Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-07-03

homo for mother 1t was only a girls
dream, but it had edged many a dark
cloud with cheering radiance, and now
it was shattered utterly.
She learned that morning that the trust
company into whose hands their home
| had passed had disposed of it for a sum-
mer residence-she supposed to a friend
OF the Dudleys. who until their long So
journ abroad had had constant week
end parties. Her informant had told her
also that the Dudleys had returned and
were having one of their o,d-time gath
erings now.
She turned hastily to her roses. as
I though driving away a disagreeable
thought She had grown accustomed to
delivering her orders around town, but
now with the Dudlays home
She and Nan Dudley had been at col
lege together. In the old town the Tor
ringtons were of much more Importance
than the Dudleys, the Torrington home
vastly superior to the Dudley. She Won
dered if there had ever been a time when
she had not seized the opportunity to i'm
press that fact upon college mates in
Mans presence. She shivered slightly and
shipped the beautiful blooms faster In
mental flash she saw herself driving
along Main street with Tommy in her
blackboard filled with vegetable meeting
Nan Dudley with old college friends,
probably motoring in 1914 model. Truly
might Nan say How have the mighty
fallen!" and return little Of Margaret's
"lording it over her.. which she had
resented vainly.
Tommy's announcement, The stuff is
ready, an it's most 'leven" was a well
come interruption to reflections which
were growing bitter. By the time you
have Bob hitched, Tommy" she told
him. 'I'll be ready"
When she had gathered a great armful
of sweet peas and with the roses placed
them in basket beside Tommy's vege-
tables she hesitated. her eyes seeking
her plain blue and white checkered ging-
ham. her usual garb when she went to
town on business. She would change to
white linen or cloth skirt with tailored
shirt waist. If she should run into these
friends of other days! Suddenly her eyes
snapped. What If she should She was
no longer Margaret Torrington of Tor
rington house; she was Just the old
towns market gardener. and she guessed
she filled the bill better in checked ging-
ham than in any of the finery of better
days.
She stole one glance at the old home
as they drove by. She found shutters
down. windows open, other signs of a
| house being put In order for occupancy.
and she found she could not risk a sec
| ond glance: something seemed choking
her. For many minutes her mind was
infinitely remote. She heard Tommy jab-
| bering beside her as from a distance.
She was unconscious of what he
said until ne pointed excltedly to car
| pulling into Main street ahead of them.
Gee. Miss Margaret. amt 1t a peach?
| There amt nothin' like 1t in this town.
And look at the swell guys in 1t. Gee!
| they're stoppin' at Besler's.'
| Tommy" a hot flush scorched Mar
garet's face. pull into the curb aud
| waltz
And not see the swells close?"
! Margarets hand went out and jerlled
Bob to a standstill. When I tell you
to do a thing / want you to do it,
Her voice was harsh. So very strange!
After a wondering look the boy sat
mute, motionless, while Margaret con-
tinued to stare at the young women
entering Besler's.
She knew every one of them; Nan,
fresh and charming as the morning
Betty Hilton, the rich New Yorker;
Nell Montfort. the Virginan with an
cestors. and Jean Douglas. the girl who
had always ridiculed Margarets fond
ness for dwelling on the greatness OF
the Torringtons." A brief glance at
the man following them into Beslers
assured her he was not one of the
many she had met at prom" in the OLD
university town. and she did not give
him a second thought.
1t seemed the irony Of fate that she
should see them this morning when
she was feeling downhearted. and SO