Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-10
THE GIRL WAS ABOUT THE AGE
OF ONE OF HIS DAUGHTERS.

dreaded greatly the contrast between
herself and Mrs. Colby in front OF
James. He could not fail to learn what
a failure his own wife was. 1t would
be only natural for him to be ashamed
of her. Ellen felt two great tears form
in her eyes and roll down her wrinKled
cheeks With the children SO far away
she could not bear to give up James.
not fair to keep him tied to her. an
old tired woman, when he was practi-
cally a young, brilliant man.
But she got ready and they went. A
liveried servant met them at the small
country station. She fancied that he
looked at her in supercilious surprise.
She was glad that their own few servants
had been with her so long that they
were used TO her plainness. Mrs. Colby
received them with charming hospitality.
She was dressed in long clinging ar
rangement of navy blue stuff. Ellen did
not know its name. she Ielt more
gaucherie than usual in her white linen,
even though 1t came the day before from
a chic dressmaker's hands.
Dinner was a brilliant affair. with about
thirty guests. Ellen sat quietly between
two middle-aged men, each OF whom
was SO entertained by the woman on his
noticed. Through the orchids of the
centerpiece she could glimpse James
handsome brown head. He was talking
to a pretty girl about the age OF one OF
She wished that the girls lived nearer.
She was lonesome. In her abstraction
She did not notice a tall, liveried servant
until he had patiently addressed her for
the third time.
The evening was quiet The judge and
her husband retreated to the library to
talk. She was left alone in the big,
brilliant drawing rooms with her hostess
and few of the guests who remained to
play cards She endured the long evening
and the long day following. But 1t was
Saturday evening that the worst time of
the visit came. There were no guests and
the four dined at table as deliberately
decorated as the one of the evening be-
fore. But now 1t was smaller and there
was no number of other people whose
lively talk covered her silence. And FL
len had never known how we'll informed
and clever a beautiful woman could be-
Mrs. Colby was an able match for either
OF the men. And both were leaders in
the state. Ellen watched her In envy.
Her neck and shoulders were like white
marble Her face was the cream and
of youth Yet she was past forty-five
every one at the table knew. Ellen lis
tened with an envy that was heartbreak-
ing to her talk. and saw the eager light
in her husbands eyes as he watched Mrs.
Colby It was only natural that a man
should desire such woman. Ellen's
heart felt like lump of iron In her
breast Only natural-she didn't blame a
man. Sne Oent over ner Plate ana pre-
tended an absorption in the food that
was tasteless to her at that moment.
She had to wink her eyes or a salt tear
would have favored the entree at which
she nibb'ed. But before the long even
ing-it was longer than the evening be-
forehead dragged away she was con-
scious of a great pity for James. What
a drag she had been upon him!
Sunday was day of torment Lunch
con and the evening tea were repetitions
of the dinner. Mrs. Colby talked bril-
liantly. The men argued and Ellen sat
i'm forlorn silence. And finally they
started home. James had to be in the
city at an early hour the next morning.
She was quiet driving to the station,
quiet on the train. But when they were