Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-27

BEFORE THE MIRROR STOOD MAR
JoRrE. STARING HARD AT THE
REFLECTION.
jOrie, who was always seeking pleasure
abroad at the expense OF confusion at
home.
I'm tired" Milly said aloud, apollo
giving to herself
Slow. fumbling steps came across the
opened and a face looked in. Marjorie
gomez"
Yes. father
II thought I heard the car. Well,
hope she will enjoy herself. There is
nothing 80 beautiful as youth. and joy,
and Marjorie embodies both. Are you
coming down soon. love? We might have
a game of cards. I don't want you to be
lonely. And fear you often are lonely"
Tears filled her tired eyes. You ought
to be going into society the way Marjorie
does. love"
But I'm not asked, father" Milly re-
Piled, as patiently as If he had not said
the same thing to her many times before.
You see never came out the way Mar
jorie did. was too young then, and since
then I've never had time. Besides, now
there's nobody She paused. She
could never in any way refer to her dear,
dead mother without emotion.
Il know" He CROPPED for his hand
kerchief. Wei, you're young yet. You
will have your chance. Wait till Mar
jorie marries. BY the way, that young
Gordon is still attentive, isn't he:"
He calls on Marjorie. And l suppose
he will be at the ball tonight. Marjorie
expected to find him there
"Ah. / hope something will come of
il. 1t would be fine thing for Mar
jorie Don't forget about the cards,
dear.
Milly heard him feel his way down.
stairs His sight was going. Her dear
old father, What would they do without
each other? Yet it was Marjorie he
loved most-Marjorie who was SO like
her mother. outwardly.
Milly was too layal to admit even to
herself that inwardly Marjorie was like
Marjorie and no one else. But in her
heart she did know that Marjorie was
selfish; that she took all and gave moth
ing: took all the money there was for
new clothes, every service, every pleas
ure, as her natural right, the inevitable
reward for her being beautiful. 1t was
Milly. the younger. who looked after the
household. who shOuldered all the bur-
dens. 1t was Miliy who made the way
easy for Marjorie. And Milly obviously
got no reward at all.
And then there was Max Gordon. Two
years before he had met Marjorie at
dance and had called. Milly had been
i'm the room. and Marjorie had introduced
her as my little sister," He had asked
Milly why she was not at the dance the
night before. and Marjorie had explained,
laughingiy. that Milly had not come out.
She's our housekeeper-our stay-at-
home" she remarked.
Max Gordon called again and again.
Sometimes Milly saw him, but not often.
Occasionally Marjorie spoke about meet
ing him at houses where she was enter
tanned. Once she complained that he
didn't accept half the invitations he re-
ceived-"he's SO devoted to his law" she
said.
But tonight he would surely be at
this, the biggest dance of the season. He
would waltz with Marjorie in her red
satin dress. And perhaps he would ask
her to marry him.
AS for herself-"Tve tried not to care
for him." she thought. I've tried not to
think about him when l was sweeping or
baking or scrubbing but L have. The
thought of him has been in everything
I've thought or done for two years. I've
seen him everywhere. even In my
dreams. / didn't know love could be like
that-a powerful. irresistible tide carry
ing you along. one doesn't know when
and sometimes one doesn't care. Perhaps
Marjorie feels in the same way. But
whether she does or not she will marry
Max II she is what he wants and 1t Will
make him happy to get her shall try to
be content. I'll have father left. He's
some one to love and care for. l guess
and play cards with him. Ii l stay up
here alone / shall surely cry"
She gulped down the sob in her
throat, winked her eyes dry. and rising,
went to the mirror. Her serious pallor
offered a great contrast to her sister 5
glowing beauty. But when she went
down stairs she was smiling andSSinging.
Two men instead of one sat at the
battered card table. A broad young man
with q square, clean, dark face sprang