Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-18

that she exclaimed in terror: 'Legrand.
What is the Natter She knelt beside
lin. her arm about him.
I've Just been insulted mother. by a
woman. And then the confession came
in petulant, sobbing outburst It's Hor-
tense Lacey mother | knew she'd be
home from work this afternoon and !
went to see her. | asked her to marry
me. And she said-she said No. I
won't tell you what she said Darn her.
I'll never forgive her-never.'' She
soothed him tenderiy. You see. it was
this way, he went on. "A man came in
and offered me a job. But when he found
out | wasn't married he backed out Said
he wouldn't hire any but a married man
! thought not being married was again st
me and made up my mind to go RICH;
down and ask Hortense I've had no
ton this good while that she'd have me
If I'd speak. But something's come over
her-I don't know what. She talked aw-
ful mean TO me. She said He choked.
No use. ! can't repeat it,
His mother did not ask him to- She de-
termined to find out from Hortenses own
lips what she had said and to reproye
her for 1T. All the mother in her was
aroused against the girl who had dared
to take such liberty. She had known
for long time that he was thinking OF
the girl and she had been willing that he
should marry Hogtense if he chose. for
Hortense had a little money besides be-
ing great worker, and Legrand would
De wen plONide lot We're he her hts
band. And now she bad refused him
The cate of that hope Tor his happiness
was shut forever.
Presently she put on her things and
slipped away II was not far 20 the
laceys. As she knocked 1T the door she
heard Hortense running the sewing ma
chine. The girl made shirt waists when
she was not employed in local tele-
phone office. The sewing machine stop
ped and Hortense called: Come I'M"
EIOFtenSe oi,t xrfS he
bloom Of perfect health on her full
cheeks.
How'd Mrs. Pettis?'' she said "Sit
there
been telling me- she began. Il want
to know what you said to make him feel
the way lie does
oh, he didn't tell you. / just thought
you ought TO know, Mrs. Pettis, and SO
Y m going TO tell you, since LeSrand
won't | told him that a man of his age
and strength who did nothing but sit In
Phi Nortons shebang day after day,
waiting for somebody to come along and
offer him a gold mine. wasn't worth
decent womans consideration. / told him
If he'd let his old mother work herself
TO death for him 1t was plain to see now
he'd use his wife. | told him | had all
l could do to take care of myself without
taking care of him. l told him all that.
Mrs. Pettis. and ! meant II.
She paused and looked the oid woman
in the eyes. challenging refutation OF the
truths she had uttered. LegrandS mother
looked as if she had been struck IN the
face. Her shamed glance sank and she
picked at the frayed fringes of her shawl.
Its hard to hear such things about
any one you love-" she said at last slow
~. And Legrand isn't to blame. Hor-
tense. He's exactly like his father and l
never found fault with his father Only
I'm giving out now. I've often wondered
what would become of LeSrand ii ]
couldn't look out for him. Her throat
was choked with sobs
so you've had two of en-, Hortcnse
said ats easy to sec what kind Of life
you've led" She studied the downcast.
miserable old face opposite her mo-