Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27

a face that in spite of its pallor was pref
ty on an arm bent to shield it, and said
no more.
The older woman sighed in an accept
ance of the situation that was as pathetic
as the girls rebellion, though she only
said:
well. Katie'H soon be home: We'll talk
it over with her. She just took home
Miss COOley's gown.
Did she finish it?"
YES we sewed on 1t all day long. Katie
didn't even stop for lunch. She said she
wanted to wear 1t tonight, and Kate
amt one to disappoint customer. she
likes Miss Cooley awful well anyway.
The two women seated themselves at
the table where on the bright red cloth
were the cakes hot from the fire. the boil
ed potatoes and the coffee that made the
evening meal: one end of the table
there was preserved fruit in glass dish
with gold border which they all thought
very pretty.
II sat by Mrs. Cooley on the car to-
night" Mamie said suddenly. "She amt
got the style of her daughters She hest
tated, then continued with a high color:
"She was telling a lady how bad she
needs help" She looked narrowly at Mrs.
Farley. who answered absently:
Il hope Miss Cooley liked her dress.
She listened for moment, and then, as
the gate slammed sharply, she went 10
the door and looked eagerly out into the
night.
well. Katie" she called affectionately,
we're waiting for you
Miss Cooley wasn't home" she said,
drawing her chair to the table. what do
you think of that?'
Wasn't home! Wasn't she waiting for
the dress?
NO: she didn't even come home for
dinner her mother said. She didn't seem
to know anythn' about IT. Think or me,
and ma. too sewing so hard all day TO
finish it. l didn't think 1t of her! Help
ing herself to the food, she rubbed her
hand over her tired eyes. Il wish she'd
told me if she found she didn't need it..
she said simply. Then, turning to Mamie.
her freckled. merry little face dulVerng
with sympathy:
"Did YOU go TO the doctor Mamie" she
asked Mamie nodded silently, two large
tears rolling down her cheeks. She Gazed
steadily in front of her.
''He said she ought TO give up her job
right away" Mrs. Farley said in straight
forward explanation. She has to do
somethin where she moves around more
She don't get enough exercise
Mamie her friend put her hand over
hers in a quick pressure. Mrs Cooley
wants a second girl and she pays we'll
Why can't you take place IKE that for II
little while? She was asking me tonight
if knew of anybody" She saw the wave
of color that swept Mamie's face, and
added: by spring you'd be all right
again: 'twouldn't be for long. They're aw-
mi nice folks They'd take you TO the
seashore in the summer and by ran you
could go back to the mill Amt Mi
Cooley got something TO do with it? He'd
save your place.
As Mrs Farley gathered UP the dishes
the two girls, still talking together. went
into the front room and began hastily
picking I'D the threads and bits of lace
and silk with which the days sewing had
strewn the floor. Talking in low tones.
they worked with great rapidity, pushing
the sewing machine into the corner,
bringing into prominence easel that
held a large crayon portrait of the de-
ceased Mr. Farley, whose long upper lip
was clean shaven. while his chm beard
sweeping his collar. almost succeeded III
hiding the absence OF craNat hatle
had bought and paid for this portrait. as
she had almost everything in the room.
The girls took great pride in the parlor
Very few of the mill girls had as good
They had Just time TO run into the bed-
room which they shared and make some
hasty changes in their dress when a loud
ring of the door bell held them GREATNESS
They had pretended all along that they
expected no one.
When they re-entered the room two
young men awaited them. Dressed neatly
In dark suits, with giimpses OF hlshly
polished shirt bosoms. they sat stlthy In
the chairs Mrs. Farley had offered them.
1t haG not been two hours since Mamie
had parted from them at the mill, but she
greeted them formally:
Good evenin. Tim" Then, ShylE:
Good evenn', Mr.. Murphy
The color deepened IN her thin face and
in Mr.. Murphy's. too. as Katie left them
10 share the sofa. They sat erectly side
BY side. listening smilinGly to the banter
between Katie and Tim. Now and then
their eyes met. Mr.. Murphy gazing at
Mamie with an intensity i'll concealed
that Katie and Tim were thrown into
peals of laughter they refused TO explain.
When Tim Bryan produced a box of
gayIy colored candies from the depths of
his overcoat pocket the evening seemed
TO overflow with delight. AS Katie united
the gilt string she and Mamie exchanged
luminous glances OF pride and pleasure
Mrs Farley could hear them all laugh
ing h'ithely long after she in bed.
Mr. Murphy's deep voice in occasional
Inonosylla bles mingled with her dreams.
After the young men had gone the girls
revived the pleasures OF the evening by