it in a savings account, o


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If you mean me, I shall do whatever I likwith my own money when I get married,said Eveley quickly. My husband wilhave nothing to say about it. You neednhink for one minute

I am not your husband, am I? I havenexactly proposed to you yet, have I?

Eveley swallowed hard. Certainly not

And probably never will. By the time yoget around to it, getting married will bout of date, and none of the best peopldoing it any more.

You may not have asked her, Nolan,said Eileen evenly. And that is youbusiness, of course. She will probablurn you down when you do ask her, jus


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as she does everybody else. But

Who has been asking her now? he criedwith jealous interest.

But while we are on the subject, I hopyou will permit me to say that I think youprinciples are all wrong, and eve

dangerous. You think a man should wait ahousand years until he can keep a wifike a pet dog, on a cushion with a pin

ribbon around her neck

The dogs neck, or the wifes?

The dogsno, the wifesboth ohem, she decided at last, with never

ruffle. You want to wait until she is tiredof loving, and too old to have a good timeand worn out with work. It isnt right. It inot fair. It is unjust both to yourself, and to


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Eveto the girl.

But, my dear child, he said. Eileen wahree years older than Nolan; but being awyer he called all women child. M

dear child, do you realize that my salary ieighteen hundred a year, and I get only

few hundred dollars in fees. Think of thcost of food these days, and of clothesand amusements, to say nothing of rent! Dyou think I would allow Evemy wife, t

go without the sweet things ofYou neednt bring me in, said Eveleyoftily. I have never accepted you, hav?

No, not exactly, I suppose, but

Eveley, said Miriam, suddenly sittinerect on the couch. I have it.


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Sounds like the measles, said Kitty.

I mean I know what to do with thmoney. Listen, dear. You do not want togo on slaving in an office until you are oland ugly. And Nolan is quite right, youcertainly can not marry a grubby clerk in

aw office.olan laughed at that, but Eveley sat u

very straight indeed and fairly glowered aher unconscious friend on the couch.

You must have the soft and lovely thingof life, and the way to get them is to marrhem. Now, sweet, you take your twenty

five hundred, be manicured and massageand shampooed until you are glowing witbeauty, buy a lot of lovely clothes, triparound like a lady, dance and play, and

meet menmen with moneyand ther


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you are. You can look like a milliondollars on your twenty-five hundredanyour looks will get you the million b

marriage.

Miriam Landis, that is shameful, saiolan in a voice of horror. It i

disgraceful. I never thought to hear woman, a married woman, a nice womanutter such low and grimy thoughts. Coulany such marriage be happy?

Well, Nolan, said Miriam sadly, I amnot sure that any marriage can be happyor was ever supposed to be. But womeare such that they have to try it onceEveley will be like all the rest. And if shhas to try it, she had better try it with million, than with eighteen hundred

year.


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There is something in that, Miriamcertainly, said Eveley thoughtfullyWhat do you think, Eileen?

I think it is absurd. The notion thawoman was born for marriage died lonago. Ridiculous! Woman is born for life

for service, for action, just as man isLook at the married people you knowHow many of them are happy? I do nowish to be personal, but I know very few

married people, either men or womenwho would not be glad to undo thmarriage knot if it could be done easiland quietly without notoriety. They are no

happy. But we are happy. Why? Becausewe work, we think, we feel, we live. Weare not slaves to the contentment of manGo on working, my dear. Keep you


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ndependence. But play safe. Put youmoney in the bank, or in some goonvestment, and let it safeguard you

future. Then you can go your way serene.

That is certainly sound. Marriage isnhe most successful thing in the world.

I should say not, chimed KittyHusbands are always tired of wivesheir own, I mean, inside of five years.

Well, if it comes to that, said Eveleyhonestly, I suppose wives are tired oheir own husbands, too. But they are s

stubborn they wont admit it. In thei

hearts I suppose they are quite as sick oheir husbands as their husbands are ohem.

Eve, said Nolan anxiously, where ar


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you getting all these wicked notionsMarriage is the most sacred

Institution. I know it. Every one saymarriage is a sacred institution, and so ia church. But nobody wants to live witone permanently.

But, Eveley, the sanctity of the

Home. Sure, we know it is sanctifiedBut monotonous. Deadly monotonous.

