The Meeker herald., 1914-10-24

smiled epprovtnGiy. Seventeen yeafs
ago, when her SON had been born. and
ten years ago, when she had got her
divorces, Emma NeChesney had
thanked her God that her boy had mot
been girl. Sometimes. now. she was
not 10 sure about It. 1t must be fasci-
mating work-selscting velvet suits,
made ''fussy." for daughters trous-
seau.
Just how fully those I'VE months q
small-town existence had got on her
nerves Emma McChesney did NOT real
Ire until the train snorted into the
shed and she smiled the mingled smell
Of smoke and stockyards and found II
sweet In her nostrils. An unholy Joy
seised her. She entered the biggest
store and made for the millinery de-
partment, yielding to an uncomfortable
desire TO buy . hat. It was . part.
trim, smart little hat. It made. her
thtrtysix years seem less possible
than ever, and her seyenteen-ysar-oad
son an absurdity.
It was four-thirty when she took
the elevator up to Mary Cuttings Of
nee ON the tenth hoor. She knew, she
would md Mary Cutting thsrs-Mary
Cutting, friend, counselor, adviser to
every young girl In the great store
and to all ChioaSo's silly. helpless
"chickens.- la.
A dragon eat befors Mary Cuttings
door and wrote names On slipA But
at sight Of Emma NcChesney she laid
down Her pencil. well" smiled the
dragon. you're = sight for sore eyes.
There's nobody in there with her. Just
walk In and surprise her"
At . rosewood desk In . tiny cory
once sat . pink-cheeked. white-haired
woman. You associated her In your
mind with black velvet and real lacc.
She did not look mp - Emma McChes-
ney entered. Emma NcChesney walt
ed for one small moment, Then:
'.Cut out the bank president stun.
Mary Cutting. and make fuss over
me-" she commanded.
The pipk-cheeked. whits-hairsd
woman looked up. You saw that her
eyes were wonderfully young. She
made three marks on . piece Of paper,
pushed . call-button 1t her desk, rose.
and Rugged Emma NcChsshsy thor
oashly and satisfactorily. then hsad'
hoe "a d monsnt and toma4Aed r.
lnow Whsfs ~ hSA hcusht III haG
sGoA Il ten nfnntss 40. A ~ nll-
linsry asbertnsn$ down1tairs. Had to.
II IA hATe come Into New York after
ave months sxils liks this "a prob
ably have bought bsoca4s and fur
edged evening wrap, to relieve this
feeling OF Wild Joy. For i've months
I've spent my evenings IN my hote,
room. or watching the Maude Byrnes
Stock company playing Lena Rivsrs.
with the insenue coming out between
the acts In calico apron and pink
sunbonnet and doing thing they bin
~ vaudeville. I'm dying to see real
show-a smart one that hasn't run 200
nights on Broadway-one with pretty
girls, And pink tights. and lot Of
moonrises. and sunsets and things. and
q prima donna in = dress 10 stunning
that all the women in the audience are
busy copying 1t DO they can describe
II to their home dressmAker next day"
Poor, poor child" said Mary Cut
ting. II don't seem to recall any such
show" IL
well. It win look that way to me,
anyway" said Emma McChesney. 1--WE
wired Jock - meet me tomorrow. and
I'm going to give the child . really sis
cling little vacation. But tonight you
and will have An old-girl frolic. Well
have dinner together somewhere down
town. and then wen 60 to the theater.
and after that I'm coming out to that
blessed nat Of yours and sleep between
real sheets. Well have some. sand
wiches and beer and other things out
Of the ice.box, and then we'll have =
bathroom bee. Wen let down our
back hair, and slap cold cream around,
and tell our hearts secrets and use
up all the hot water. Lordyl 1t will
be luxury to have q bath In . tub
that doesn't make you feel ~ though
you wanted to scrub It out with lye
and carbolic. Come on. Mary Cutting"
Mary Cuttings pink cheeks dimpled
like = girls.
You'll never grow up. Emma Nc
NhoOsA1y Nv AS00Sp 'ANRo yOu 0oV0A
will. Sit there In the corner and be b
good child. and I'll be ready for you In
ten minutes"
Peace settled DOWN on the tiny Of
nee. Emma McChesney. thers in her
corner. surveyed the little room with
entire approval. 1t breathed Of things
restful. wholesome. comforting. There
was a,bowl Of sweet peas on the desk:
there was an Indian sweet grass bas-
ket filed with autumn leaves in the
corner; there was an air Of orderii-
ness and good taste; and there was
the pink-cheeked. wmte-haired woman
At the desk.
"Therel" said Mary Cutting, at last.
She removed her glasses, snapped
them up ON . little spring-chain near
her shoulder, sat back, and smiled