Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-02
THE EVENING STORY.
Home.
Home.
downright. 1918. by w. Werner. ],

Copyright. 1918. by w. Werner,
| Miss Betsy. laden with the fruits of hel
mornings marketing. was taking longer
walk than usual. She was going clear
round by Pink street though she well
knew that her neighbors and acquaint-
ances would have stared in disdain to see
her there. 1t was not disreputable. but
questionable That was why Miss Betsy
had moved away.
She had been made to do SO. by her
dominating younger sister Clementine
and She had never ceased to be sorry
! Now. ais she entered the beloved, dearly
| familiar thoroughfare, her steps faltered
| her eyes dimmed with eager remembrance
1t was the street where Miss Betsy had
been born and where she had lived all
her life till half dozen years before.
She had walked the sidewalks as a child,
! as a girl. and as woman. in JOY ana
heartbreak. in hope and disillusion. Each
and everything bore witness to her OF
the sweet and sad things of her life.s
Past the double array of dingy houses
Miss Betsy passed and came at last to the
dingiest oe all-and the dearest. she
paused at the gate to gaze at it. The May
bush beside the feeble porch was budding.
Its grown yard higher, she thought.
And that biggest branch was the ilttlest
when We lived here. | wonder IL lhe
orioles ever build i'll the old maple now.
| see the daffodils back there have come
up as usual I'd like to know If they've
blossomed this wear thousnt tnes
needed attention last fall That was the
last time 1 was here. Walking isn't SO
easy for me as it once was.
with her finger. 1T needs fresh paint.
but ] guess it'll have to do without Tor a
spell yet she thought. "Clemennne
wants another piece of mahogany She II
paint money Well, this paint has hung
on well. And the folks don't seem very
particular. l wish they'd pay a little
faster. They're quite good deal back
on their contract. Lawyer Birdsall says.
And we need the money TO live on. 1t
seems like eating up the body of a friend
to live on the old place this way. l
wouldn't care if we'd just rented it. But
Clementine wouldn't hear to that. III
you rent it you'll want to go back to IT,
she said Maybe she was right. Maybe
/ would. | can't go back to it now, for
it's sold on a contract. And there's the
house we live in. Well, | must go on.
Clementine's expecting me- She hoisted
up the net bag. heavy with parcels, and
started to move on.
Betsy, Betsy Bush.
The cracked old voice behind her made
her turn quickly.
"Dorinda's been watching You out of the
window" said an old man. "She sent me
TO see If il was you. We amt seen you
in so long we most weren't sure. How do
you do. Betsy? How's sister? Amt YOU
coming in to see US? Stay to dinner.
Betsy Seems like YOU might. You ain
been on this street before in | don't know
how long.
Steven White. you're the fastest talker
L ever heard" Miss Betsy said. letting
her hand linger on his and smiling. But
it's good to hear YOU again. / declare.
You and Dorinda never get over on our
street. do you?'
"Landy. no. You're too stylish for us
i'm that big house and all How'd you like
your big house, Betsy? How's Clemen-
tine like it?
"Clementine likes il. But 1 can't come
in this time, Steven. and l can't stay.
just slipped away long enough to get a
peep at things over here. I'm not as good
a walker as I once was, and l keep in the
house more. But don't forget if don't
come I guess l DON'T She averted her
face lest Steven see the tear on her cheek.
Goodbye Steven. Take my love and
plenty of it to your wife. Tell her l wish
/ was right back, here beside her. Tell
her-oh. pshaw. Whats'the use: Good
bye. Steven.
She went on as hastily her parcels.
her rheumatism and her tear-blinded eyes
would let her. Sometimes" she thought
Il feel like I'd never go near that place
again, il upsets me 50. C1ementine can
understand it. but then she's sixteen yea rs