Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 11, Number 7, DeMotte, Jasper County, 2 January 1941 — CELESTES WHINES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CELESTES WHINES

(Associated Newspapers.) WNU Service.

THERE was nothing new about Celeste’s whining. All of her twenty years she had merely to whine and the whole family hastened to adjust things to suit her fancy. Although her sister was only two years older, Virginia had been made to give up to Celeste from the time she was a baby. Neither the parents nor Virginia realized how completely Celeste had come to dictate their lives. Ji*st now Celeste was demanding a new dress. It little mattered to her that she had had two new dresses since Virginia had any. Virginia sighed and handed over thy money she had been saving for a trip.. There was more, resentment in her heart than she had ever been conscious of before, but her mother’s caressing little pat assured her that she had done the right thing. [‘You know, she’ll be young only ontee,” the mother consoled, and seemed not to think that Virgipia might enjoy being young .once, too. Ih a few hours Celeste returned from her shopping trip in a jubilant mood. “Just as I guessed. I have a perfectly gorgeous date, and now I have something to wear.’’ » On and on she talked of the man who has “everything.” “Who is he?” Virginia asked halfheartedly.

“You’d never'guess in a hundred years. . He’s just inherited SIOO,OOO and only think what a wonderful chance for me, munpsey,” she rejoiced. Hei/ mother agreed with her and they sat planning how Celeste must be given every help in the family’s power that £he might be sure to make the proper impression. “Now, Virginia, since this wonder man is coming this afternoon, won’t you do your best with the lunch? Some of your delicious marshmallow cocoa with chicken salad and some of those new sandwiches like you madq last night, with a relish and some nuts would be just right.” The mother had swallowed hook, line and sinker, as usual, when Celeste had some new plan. And, as usual, the real work of it all fell to Virginia. Virginia went to the kitchen and started her task with rising rebellion In her heart. “Yes, Virginia can look on from afar and do the work,” she stormed as she shredded the chicken for the salad. Before she had finished the salad she heard Celeste talking in her best company voice, and she could imagine her sister, crisp and lovely in the new dress, entertaining her handsome friend. “IjH have to admit that she can look- charming,” Virginia conceded gruc gingly. Just then she heard the swinging door from the dining room creak and: looking up saw her old friend, Bill Thomas. “How’er you, Virginia?’’ he be airbed and grasped both her hands in a hearty grip. “Up to your old trices! Honest, I never saw another girl that could s,tir up as good things to eat as you used to'fix for our school picnics.” “Flatterer! Now you’ll have to pay for your rashness by tasting each of these things I’m preparing and tell me if you think they are good' enough to trap a hundred-thousand-dollar husband for Celeste.’’ “What’s this?” Bill paused midway in his sampling. “That’s what I said. I don’t know who he may be, but it certainly has laid, us all out to get her gowned and fed properly.” “Lucky I didn’t stay in there and queer her chance. Now I’ll slip off my coat and help you here, as we used to when we were in high school. What do you say, Virgie?” Virginia flushed w’ith pleasure at her old nickname and found herself confiding that everything there was Celeste’s, without really meaning to do it. With each glance at Virginia Bill seemed to wear a more satisfied expression. “Yd>u ha vent told me this new man’s name?” “Sorry, but Celeste wouldn’t even tell me,” Virginia confided. Bill gave a low whistle and went on helping. Finally •'things were ready and they both prepared to serve the lunch. Virginia served the plates in a most tempting way while Bill filled the cocoa cups. “I’ve served enough plates for us all to have some. Of course, we’ll eat alone so we won’t spoil the family impression,” Virginia laughed. “Well, something tells me that wewon’t need all those plates,” Bill volunteered. “What, you don’t imagine for one minute that this mysterious gentleman has failed to appear?” “Oh, no, no,” Bill consoled immediately. Sure enough, as Virginia appeared w’ith the luncheon she was met by the astonishing sight of Celeste sitting sedately in a large chair, beautiful in her new dress, but accusingly silent and moody toward her sister. Virginia, entirely innocent of her' sister’s plot that had failed, laughed happily. “Bill just happened in to help me, Celeste. But where is the wonderful man?”

Celeste gave one frantic look at her sister and Bill, the look of a trapped animal, then fled upstairs to fling herself on the bed and cry bitter, stormy tears, unmindful of the damage done the lovely new dress. Virginia gasped in amazement and turned to Bill. “Well, looks as if I’d failed to play up to my part in Celeste’s expectations,” he said as they sat down at table together. “But didn’t she tell you I was planning to come up this afternoon, and didn’t you know that Uncle William had just left me $100,006? You don’t have to answer, for I can see you didn’t.” “Bill, you don’t mean—” Virginia was speechless, t “I do mean that Celeste deliberately took your best at home and then tried to fix things so you’d never see me. I’d like to see the person that could keep me away frorrii you, Virginia, if you really want me near you,” he added tenderly. “Bill, I’m so sorry for silly little Celeste,” Virginia whispered happily.