Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-18
THE EVENING STORY.
HER DAY.
Copyright, 1914. by W. werner.)

| Lee CAME GOWN IRON HeT TOOHl
to find that she had the veranda to
| herself. Rain driven by a powerful
sea wind was penetrating every part
| of it. But Elida was used to wind
and rain. Had she not tramped through
all kinds of weather for the twelve
long years that she had been teach
| ing. and that i'll the bleakest city on
the coast, too? No, a little fine rain
and a rollicking salt breeze was not
| likely to disturb her. She buttoned her
| old rafncoat up to her chin over her
| sweater. and sitting down in one chair,
with her small. shabby feet tucked on
the rounds of another, opened her book
| and began to read.
1t was a delightful book-pure ro-
| nance. and that of SO gloriouSly i'm
possible an order that Elida's hungry
lmag lnation soon bore her on to where
she insensible to every sight and
sound about her. Vacation time to her
meant story time. Thus in books she
found all the beautiful happenings that
her own life had missed. Novels re-
freshed and strengthened her and re-
newed her faith in humanity, which
got sadly ragged during the teaching
year. For ten months she worked and
saved and planned for the other two.
when she should be free and alone and
able to act she pleased. The hope
of her vacation helped her along. There
would be good food and rest from the
city's roar and her books. For nine
years she had stayed with Mrs. Beth
rine. This year Mrs. Bethrine could
not take her, so she had come to this
larger, more fashionable boarding
house. Still she was just as much
alone here as she had been at Mrs.
Bethrine's, and the public library was
nearer. That meant an unlimited sup
ply of books.
Elida Lee was thirty-five. but she
looked at least six years younger. Yet
even with this in her favor there was
nothing noticeable about her. The
other women started scornfully at her
humble clothes and her braided hair.
They did not know, of course. that she
braided it to keep it where it belonged
since it had an outrageous tendency to
crisp and curl in the salt air Curly
hair is not a respectable asset for y
plain old-maid teacher to have. 1t
iobs her of that appearance of prim-
ness which ought to act like a label
upon her. And when, besides curly
hair, one has pretty teeth 1and a color
that fades and freshens constantly and
naturally. one is very apt to be looked
at askance and severely let alone by
those who find their bushes in boxes
such as the best beauty parlors pro-
vide at extortionate prices.
No. the women, young, old and other
wise. at the Sea View did not approve
of Elida. She was entirely out of
their class. Fancy a creature who did
not dance or embroider or play bridge
and who wore shirt waists morning.
noon and night. AS for the few men
there, they simply did not see Elida.
How should they when there was SO
much better company to be had? The
only man who had during the five
weeks of her stay at the Sea View
tried to talk to Elda' at all was Mr..
Corbin. and he had been there only
six days. She had overheard some
body say that he had come for week
merely. being much tied to his bust
ness at home. So she supposed that
he would leave on the morrow. How
ever. she could not allow that greatly
to disturb her, since, while he had been
very pleasant to hear and see about.
she did not expect ever to meet him
again in this world.
1t was strange, though. that the
thought of him should creep into her
reading. 1t might be that the hero of
her story resembled him, being big
and pleasant faced. with just such
smooth hair, craving a little at the
temples. She liked his hair and his
eyes and that little humorous kink to
the corners of his mouth.
But then all the other women liked
him, too. and We'd to get his attentions.
i don't dare, mamma! 1 tell you I
don't. 1 should get all shivery and
pink-nosed and my hair-well, you
know what rain and wind does to my
hair. / want him to take away a bet
ter impression of me than that. And
all of the party he asked feel the same.
They won't go. So 1 suppose he'll
give it up. though he acts perfectly
crazy over the water
1t was Miss Hasbrook speaking at
her window above. The metallic lit
tie voice stabbed Elida's conscious
long way to reality. remembering
vaguely that there had been sailing
party arranged for that afternoon,
which had evidently fallen through
on account of the weather. She had
| not been asked. She never was asked
to anything going on at Sea View
1t came to her that she would have
| liked being asked, and that she would
not have backed out because of a
little rain and a choppy sea. 1t seemed
too bad to disappoint Mr.. Corbin. es-
pecially as it was his last day, and he
was fond of sailing. If he had asked
her She stopped and plunged back
| into her book.
! out of the house and go past her down
the veranda. She thought she knew
| the step. but she would not raise her
eyes until she felt that he was safely
and met his gaze. He had paused at
| the steps and was regarding her
thoughtfully.
In moment he had approached her.
viii you go sailing with me this aft
ernoon, Miss Lee?" he asked.
The color fiuttered back and forth in
Elida's tanned face as she answered,
honestly:s I'D love to go, Mr.. Corbin"
He smiled. I'm glad to hear you
say that. But you'll need to wrap up
WELL"
"Oh. I'm all right. I've a sweater
under my coat. And, then, I'm used
to rough weather"
They walked swiftly along to the
wharf: At the wharf they had to wait
several minutes, during which the
damp wind had it's way with Elida's
closely braided hair. There was an
aura of curls about her eager face
when at last the Delta came churning
| in to empty her load of dizzy passen-
gers upon the slippery pier. Mr.. Cor
bin helped Elida in and sat down be-
side her. The big boat rocked like a
, cradle at her moorings. No one else
came aboard, and the captain, with
rather long face, turned to the wheel
The motor buzzed, the spray flew and
they were out upon the waves.
Elida gave herself up to acting as
happy as she felt. She loved the sea,
loved it best when it was toughest
I've always been used to it," she told
Mr. Corbin. Il can row and swim and
manage a sail. Every summer / stay
just as near to the water as can
while my vacation lasts. 1t heartens
I