Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-16

as she fed out into the naghf WIN the
big hatbag clutched lightly m her hand
She walked home and arrived tired =
exhaustion. She climbed up to hsr stx16y
little back room. Tears came ana oroueh6
their own relief and @ hcadoche Tor
which tea was the only panA0se. HuaAa
lighted the gas jet and made some Afe1f
that she felt SO much better that she d.
cided to try on her hat
Even in the wrinkled green 0aass Of t6s
cheap combination bureau and wash
stand she could see that II tran6orme0
her. The golden straw brought out al
, the shell tints I'm her cheeks and showed
up her eyes like violets; the broad. brown
velvet bow melted into the dusk OF her
hair. She drew a deep breath and smiled.
'-Oh, Won pretty. pretty hat" Hulda
crooned. I'm SO glad I've got you"
She bent and kissed the brown velvet
And when a little later, she crept INTO
bed she was 50 happy that she forgot her
aching feet and sore muscles, and SO
went TO sleep at once. 4
She woke TO find the day most glorious.>
A chime Of nearby bells was striking out
an old tune. 1t was Sunday and Huloa
had been brought UP to 20 to church:
This morning she was particularly glad
10 go. She rad her new hat Besides,
Walter Reese would be there. They
happened tn attend the same church.
Iiulda ate her breakfast I'm q furry.
She sang she dressed. The new hat
was even more becoming than 4 had
been last night. Sleep had taken the
lines and shadows of WEAKNESS out OF
her face.
Walter Reese was already IN church
when she entered. few moments later
an usher brought in Maud Simpson ana
gave her a seat just across the aisle from
Hulda She did not look al Hulda -
give Hulda chance to bow to her. she
had on her most chin lifted air and she
kept her eyes direct on the pulpit Iiuida
however, could not help looking at Maud.
For Maud was in black from head ~
foot-the kind of black that turns blond
girl into gold and mother of pearl Never,
never had she looked so charming: But
she was like big cloud in the SKY Tor
Hulda Gone was her girlish pleasure In
her new hat. in the radiant April day. In
| the fact that Walter Reese was WITHIN
| ten feet of her. Gone, too, was her en-
J joyment of the beautiful service she
| could only wait and hope duly for the
| moment when she could get away from
| it all and run home and cry.
| 1t ended at last and Hulda made her
way toward the door. At the door she
paused I'm dismay. The blue and gold q
| an hour before had turned to leaden hue
and rain was splashing down In great
drops on astonished church goerS. Hulda
| had no umbrella. She thought of her new
hat and the long way she had to go ana
heard Maud Simpsons voice speaking
clearly behind her.
'.Oh. 1 never go anywhere without an
umbrella, this time Of year especially.
Hulda shrank back. Maud went by
her without apparently seeing her. She
| had Walter Reese at her side. he
| glanced at Hulda and bowed. Hulda.
| struggling. with tears, bobbed miser-
able return. She saw Maud at the
| edge of the portico unfurl cleaning new
silk umbrella. There was somethin%
wrong with the catch and while he was
| busy with it Maud glanced back over he.
| shoulder at Hulda. Her glanced seemed
| to say: Go home in the rain, II You
4 Il
1 two umbrellas at my disposal, and one
of them is Walter Reese's."
Folk were budding under the portico
| waiting for the storm to pass. Hulda's
face was very white as she drew back
out of sight where no one would observe
her wretchedness. 1t seemed to her that
every drop OF rain was falling on her
heart.
! Miss Hulda."
| She looked up with big, dazed eyes.
| There was Walter Reese. and ii came TO
I her that he had had some little trouble
! making his way to her through the
crowd about the portico
Miss Hulda / have an umbrella. l
see you have none. May / give You the
shelter of mine homer?
He had come back for her: There in
the crowded vestibule. with the light
swift April rain splashins outside, ro-
nance in all its youth and freshness ana
sweetness became revealed But none
saw ii save the two for whom II was
intended. w men tnt'A HdlhtO pHl NpstAAFE
under the same umbrella they were 10
the Indifferent eyes that followed only
pretty, shabby little girl in a new nat
and big. kind hearted young man Who
did not mean that hat should get wet.
That wonderful walk through the les
SEEMING rain, shoulder 10 shoulder, keeping
step all the way. They talked, and
| Walter made Hulda laugh. The laugh
sent tine last vestige of tears scudding,
and when, "a they paused at the board
ing house steps, the sun darted out like
lire Walter drew deep breath. ITS
going to be a pleasant afternoon. after
all he said Wouldn't you like TO 20
to the park this afternoon, Miss Hulda?
The flowers are all coming out and It's
the nearest thing 10 the country can
find here.
"Oh. I'd love to go" Hulda cried. her
eyes shining happily. 1--WE never been
TO the park yet because l couldn't bear
To 20 alone. ,
We'll, I've been going there alone.
he answered but after this maybe We
can 20 together SoInetimesY
Maybe" Hulda promised. Ana her
face under the little new hat WAS lie
face of "A sirl who sees her dreams bo-
ginning to come true.