Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-08

herself suspect it. 1t only needed some
unusual incident to arouse her. This in
cident was not wanting. She dropped the
heavy plate and it shattered to pieces on
the floor at her feet
For a moment she stared down at it
stupidity. She had broken the plate she
had washed seventeen years. She laid
down the towel and stopped to pick up
the pieces. Suddenly. without touching
the fragments. she Strengthened up.
I'm glad it's broken she said, aloud.
why. / was sick to death of handling 1t.
I'm glad it's broken and out OF the way
She was again staring at the distant
brook as IL she were actually speaking to
II. She felt an increasing kinship with 1T.
1t was out there and she was here. But
the plate was broken. Something. too,
could say to duty. Wax" and to all her
| crowding tasks. Don't hinder
A smile was upon her lips some secret
spirit lit her eyes I'm going to see II
she said.
She ran out Of the house and through
the garden patch. Within minute she
was beside the brook. She knelt down
playing water She laughed like a child
on an adventure. Her gaze followed the
current as ii fled over the stones and
swaying water MOSES The brook seemed
like giddy young thing running away
madly and beseeching her to follow
whittier IL led.
She.had no idea how far she had walk
ed until she began to feel tired. But the
brook was still as fresh as it was at the
beginning Of its flight. 1t was tireless,
she thought. The little town was far be-
hind-quite out of sight. She had come
to where the valley was narTower-where
the large. friendly forms of the noun
tains pressed In more closely. The brook
ing at the very foot Of giant. 1t still
urged her along.
Emma had gathered white and blue vfo-
let's and tied them into a cluster with
grass. She was singing. The wind had
tossed her uncovered hair into a tangle.
Color was in her cheeks and joy in her
eyes. She and the brook were pair Of
gypsies out on a venture together.
Presently she came to a slender bridge
spanning the brook At one end of the
bridge a wheel track ran into the fields,
at the other 1t led up the mountain side
a little way to a rckety, weathered
shanty. \ shepherd dog jumped suddenly
from the porch and scurried toward her,
barking welcome. woman opened the
shanty door and looked out. After an in
stants observation she took Off her apron,
put ii over her head and came running
down the road toward Emma. She ap-
preached painting
Where did you cove FROM" she asked.
she was very young and pretty, In a
healthy. hearty way. There was some
thing about her too. that reminded EN-
ma Of the brook.
Il came from back there" Emma mo-
toned toward the hidden village.
What you looking for? Where you 60
ing:''
Emma laughed Il don't know: I'm
just following the brook 1t seemed to
kind O want me to. And-and 1 was will
ing" was the reply.
The girl looked down the brook and at
Emma She smiled i'm a puzzled way
Amt you got any homer" she asked.
''Oh. yes: I'm married"
I'm married. too. But IL hasn't been
long. Luke's a wood hauler. He's away
all day. ! get lonesome. How long have
you been married.
Seventeen years.
My The girl caught her breath,
amazed. You don't look old enough for
that. But then you're all kind Of flushed
up with the wind. Amt you tired? It's
most 3 o'clock
Three o'clock. Emma repeated Three
O'clock And Jimmy had been home to
dinner and found her gone. What had he
thought? What had he said when he saw
the broken plate on the floor II was
the first time he ever had found a cold
stove and an empty table when he came
home to dinner.
Why. when did you leave homer" in
quired the girl.
This morning
why, then. you're hungry. Didn't YOU
bring any lunch? Come up to the shanty
and IN nx you up something. I've got
X.
NO" Emma said. turning from her
NO, I must go back"
Its a long ways" said the girl. Its
seven miles. You better eat something
before you co.
Emma shook her head as she said: mo
| amt hungry.
You're awful queer" said the girl
curiously. Il guess you started to run
away. Amt your man good to YOU? I'd
never dream of leaving Luke that way"
Il haven't left Jimmy. Didn't / saw
was going back?" Emma's voice had
sharpened. 'Timmy's always been good
to me- Only II was always the same.
everything. and i got where / couldn't
stand 1t any longer: ! had to get away
So just started. 1t was the brook ana
the weather. / guess. and, maybe, some
streak in me besides. You'll do the same
thing yourself after you've washed the
same dish seventeen years"
The girl laughed and shook her head.
Never, never. never. she reiterated.
gayly. I'D wash the same dish forever
Iaxao r mos y,ux a. g.