Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-20

Ss,RAA Of :: : Ny : :::$;:::
above like floating silhouettes in the blue sky,
where the stars were twinkling into sight, one
by one.
The trees and grass wore the fresh green of
early springtime. A lilac bush by the window
was heavy with fragrant clusters Of bloom and a
little bird. making himself comfortable IN its
branches for the night, occasionally chirped
family.
But Mrs. Owen was not thinking Of the even
tngs beauty. She was tired and unhappy
1t had been q warm, languid day, with house
cleaning and an extra large ironing to do, be-
sides the thousand and one other duties which
make up the life of western farmers wife.
Everybody had been cross Was it only the
reflection of her own ill humor?
Even Bert had gone to the field that morning
leaving a few hasty words to rankle in her heart
all day. He had forgotten them in a moment;
they hurt her yet,
A slight breeze came in at the open window
and rustied among the pages Of the letter she
was writing-such n foolish, sentimental letter
for sensible little woman to write.
Kate. my dear-so the letter began-the
lilac blossoms are responsible for this letter.
Someway they always carry me back to school
days and to you. Do YOU remember how we
would heap them on our desks until the air of
the dingy old room was sweet with their per-
fume? Have you forgotten those delightful
strolls in the first warm spring evenings, when
we walked arm in arm and talked Of the life
and JOYS to come-just such evenings this?
The world has not changed. 1t is only who
klx Oh hal sNr Tor
ward. and nv life seems such n miserable fail
ure compared with our hopes and plans in those
far-nway DAYS. How / would have scorned
then the idea Of drudging away on a farm.
i wonder. Kathrine, has YOURS been such an
ordinary. commonplace affair mine. When
last / heard from YOU Won were happy in your
city home, with all the advantages that money
can buy. with opportunities for education and
improvement. which /. who know you so well.
understand how much you appreciate.
have heard. too. of your husbands pros
perity. that he is now one of the most success
full attorneys in your city.
Surely the fates have given you the fulfill
ment of all your desires.
We are separated by more than miles now.
friend Of NV other DAYS.
There has never been time for anv improve
ment on nv part. II has been nothing but
work. work, work. and what has been accom-
plished? roof over our heads. ii il true. and
enough to eat and wear. but. oh. there il so
much Of beauty and culture and art, so much
that have ionged for am hungry for and can
never be satisfied
If father had only lived il might have been
different, but since he failed and died every
thing seems TO have gone wrong. Sometimes |
think that even the exasperating trials Of school
teaching that used to torment are better
than this. When Bert and / were married
even though he was a farmers son, we hardly
expected to live So But We came west and
this farm was 80 temptingly near booming town
(Which after all did not BOOM that we bought
IL. and here We are. among a set of good. IN
educated people. who care for nothing outside
the boundary of Lawrence county and l, oh,
Kate. am growing like them.
And Bert? He comes home from the field
tired and dusty. anG cares for nothing in The
world but his pipe and an easy chair. As we
mus: rise with the lark there can be no long
evenings for reading. or any society. or amuse-
ment whatever. Indeed. think he cares very
little about IL now. Are all men so?
Do you ever see our old friend Arthur Brown?
You know he lives in your city. He is wealthy
now. understand. Strange how quickly some
men can become rich
Has he forgotten. / wonder, our old romance?
How handsome he was. and refined and ele-
CANT in his tastes But he was quick tempered
and sensitive: was /. That was the cause
of-but. pshaw. you remember the story as well
IA do.
He has never married. wonder why. What
lovely home. what an ideal life his wife
The letter was not finished the pen had fallen
and left great ink spo: on the white paper.
Maggie Owen did not see it. With her elbows
on the desk and brown hand or either side OF
tired face, she was looking straight out of the
open window.
The new moon shone family through the
maple tree, and the twilight was sweet with the
smell of the lilac blossoms.
Whatever her thoughts WERE thev brought a
tnge OF pink to her cheeks and her heart gave
rerff ta~Ol he alfa I'll -
her husbands step on the walk
What bad she written and what had she
thoughr She did not know where the letter
had ended and where the beautiful dream began
In which she had been living in the wonderful
world of wealth and refinement where she had
books and music and pictures and travel and
love. without commonplace. sordid care-with-
out sacrifice and Accommodation world
which only exists in cur dreams and heaven.
She hastily thrust the folded paper in q
drawer OF the writing desk with that impulse Of
concealment which originated with poor Mother
Eve and has chung to weak humanity ever
since.
That letter must not so. Tomorrow she
would destroy it.
Bert came swinging up the walk with his ha.
on the back Of his head. whistling a ierky little
tune with a reckless disregard of musical laws.
but expressing to his own entire satisfaction his
overnoving good humor.
He came in. his honest face beaming with
health and happiness plain. hard working,
kind-hearted man.
He ended his tune with a shriIl tril in his
wife's ear
Whats the matter. Megsy sitting here alone
In the dark
All. Maggie, money could buy the tender
meas expressed in that tone or the wealth of af-
lection IN your husbands kiss
She looked up surprised. These little atten-
lions had not been frequent OF late. He had
been too busy.
Il can guess what YOU were thinking about I"
he continued shall / tell IL? You were
thinking how happy We will be when the last
cent OF the mortgage il paid of and we own
our little home and everything in il. Wouldn't
you hxe TO look out over that field ard know
that We didn't owe old Moore or any other man
one red cent? he Strengthened himself up to
his fun height and thrust both hands down to
the bottom OF his pockets with an independent
gesture that his forefather might have used
when he signed the Declaration Of Independ-
ence.
'Tu tell you. Maggie. this farm is going to be
valuable some day. We have worked pretty
hard for il. he added. but it has paid. hasn't
tn We can both take things easier now"
"But. Bert. the mortgage is not due until
September. You talk as il il was paid already
and the money Martin paid YOU today is only a
drop in the bucket"
IL was a great effort for Bert to keep his little
secret then.
His eyes danced and his tell-tale face re-
yeula1 II bus the TWILIGHT 4. =