Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-27
THE EVENING STORY.
Two Viewpoints.
Copy right. 1913. by W. werner.)

Jessica Vests troubles began at an
early age. Ordinarily women probably
would have called them fate But
Mrs West, Jessicas anxious mother.
was not ordinary. She defined them
''naughtiness'' and strove to eradicate the
last shred of a root.
Mrs. Vests married life had sbeen des-
perately unhappy. In the beginning of
1t, Philip. her husband. in her opinion.
had been without fault. She had de-
lighted in his carelessness. but after
little she saw him in another light. He
was boyish impulsive. unmethodical, lack
ing in dignity, and a thousand other
things that fretted her almost into ner
vous prostration. Finally, as the years
saw no change for the better, de-
termination to bring about reform took
possession of her.
Philip. neither excusing himself nor
promising anything different laughed:
then he demonstrated and then the end
came because there was no other way.
When you are wiling to grant me
the peace that is mine by right | viii;
come back he told her one day. and
went out Later an arrangement for
Jessica, their child. to visit him when
he should be in the city was made. but
Mrs. West had never seen him again. In
misunderstanding and of putting her in
false position. Forgiveness she felt,
was out of the question, reconcflla-
ton even more impossible.
That had all been years before. but
with his failings constantly in mind she
guarded Jessica with Jealous care. She
studied every trait and mood, depressing
here, encouraging there. but In spite OF
it all Jessica's small feet would some
how stray from the we'll marked path.
Axr0 {v,to Of
best and the things that happened APP
peared to he without malice aforethought.
but she could never account for any OF
them, nor could she see any other pos
sible course of procedure.
When she started to Mabel Frazer s
birthday luncheon Mrs. West watched
her off, calling after her the never
omitted injunction: Don't stop on the
road" Jessica promised and in a few
minutes returned, her hair and bows
missing and her pretty dress smudged
and torn. A policeman escorted her and
made her apology.
"A boy was beatin a dog. ma am. :
he managed to articulate, IAN she sailed
into him.
"Jessica. her mother groaned. How
could your
Jesscas eyes opened. looking shocked
surprise through their long lashes. why,
l had to- she said. He needed it,
Washed and refrocked. she was pres
emily en- route to the luncheon again.
and Mrs. West gave an unhappy hour
to reviewing disheartening situation.
Jessicas love for dogs was of course.
responsible for the broken promise, but
Mrs. West believed that the twig in
tended to make a straight tree should
at all times be kept upright. The con-
clusion she reached was that her COM
mands had lost force from repetition and
that she had excused too easily.
Consequently, when Jessica. who loved
company above everything in life, ar
rived bubbling with the happenings of
the afternoon, she was ordered to her
room to reflect on the evil of her ways.
That had been Saturday. Monday morn
ing she emerged, subdued and thoughtful.
and Mrs. West congratulated herself that
at length she had found an efficacious
remedy, only at the end of the week to
almost lose faith in 1t.
Happening to glance out of the WIN
dow she discovered Jessica in the back
yard ministering to the wants of five
starving kittens and barterng with the
dog-catcher for three lame dogs There
had been a special edict on the subject
of cats and dogs. and Mrs: West de-
cided upon heroic measures. Accordingly.
SNOWFALL, the angora. and Topsy. the
spaniel, were dispatched to the fanciers
Jessica missed them at once.
Il have sold them her mother in
formed her. II saw that you had pro-