Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-24

family's winter consumption; but there
are conditions of the spirit when one
does not care whether ones family has
peaches to eat or not, and as Mrs.
9fimms' family-consisting Of one hus-
band-had just treated her In a notably
unfeeling manner, she was suffering from
one Of those conditions.
The circumstances were these: Mrs
Mimms ardently desired a new dress for
the association, and. realizing the difn-
culties Of the situation, had, like a pru-
dent general, planned her campaign with
the greatest care. and made her request
after Mr.. MimIns had just consumed q
dinner consisting Of all the eatAbles he
most liked But even the most famous
generals are but slaves to small circum-
stances. Unfortunately. In the interval
after dinner in which Mrs. Minms
washed the dishes while her husband
took forty wtnks in his chair on the
porch a wasp had assaulted Mr.. Minsms.
He was in the act of extracting the
weapon Of the vicious but short-sighted
insect from his hand when she 1altingly
made her plea. AS result she was not
was not to be spared-that she had been
prepared for-but also that the dress was
not needed. and, moreover, that she was
getting too old and gray to care about
coCu lOxNAOOiCIy. AS ncT ldSC OI6SS OdIcO
back to the meeting of the same associa-
tion four years before, the injustice as
well az the disparaging nature Of this re-
mark had cut like a knife, and Mrs.
Mimms. contrary to custom and to her
previous intention. had retired from the
field without further ado.
Now she sat and thought it over, and
the more she thought the more it became
apparent to her that Syram didn't love
her any more or he would never have
spoken so cruelty. The disappointment
about the dress was swallowed I'D in the
pain Of that thought.
The sight Of lilac sunbonnet coming
along by the fence, usually harbinger
or pleasure, brought no balm to her soul
She knew that it was Honey Story bring
ing the last number of the Female Fire
side Friend, to which they subscribed
in common, and of which Honey. in her
capacity of dressmaker had first CLEAN
ings. Mrs. Mimms had looked forward
10 saying to her, with open Indifference,
which masked hidden pride. by the way
Honey, I've decided to buy that gray
alpaca down to the store. an want you
TO- come over next week an make it I'D
for me for the association" and to re-
ceiving Homeys env1ous congratulations
therefor. Now this pleasant prospect was
ended.
Honey came up the steps. hopping her
plump red face with the strings Of her
lilac sunbonnet- She was too hot and
hurried to miss the usual enthusiasm. Of
her friends greeting
Here's the Fireside Friend" she said,
breatniessly- II thought ma was never
goin to be through with it. 1t looks like
the less holt her mind has Of things the
more she seems to cling on TO EN-. She's
be n 2oin' over that fashion plate for the
best Fart of three days, an I'll lay she
couldn't tell thing that's in it,
Mrs. Mimms held out a languid hand
for the paper. 1T don't make no differ
ence." she said, dispiritedly. II wasn't
specially intrusted in il nohow?'
Honey looked her surprise. Only one
thing could account for such a tone on
such q subject. Bent you a-goin' to
get that gray alpaca for the association
she asked, with interest The subject had
been under animated discussion between
them some dozen times before.
sunf
No; I've decided that I don't keer fol
it, said the loyal Mrs. Mimms. MY