Eve, and his voice was quite tragicdont you feel that the divine sphere o

Woman. You neednt finish it, Nolan; weknow it as well as you do. The divinsphere of woman is in the sanctified homkeeping up the sacred institution o

marriage while her husbandoh


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ralalalalalala.

Yes, sir, Ill go you, cried Kittysuddenly, leaping up from the floor, andwaving her hand. Europe! You and ogether.

She has come to, said Eileen resignedly

Theres an end of sensible talk for thievening.

Yes, Kit, what is it? I knew you would

hink of something good.Well go to Europe, you and I. I think can work dad to let me go. I can pretend tfall in love with the plumber, o

somebody, and hell be glad to trot me offor a while. And he likes you, Eveley. Hehinks you are so sensible.

Why, he hardly knows me, cried


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Eveley, astonished.

Yes, that is why. I tell him how sensibleyou are when you are not there, and whehe gets home I hustle you out of his sight ia hurry. He likes me to have sensiblfriends.

And what shall we do with the money?

Travel, travel, travel, and have a gagood time, said Kitty blithely. All ove

Europe. Well get some handsome clothesand have the time of our lives as long ahe money lasts, and then marry dukes o

princes or something like that.

Two of you, shouted Nolan furiouslyWell, Eve, it is a good thing you haveone friend to give you really decenadvice. Of all idiotic ideas. Buy fin


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clothes and marry a millionaire. Save it tpay for potatoes when you get a husbanhat cant support you. Travel to Europ

and marry some purple prince.

Why purple? asked Eveley curiously.

Do you mean clothed in purple and fin

inen?

If you mean blood, it is blue, said KittyBlue-blooded princes. Whoever heard o

a purple-blooded prince?What did you mean anyhow, Nolan?asked Eileen.

Driven into a corner, Nolan hesitated. Hhad said purple on the spur of the momenchiefly because it sounded derogatory anwent well with prince.


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What I really mean, he began in dispassionate legislative voice, what really mean ispurple in the face. You

know, purple, splotchy skin, caused beating too much rich food, drinking tomuch strong wine, playing cards andancing and flirting.

Does flirting make you purple? gaspeMiriam. It does not show on Lem yet.And then she subsided quickly, hopin

hey had not noticed.Why, Nolan, I have danced for weekand weeks at a stretch, evenings, I meanwhen the service men were here, saiKitty, and I am not purple yet.

Oh, rats, said Nolan. Then hbrightened. You have never seen a

prince, so of course you do no


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understand. Wait till you see one. Then apurple prince will mean something in youyoung life.

I should not like to marry a purplcreature, said Eveley, wrinkling her nosdistastefully. I am too pink. And my blue

eyes would clash with a purple husbandoo. But maybe the dukes and lords are different shade, she finished hopefully.

olan turned his back, and lit a cigarette.

Yes, you may smoke, Nolan, by almeans. I always like my guests to bcomfortable.

What is your advice then, Nolan? Youare so scornful about our suggestions,said Eileen quietly.

I know what Nolan would like, sai


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Kitty spitefully. He would advise Eveleo give him the money and make him he

executor and appoint him her guardian

That would suit him to a T.

My poor infant, Eveley can not use aexecutor and a guardian at the same time

One comes in early youth, or old age, thother after death. An executor hbegan, clearing his throat as for prolonged technical explanation.

Kitty plunged her fingers into her earsYou stop that right now, Nolan InglishWe came here to advise Eveley, not foryou to practise on. If you begin that I shalgo straight homeno, I mean I shall gout on the steps and wait for the icecream.

What do you advise, Nolan? persiste


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Eileen.

Well, my personal advice is, and strongly urge it, and plead it, and it wilmake me very happy, and?

He wants to borrow it, gasped Kitty.

Go on, Nolan, urged Eveley eagerly.

Put it in the bank on your checkinaccount.

Put it

Checking account?

Yes, indeed, right in your checking

account.A slow scornful light dawned in Eileeneyes. I see, she said coldly. Verys e l f i s h , very unprofessional, ver


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unfriendly. He would have his lady lovabsolutely bankrupt, that he may endowher with all the goods of life.

Why, Nolan, said Eveley weaklyacking Eileens sharper perception

dont you know me well enough t

realize that if I put it into my checkinaccount it will be gone, absolutely aneverlastingly gone, inside of six monthsand not a thing to show for it?

Yes, I know it, he admitted humbly.

And still you advise it?

I do not advise itI just want it, h

admitted plaintively.

