Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-24

Lucille Saunders glanced into her bou-
dOr. Holly wreaths stood out brilliantly
against the background of white MORE silk
which covered the walls. She crossed TO
her husbands room Here was more holly.
with mahogany for a background At The
foot of the stairs Il great crimson Christ
mas bell hung in the entrance to the draw
ing room
She raised her hand and touched the
crimson flowers. Artificial! Struggling her
shoulder. she passed on to the dining room
and then for the first time her face cleared
Above the table was a bell of pure white
flowers from which swung white ribbons to
the four corners of the table. The center
piece was of white roses and lilies of the
valley. The table was laid for two. Lean
ing over 10 straighten n spray of the lilies
she caught her reflection in the great mir
ror above the buffet, and she laughed a
ripping, girlish laugh which swept away
all the tired lines around her eyes and the
wistful curves which, all afternoon, had
framed her lips.
How absurdly old-fashioned that frock
looked, and it just a trifie too tight.
Yet only four short years had passed since
she had worn 1t for the first and only
time. How wonderful she had thought it
then. the CLEAN of the satin Qt had been
her first satin frOck), the soft fall of the
lace, the opalescent lights in the pearl pas
someEtrie.
Would Billy recognize it, she wondered.
At least he might recognize that there was
something different about her appearance
and ask what wrong. She had not re-
minded him of the date. She had hoped he
might remember.
Passing down the hall she met Sampson,
the butler.
1.-THE rooms are looking very WELL" she
said. She knew that the man had super
intended their decoration in person. But
l wish that tomorrow you'd order some real
OlG-faShioned eVergreenS, long ropes of
sweet smelling stuff You know the sert l
mean 1t smells Of the woods -
Yes. Mrs. Saunders" said the man,
pleased with her approval. SO seldom ex-
pressed of late. The first thing in the
morning, maam. Mr.. Darraughs in the
drawing ROOM
She moved forward swiftly. 1t was good
of Ralph to come. She had not seen him
since he came back from Egypt. She had
heard strange tales of Ralph. yet she did
not want to think of them now, to believe
them at any time, for Ralph had remember
ed, and the remembrance would cover
multitude of sins.
I'm a day too soon with my Christmas
wishes, he said when she had sent for
vase in which to arrange the stalks crowd
ed by great American Beauty roses. She
had felt a sudden glow of happiness and
a desire to handle the flowers herself. But
1 am leaving the city tonight-and 1 want
ed to deliver them in person."
Going away again? You should have
been born a Bedouin. Ralph. You were
never meant for New York" She was ar
ranging the flowers now, drawing to one
side occasionally to study the effect of her
work Darraugh. from his easy chair by
the gas log, watched her with hungry, tired
eyes.
That's your wedding dress" he said
abruptly.
She dropped a marvellous courtesy and
flung him a happy glance.
what a memory you have, to be sure.
1t looks bit behind the times, but 1t makes
me happy just to put it on. I've been Won
dering whether Billy will recognize 1t. That
was great day Ralph? Do you remember?
The girls in their organdie frocks, all pink,
and the flowers scattered by the little girls
in my Sunday school class. Sunday school,
Doesn't that seem a long way off, Ralph?
Whoever dreamed that day that in four
short years Billy would make his everlast-