Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-24
THE EVENING STORY.
REALITY.
toooyrisht, 1918, By ". wemsr.)

Copyright, 1918, By ". werner.)
Ammo Dillon had to run to her train
at last. She reached 1t just in time to
scramble up the steps with an unhappy
concern for her numerous parcels. Drop
ping into q seat. she counted them
anxiously.
"Satin-shadow lace-violet powder
handkerchiefs-ribbon for Dorothy-petti-
coat for Mrs Mccain. Thank goodness,
they're all safe And so am l. Well!'
Anne Strengthened her hat and. taking
a deep breath OF relief. looked around the
car II was crowded with shoppers, who,
like herself, had taken advantage OF the
day to do their spring buying In the city.
Most of them had come from the towns
along the way. They would oegin to
drop or presently. and then there would
be more breathing room. The car seemed
twice filed with them and their parcels,
The size and number of the parcels no
less than the jaded looks of the women
amused Anne Everybody was exchang-
ing condolences with everybody else.
THANK goodness" thought Anne, that
I have no companion. Think of riding
sixty miles and listening to such Jargon
all the way. 1 shouldn't sleep again In
week. A days shopping OF your own IS
hard enough without having to hear
about other peoples. Not one OF those
women Is as perfectly suited as l. And
there's nobody to dictate as to the ap-
propriateness or serviceability of my pur-
chases and no one to grumble about my
spending so much on mere clothes. 90
far l am fortunate. But
She sighed. 1t was rather stupid after
all going home to just Dorothy and Mrs.
Mccain. Dorothy would smile over her
yards and yards of rose-colored rlooon'
gay petticoat, IF you think It's not too
young for an old lady like myself
| darlin'." But they would not care par
ticularly about her things. because after
all Mrs. Mccain was only the house,
| keeper and Dorothy was her schoolgirl
daughter who helped out at Tight tasks
when there was need. They performed
loyal service and were paid for It. Even
the big black cat Omar Khayyam,
| seemed nearer.
"HeIl be waiting on the front steps for
me when I drive up in the cab Anne
| thought, land he'll rub against me and
| cry and leave a lot Of his long silken
hair on my tailored skirt. for. with all
hair dreadfully. He'll lead me into the
house and go to sleep Immediately upon
| his cushion, and stay asleep until Doro-
| thy puts saucer of milk under his nose.
| For he 3 only q cat, ana ne can unOeF-
stand human loneliness or longing" She
bit her lip savagely. ''Oh. dear me: /
ought to be the happiest woman in the
| world going home after a successful
| days buying of pretty clothes to such a
perfectly comfortable household as Omar
| and Dorothy and Mrs. Mccain make
for me!'
In spite OF her comforts Anne was far
from being the happiest woman In the
| world. All day she had been struggling
| with q swarm of memories that had per-
| as in the life of every mature woman,
had been the one man above all desired
| of her, and on spring day in Westmore
| she had lost him forever. 1t had all
| come Of a moments jealousy and girl
| anger. but she had sent him to the very
| woman she feared. Anne had never again
| seen heard a thing concerning him.
She had been left with lifelong regret.
| to make the best of 1t.
| about their business. She would have
none Of them. AS the years passed
Tracey Talbot had become something
more than a memory: he had become the
ideal which she cherished. OF all women
| alive she envied his wife most. Tracey
Talbot's wife must be happy and for
| tunate woman. She had been handsome
| to begin with-far handsomer than Anne
land Anne pictured her as growing ripper
| ing like contentment with ones lot to
| make a woman bloom. Cherished and
| adored, Mrs. Talbot must by this time
| have become an ample. charming matron
| with perfect confidence In the world S
| geniaity and her husbands heart. Ira
| cey Talbot had been q wonderful lover.
How much more wonderful. then. must he