Eveley sat quietly for a while, countinher fingers, her lips moving once in

while, forming such words as marriage


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ravel, princes and banks. Then shclapped her hands and beamed upon them

Lovely, she cried. Exquisite! Just whawanted to do myself! You are dear good

faithful friends, and wise, too, and yowill never know how much your advic

has helped me. Then it is all settled, isnt? And I shall buy an automobile.

n a flash, she caught up a pillow, holdint out sharply in front of her, whirling i

around like a steering wheel, while shpushed with both feet on imaginarclutches and brakes, and honked shrilly.

But her friends leaned weakly back iheir chairs and stared. Then they laughed

and admitted it was what they haexpected all the time.


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CHAPTER VI

A WRONG ADJUSTMENT

Eveleys resolve to spend her fortune foan auto met with less resistance than shhad anticipated. It seemed that every on

had known all along that she would foohe money away on something, and motor was far more reasonable than somhings.

I said travel, said Kitty. And we caravel in a car as well as on a trainmor

fun, too. And though it may cut us off fromeeting a purple princea pretty gir


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with a car of her own is a combination nman can resist. And maybe if we are verpatient and have good luck, we may save

millionaire from bandits, or rescue daring aviator from capture by Mexicans.

Miriam nodded, also, her eyes cloud

behind the dark lashes. Very nice, dearGet a lot of stunning motor things andrresistible, simply irresistible. You mus

have a red leather motor coat. You will be

adorable in one. But youll have to shakolan, dear. You stand no chance in the

world if you are constantly herded by disagreeable young lawyer, guardianin

you from every truant glance.

It isnt at all bad, quickly interposeEileen. I believe that more than anythin

else in the world, a motor-car reconciles


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woman to life without a husband. She gethrills in plenty, and retains hendependence at the same time.

Eileen, put in Nolan sternly, I adisappointed in you. A woman of youability and experience trying to prejudic

a young and innocent girl against marriagsis

You are awfully hard to suit, Nolan,complained Eveley gently. You shouted

at Miriam and Kitty for advising husband, and now you roar at Eileen foadvising against one.

It isnt the husband I object toit is theicold-blooded scheme to go out and picone up. Woman should be sought

Well, when Eveley gets a car shell be


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sought fast enough, said Kitty shrewdlyShe hasnt suffered from any lack oadmirers as it is, but when she goe

motoring on her ownach, Louie.

Then you approve of the car, do youolan?

Well, since I can not think of any quickeor pleasanter way of spending the money,he said slowly, I may say that I dounequivocally.

Why unequivocally?

Whats it mean, anyhow? demandedKitty.

Cant you talk English, Nolan? askeEveley, in some exasperation. Youstarted off as if you were in favor, bu

now heaven only knows what you mean.


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Get your car, my poor child, by almeans. Get your car. But a dictionary iwhat you really need.

The rest of the evening they werenthusiastic almost to the point oncoherency. Kitty was in raptures over an

exquisite red racer she had seen on thstreet. Miriam described Mary Pickfordrose-upholstered car, and applied it tEveleys features. Nolan developed

surprisingly intimate knowledge ocarburetors, horse-powers and cylinders.

When at last they braved the rustistairway, homeward bound, witexclamatory gasps and squeals, gradualldrifting away into silence, Eveley sadown on the floor to take off her shoes

most childish habit carried over into th


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years of age and wisdomand wammediately wrapped in happy thought

where stunning motor clothes and whirrin

engines and Nolans pleasant eyes werharmoniously mingled. And when at lasshe started up into active consciousnesagain, and rushed pellmell to bed, mindfu

of her responsibility as a business girlsleep came very slowly. And when icame at last, it was a chaotic jumble oexcited dreams and tossings.

The life of the bride and groom in the nesbeneath Eveleys Cloud Cote hadprogressed so sweetly and smoothly tha

Eveley had come to feel it was quite friendly dispensation of Providence thapermitted her to live one story up froHoneymooning. So the next morning, in th


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midst of the confusion that came frodressing and getting her breakfast anreading motor ads in the morning paper a

he same time, she was utterly electrifieo hear a sudden sharp cry of anguish froittle Mrs. Bride beneatha cr

accompanied by sounds caused by nothin

n the world but a passionate anhysterical pounding of small but violenfeet upon the floor.

