Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-30

nerable self-poSseseion, studiously, cour-
teously, glacially calm. In Mrs. Fairfax's
footsteps followed a girl. willowy slip of
a thing, pretty, frowsy-haired, painfully
overdressed, who stood in the doorway
staring shyly under her eyebrows. Mrs
Everett trained her lorgnon upon her. The
effect was fully what she had intended;
the girl WINGED. with a glance OF crimson
embarrassment at her mother.
This is Lena" said Mrs Fairfax Lena.
this is Mrs Everett. Tell her who you
are"
"Pm-J-John's wife. ma am" said Lena.
with stammer.
Don't say ma ann prompted her mother
irritably. She's your grandmother-in-
law
Lena wilted in abject panic.
Mrs. Everett turned on her, ignoring her
mother completely.
You say you are my grandsons Wife.
How long have you been married.
Under her eyes the girls face became
TRANSPORTED Love flushed 1t with rosy light,
kindled twin stars in her soft eyes, touched
her young lips to curves of utter happi-
ness. For the first time her glance met
Mrs. Everetts squarely.
Just a week, ma ami she said. with a
thrill in her velvet voice. 1--WE were goin'
to keep it secret until John had fixed it up
with you, but mother spoiled it
Spoiled it, snapped Mrs Fairfax acidly
We'll, if you won't stand up for your
rights somebody's got to-and that's all the
thanks they get. nice mess you'd be IN
secret marriage, unacknoWiedged WlIe-l We
got my good name to keep up, tell you
and I won't have it." She turned to Mrs
Everett so when I found out what John
was up to''-Mrs Everett WINGED IN
spite of the armor-"and Lena wouldnt
listen to anybody but him, took 1t INFO
my hands I'm stranger here-came on
from home when I found out from Lena
letters what was going on-but L looked
you up In the directory, and wrote TO you
right over Johns head, you might say.
I'VE got her certificate all right. Now,
what / want to know Is. what are you going
to do about It"
Mrs Everett moistened her lips. She
knew that she was deadly white, and
thanked her guardian angel that her pack
was toward the dingy window.
Don't you think" she said quietly, that
you are taking a rather unfortunate way 10
serve your daughters interests 10 you
realize that your manner can hardly 40
ANYTHING than make a bad matter worse
for hero
Beneath her cool exterior her mind was
travelling at racing speed. what was she
going to do? Abruptly, with shock, she
realized that the girl was watching her,
was reading the struggle which tore her'
That there were signs OF sympathy III ttie
young frightened face made matters All
the worse Instantly she became once more
the duchess, poised, sef-controileu, doiiA-
mating the situation.
What l shall do depends very much on
yourself. my child" she said, with the
duchess own lnlmltaDle nldflueI, dudIeSS-
ing the girl directly. Tiff my grandson
loves YOU, and you love him honestly, and
will be true and loyal wife to him, doing
YOUR best to fit yourself for the place he
mas chosen for you to FILL; ! think 1.,,
Love him-oh, ma am!' the girl breathed.
It was all Of the duchess speech that she
had heard.
THAT much may be forgiven you,' said
the duchess steadily
Mrs Fairfax drew long breath or rellet;
the girls ewes widened.
You don't hate me?" she whispered in
credulously. magnifying, after the manner
ing into something personal to herself. But
the duchess did not even smile.
TT will depend on yourself whether hate
you" she said. The glow of adoring graft
tude in Lena's brown eyes should have re-
warded her but the duchess was not think
ing of Lenas eyes just then. l don't think
nv grandson has treated either of US fairy
in this matter" she was saying, in her SOFT,
well modulated voice, when another voice
from the hall, shrill and assertive, fell into
their midst swapping the tension of their
excitement. 1t might almost as well have
been a bomb for the effect It created.
I'm Mrs Everett and | want partlcu-
Iarly to see her! My grandson sent me
here to meet his wife, and II she's in I'm
not coming all this way for nothingH
Mrs. Fairfax's breath of relief changed to
a gasp of apprehension; Mrs. Everett looked
startled; Lena stood poised as though for
instant flight A woman came to the door
and glanced in upon them: a woman of
very red cheeks, very black eyes, a very
snugly nipped-in figure, which overlooked
into very pronounced curves. Her veil had
too many dots; her hat too many feathers
my word!' said the newcomer. us It
family party? Hope don't intrude." Her
black eyes glanced swiftly from face to
face, and rested unerringly on Mrs. Fair
fax's bewildered countenance.
you must be Mrs. Fairfax! I'm Mrs.
Everett-Johns grandmother. You look
L. l.
grandmother. don't I? Just found out to-
day that the reason he'd been acting so
queer all this week was that he was mar
RED and he was afraid wouldn't like his
wife. Maybe l won't. I've always said the
best girl in this world was none too good
for John. Are you Johns wife,
Lena jumped.
Yes she faltered unhappily
"H'mph!' said Johns grandmother,
frankly. I've always told John he must
marry a rich girl or he'd hear from me.
l m an Everett
The duchess gave an almost hysterical
giggle, and Johns grandmother turned an
obviously inquiring eye upon her. But for
once the duchess courage deserted her.
With bow 10 the room In general, she
walked to the door. stumbled blindly into
the hall, and felt a nervous touch upon her
arm. She stopped, simply because she was
100 dazed to resist whatever else Fate might
choose to do to her, and looked into Lena's
mplorng eyes.
"And I'm glad 1t isn't If
you re glad, because I'm not your sort and
I know 1t. But I wish-oh, am, I wish
L was you. because you would have been |
square with me- even II you didn't like me-
you couldn't help being square, even to mel
different-she's mean, and no
matter how hard I try, she'll never be any
hing else!'
The duchess found her voice.
Trust John, my dear, always trust John, |
md 1t will come out right for you" she |
;aid oheerfully. With one of her quick i'm |
pulses, which, wild as they We're she never |
regretted, she stopped and kissed the girls |
vet cheek.
Jack, lighting his fifth cigarette on the |
sidewalk, stood paralyzed into tmmovs-
oilty. match in hand, at sight of his grand
mother as she appeared suddenly on the |
ront step, clnging to the railing and laugh |
ng until the tears ran down her cheeks. |
lie went to her three steps at a time.
Good Lord. grandma, what's the matter? |
What have you been doing?"
81 been doingi Nothing at allp' gasped |
The duchess Indignantly. "Oh, maybe I'll |
ell you some day" She suppressed a gig |
gle which again threatened to become hys-
terical Jack, my poor innocent darling |
heavens, child, don't look so frightened. 1 |
1nly came near having an adventure!"
Creeks Medicine Man.