Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-12

usually honey and bright and good. Sud-
denly as she surveyed 1t with little
catch in her throat she sat down by
the spotless table: and, just as she had
stared at the ball field. so now her
glance, going across her vegetable gar
den, fixed itself on the untidy Trent yard
adjoining. She could see the Cutlery
back stoop and the kitchen window de-
eye went farther and saw what lay be-
hind the Window kitchen that to her
had ever been a nightmare.
For many moments she sat, brooding,
planning. Mrs Jennings seemed to be
Mrs. Somebody Else, looking into the
Jennings home that had become a Sec
ond Trent home. bleak, utterly unhome-
like, and she was seeing Ted and Phil
evolve into objects Of neighborhood COM
miseration. Then quickly she became
Mrs. Jennings again. Her eyes swept
the room that for eighteen years had
been the apple of her eye. and her blue
hour saw its first SMILE NO." she said
softly, Il guess not. I couldn't change
into that type. I'll just have to go along
being an ordinary everyday wife and
mother, making sacrifices and doing my
duty even If appreciation never comes my
way"
Later. when the boys rushed in, tired
but triumphant. and father came along,
with the dispirited look that had lain
in his eyes when he went away at noon
time deepened thousandfold. the Jen-
nings family had never sat down to a
more tempting dinner than the one
mother declared ready as the clock struck
6; and mothers radiant smile was never
more pronounced than when she listened
to Ted's glowing account of the game.
She had had her blue hour and she had
put it away from her and could smile
sweetly. sympathetically, into fathers
wondering eyes.
Strange to relate, Ted seems to have
forrotfon oil about, Mrs Tronf and If
was not until he came up to her when
she washed the dishes after sending
father to the writing desk with a happy
smile on his face that the good sport
was mentioned. Then to Mrs. Jennings
everlasting amazement, came a touch Of
the appreciation she longed for
Mother Ted said, lounging beside
her, that certainly was the dandiest
dinner. And it was beastly hot cook
ing, wasn't it? You're always working
for us. aren't your
But I'm going to stop. Ted. and be-
come a base ball-fan, isn't it?'
You! Not on your life! l wouldn't
have you like Mrs. Trent, mother. for
all the world" Teds tone was ineffably
scornful why. the Trent kids only
Jimmy said the other day that he'd
give farm if his mother could make
a meat pie like yours. You know the
boys all call the Trents the can family
because Mrs. Trent buys canned soups
and canned meats and canned pretty
near everything, | guess. Oh, mother,
dear. you're SO different from that kind
of motheri"
Mother found it necessary just then
to fuss about the pantry. When she
came back to the kitchen Ted was
standing with father the veranda,
looking out on mothers wonderful gar
den. SO mothers wet eyes went I'M
noticed
Well she said softly. "for one blue
hour this afternoon a certain Mrs. Jen
nings was pretty much Of a goose She
flashed happy smile at Ted as he
glanced back at her.
BLESS his heart-the dandiest dinnerr .
Her head went up proudly. Guess there
are more ways than one OF being a
good sport Mrs. Jennings" Then she
went out to father and Ted.
CThe End