Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-22

Margaret Minor" she looked up at her
husband. Calvin. you remember Mar
garet. She was my bridesmaid and be
fore that my chum. / never saw hel
after she married Duncan Sage and Went
west to live They say he made a for
tune | haven't had a line from her il
twenty years, and now she wants to visit
us.
Well, let her The doctors voice was
heartily iovial We need some company
to chirk us up, and l don't know any one
I'd rather see than Margaret Tell her to
come Send her a telegram.
Cara'S eyes We're passing swiftly from
object to object in the shabby room. and
she shivered at the thought of uncom-
prehendingly critical eyes looking upon
their poverty.
The office bell rang and the doctor went
to receive a patient. Cara was alone. II
can't have her," Cara whispered to her
self. IF she made one sign that she
thought what she would certainly think
l should should
Her hand clinched fiercely at her side
| To Cara her husbands lack of success
was only his inability to gather where he
had soWn; she knew how noble his nature
was, and she could smile in the face OF
the whole careless world for his sake, but
to smile in the face of the friend who
saw because of the very acuteness OF
that friendship she felt incapable of do
ing! Il should show her the door, she
breathed.
Against her clinched hand a rough head
was thrust. She started The old dog
which had entered but did not leave the
room with his master crept close to her
side. His sympathetic presence touched
her.
Ben. old boy she said, you knew I
needed you didn't you? Ben. that was a
hard thing 1 just said, but you see how
it is I can't have her. I'm afraid of
what she would think. OF course, she
wouldn't say a word. But that isn't the
question She patted the old dogs head.
Il shan't telegraph her to come. But II
write to her SO that when the letter
reaches her it will be too late. I'm not
given to lying. but even the Bible says
the truth is not to be spoken a ali times.
Yet if | were sure she was the same Mar
garet | wouldn't be afraid of her; it's the
new Margaret | fear-the ore who lives
in big house and wears fne clothes and
has been abroad. And because I'm afraid
| shant let her come
She was putting supper upon the table
per ready. dear?" he asked. Il smell
something good ! guess I'm q little
late. I've been over to Boyds taking a
look at the baby
Did he pay you?" The words leaped
out before Cara could stay them
NO. dear. The doctor sat down com
fortably in his place at the table. mo.
he didn't pay me, bat he promised
However, that doesn't signify. I've saved
the baby for him and it's a fine baby
Made me think of''-he whipped out his
handkerchief and dashed ii across his
eyes Pass the sugar please he or
dered eruffiy.
Cara lifted her eyes TO the big crayon
portrait beyond her husband-of IL hand
some three year old boy He would have
been twenty had he lived this long
Twenty, She dared not think what a
twenty -year-old son would have meant
to her and the doctor
by the way the Doctors voice had
resumed its normal tone Il stepped in
as | was going past the Office and sent
that telegram for YOU.
''Telegram:' Cara sraspcd oh. Cal
win. what made you?" she asked.
He stared at her ablaZe. Don't you