Oooooh, oooooh, dont talk to me, Dodycant bear it. I cant, I cant. Ooooh,

wish I were dead. Go away, go away thinstant and let me die. Oh, I shall ru

away, I shall kill myself! Oooooh!

Dearie, sweetie, dont, begged MrGroom distractedly. Lovie, precious

please. And his voice faded off into


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ender inarticulate whispers.

For a long second Eveley was speechlessThen she said aloud, very grimly, Hum. Ihas begun. I suppose I may look for flatrons and rolling-pins next. Hereafter the

are Mr. and Mrs. Ordinary Married

People.After long and patient, demonstrativpleading on his part, Mrs. Severs waevidently restored to a semblance o

reason and content, and quiet reigned for while until the slam of the door indicatehat Mr. Severs had heeded the call o

business.

Almost immediately there came a quiccreaking of the rustic stairs and a light taon Eveleys window.


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Come in, she called pleasantly. I sorof expected you. You will excuse mewont you, for not getting up, but I hav

only fifteen minutes to finish my breakfasand catch the car.

You are awfully businesslike, aren

you? asked Mrs. Severs admiringlyYes, I will have a cup of coffee, thanks. need all the stimulation I can get.

She was pale, and her eyes were red

rimmed, Eveley noted commiseratingly.

We are expecting an addition to oufamily this afternoon, Miss Ainsworth,

she began, her chin quivering childishly.Mercy! gasped Eveley.

Our father-in-law, added Mrs. Sever

quickly. Dodys father. He is coming to


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ive with us.

Oh! breathed Eveley. Wont that beovely?

Mrs. Severs burst into passionatweeping. It wont be lovely, shsobbed. It will be ghastly. She sat up

abruptly and wiped her eyes. He is thmost heart-breaking thing you ever sawand he doesnt like me. He doesnapprove of dimples, and he says I am soft

And he has the most desperate old chuyou ever saw, a perfect wreck with redwhiskers, and they get together every nighand play pinochle and smoke smelly olpipes, and he wont have curtains in hibedroom, and he is crazy about phonograph, and he wont eat m

cooking.


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I should think you would like that, saiEveley. Maybe he will cook fohimself.

That is just it, wailed Mrs. Severs. Hdoes. He cooks the smelliest kind of corbeef and cabbage, and eats liver by the

by the cow, and has raw onions witevery meal. And he drinks tea by thgallon. And he cooks everything himseland piles it on his plate like a mountai

and carries it to the table and sits therand eats it right before company aneverybody.

I dont see how Mr. Severs ever came tohave a father like that, said Eveley iopen surprise.

Well, the funny thing about it is that he

would really be very nice if he wasnt s


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outrageous. And he swears terribly. Hesays Holy Mackinaw at everything. Buhe loves Dody. They lived together fo

years, and it nearly killed him when Dodgot married. And Dody said, You wilive with us of course, father, and so we

expected it. But he went off for a visi

after we were marriedhe and the redwhiskered friend, and we sort of thoughwe kind of hopedmiracles do happenyou knowand so I just kept believinhat something would turn up to save us

But it didnt. Dody got a letter thimorning, and he will be here thi

afternoon. Oh, I wish I were dead.Is he terribly poor?

Mercy, no! Hes got plenty of money

Lots more than we have. Enough to liv


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anywhere he pleases.

I see it all, said Eveley ominouslyYou wont be happy with him, and hewont be happy with you, but you are alputting up with it because it is yourduty.

Yes, that is it, of course.

Eveley poured herself another cup ocoffee and drank it rapidly, without cream

and only one lump of sugar. I am upset,she said at last. This has simply shatterehe day for me. Excuse me, youll have t

hurry, I only have five minutes left.

havent explained my belief anprinciples to youyou being young annewly married and needing all thllusions possiblebut I do not believe i

duty.


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Gracious, gasped the bride. Youdont?

Absolutely not. No human being shouldo his duty under any conceivablcircumstances. You see, there are twokinds, the pleasurable ones, and th

painful ones. Pleasurable duties are donenot because they are duties, but becaushey are pleasurable. So they do not count

And a painful duty can not be a duty or i

would not be painful. My idea is, thahere must be a happy adjustment of ever

necessity, so when a duty is painful, it ihe wrong adjustment. You and you

father-in-law are giving yourselves paibecause it is the wrong adjustment.

It sounds ve

Hueston Ethel - Eve to the Rescue

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Transcript of Hueston Ethel - Eve to the Rescue