Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-27
THEEvEN|NCSTORY.
Her Value.
Copyright, 1913, by W. werner.)

Copyright, 1913, by W. Werner,
Rachel Vernon was pressing her son
Steve's trousers in hot kitchen on a
midsummer afternoon Her back seemed
broken in twain. Sweat dampened the
edges of her gray hair and the hand that
held the flatiron burned like fire,
Rachel was a fiat figured woman, with
lean brown arms and hands. She had
never been pretty and middle age had
ruthlessly deprived her of whatever
charm she once had Wifehood and
motherhood she had accepted as her
sacred destiny, and neither her husband
nor her four children ever had heard her
complain that she was giving more than
she got.
Yet now, with her strength worn to
the last shred of endurance, with her
whole body multiplying in one violent
ache against more toll, she raised her
eyes to the window and looked out at the
days washing swaying on the line and
wondered at the ways of Providence
which made environment for woman
without consulting her as to its fitness.
Rachel had eyes that looked very dark
in her sa1low face. They saw farther
than the cleaning washing and what they
beginning to doubt the scope of her own
physical endurance.
What will become of them If I give
up-if l have to give up?" she thought.
''They are SO dependent upon me. But
l must not give up yet"
The screen door opened and a little
girl ran in from the back porch. She
was six years old and proportional like
a fairy. Like a fairy, too, she was an
exquisite thing of radiance and beauty.
Mamma" she gasped, 'look!'
She held up tiny bleeding finger.
Her big blue eyes were full of panied
surprise at the hurt.
Rachel smiled. knowing the nature she
had to deal with. "Oh, it's only little
cut. I'll bind it up
She neatly covered the hurt, then she
kissed the child tenderly. "All right now,
dear, aren't you? Then run away" she
said. Mother Is busy
Il want to iron, too,' pouted the child.
Rachel reached down a toy 1atiron from
the shelf, toook a towel from a nearby
drawer and gave them to the child. Nov
you can iron, dear"
She drew a long breath as she watched
the child make her elaborate preparations
for ironing. The make believe task was
to her as serious as the real one. And
yet how different! You mustn't bother,
dear" she said. Keep your work over
on that side of the table. You see, these
are Steve's pants and he wants them to
wear to a party tonight. And I've great
deal else to do before supper
Rachel was beginning to feel little
giddy. 1t was very hot in the Kitchen
growing hotter from the range and the
concentrating rays OF the afternoon sun
each moment. That was. of course, what
made her feel faint. 1t would pass away
in moment She was of late somewhat
afflicted with vertigo. especially when 1t
was hot She rested on her iron looking
at her child's bent head with its aura of
gold. Suddenly the air shifted and spun.
the little attentive face blurred. the OPP
posite wall drew in and blackened before
her sight. She felt herself going, cried
out, grasped at the air and fell crashing,
with her head an inch from the iron
edge of the stove.
Presently she knew a great commotion
was about her. The telephone bell was
ringing. doctor was bending over her.
In the background familiar faces showed,