Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-26

1i1E GlflL SftOOh f1f<f l1EIAD
point handkerchief that to see was to
| covet. And she sat in her high-backed
| chair and dispensed hospitality and good
cheer.
There was also super1uity of de-
| licious cakes and hot tea and choco-
| late and olives on her tea table. at
which the prettiest girls in the place took
| turns presiding; There were flowers. too
After they had served their turn at the
| ''at home" they went to sick folks, while
| the cakes left. went to the children Of
| the neighborhoOd.
1t CHANGED that the finest day in March
| and the lat home" came together. After
| a long siege of stormy, cold weather the
old lady felt the inspiriting influence of
the day. She hummed gayly while she
was being dressed Still humming, she
walked from vase to vase in the parlors
admiring the bouquets of spring flowers
and awaiting the guests arrival.
Soon the big, sunny. fower-scented
rooms were filled with young and old.
There was the simmer Of beautiful
silks, subdued laughter, the softened
sound of many voices, the tinkle of
china, and the fragrance Of the best
tea.
The old lady was in her best element.
girlishly; she aired all her choicest bon
mots and reveled in the good time she
was creating.
Suddenly, in the midst of it all, she
it and raised her eyes slowly to the
face of the owner. 1t was a wonderful
face. round, dimpled. deliciously tinted.
with two warm violet eyes. The old
come from?' she exclaimed The girl
laughed unsteady. why aren't you
pouring my tea today?" demanded the
lady, not waiting for any answer to her
first question.
II didn't know you had any tea to
pour until 1 got here and saw all these
people," the girl explained '.Then l
wished for moment had stayed away.
They're all strangers to me-
We'll, I'm not a stranger"
"No, and it seems queer, too, for 1
never saw you before. But then I've
been hearing about you all my life. And
I've seen your picture.
The old lady shifted her feet from a
huge velvet hassock and kicked it for
ward. There, sit down." she said. 81
suppose you haven't had any cakes or
tea ?"
The girl shook her head. IT Just
came"
Elliot" said the old lady. please
bring miss here some refreshment"
The young man who had escorted his
splendidly dressed mother approached
with alacrity. He looked at the girl on
the hassock and smiled his gratitude to
the old lady for summoning him.
Quickly he brought everything he could
lay his hands upon. 1t was all very
pretty and very amusing but suddenly
the old lady dropped the curtain upon the
scene with quiet: you may be at lib
erty now my dear boy
Eliot looked as if liberty were the
last thing he coveted just then, but he
moved away obediently and began to
talk to the girl who was pouring. His
eyes. however, constantly returned to
the old lady and the strange young girl
upon the hassock.
Hes a nice boy" remarked the old
It
don't mind his appropriating your after
a mopent- But first I want to talk to
you myself. What brought you here to
see me today?'
ply-the old lady looked interested-"on
an erran6"-the old lady smiled-'from
your lifelong enemy. She told me to say
that" added the girl
The old lady laughed. That sounds
like her You see. I know whom you
mean. But hog did she come to send
you?"
"Why. I'm her great-great-niece." re-
piled the girl.
Dear me-" said the old lady els It
| genuinely young IS you related to her?
I outlived my relatives a generation ago.
and have only friends now"
Its nice to have friends" said the
| girl, nibbling a cake and looking at
Eliot.
But too many friends make you ap-
preciate an enemy. especially such a
/ good old enemy as your great-great-
| aunt Eliza We were Young as YOU
when we fell out. I'll tell you what
| II was over. 1 hadn't thought about
| II in years till saw a bit of white ar
| butus somebody had sent me. There
| was a certain place 1t grew on the hills.
and I thought nobody in the world knew
| il was there save myself and Heth San
delen.
| Every spring he gathered the first
and gave 1t to me on certain day. He
| had done that for four years. OF course.
I could have got it for myself. but I
| preferred to receive it from Heth. But
/ Que day he failed That night at party
Eliza came in wearing the white arbu-
| tus. How felt!'
Now you laugh over IT," the girl ex-
| claimed, Mortified.
| The old lady laughed the more 'It
was all silly There we were-Heth.
| the false lover. and that little snip OF an