Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-07

counterpart of the father. who. like
Elizabeth. had been chum of school
days. "Such a resemblance she ex-
claimed. studying the boy watching her
unpack summer finery.
Elizabeth stif1ed a sigh. Like him in
more than looks" she said. Tommy's at
tention had been riveted on a wonderful
something Miss Edith had taken out of
a trunk for him. She continued: Re
member what a perfect fiend Tom was
for pretty things?'
Elizabeth flushed when Edith Brad
wells laughing reply came. He showed
that when he chose you. Elizabeth" and
went on: "Tommy's just the same. l
to curb it, but she laughed softly.
why, he was very indignant when /
didn't find time to dress up for you. He
looks on my sensible buds with boyish
scorn. But, you see, where there's SO
much work." Her hands, expressively
thrust out, completed the sentence.
Edith Bradwell politely murmured she
was sure her house dress was most
sensible, she was glad not to be treated
as company. 1nwardiy she wondered if
farmer reputed to have made fairly
comfortable fortune. at o'clock on a
beautiful summer afternoon, to look lit
tie less like drudge.
At supper she had further cause for
wonder True Elizabeth had donned
another dress. but it was Of dark, unbe-
coming color, it's lines were stiff, every
inch of it breathed easily kept clean:
easily done up There was nothing
about Elizabeth to remind one of the
dainty, pretty girl who had enSlaved Tom
Raleigh.
Edith's glance rested on him. curiously
In the old town he had been quite
dandy. People had been amazed when
he had taken to farming. He had
laughed at them. telling them farming
was not what once it had been. Every
thing now was run on the efficiency plan.
including the farmer. who lived like a
gentleman after the first hard steps had
been passed Tom certainly looked the
part now She noted the light summer
shirt, with soft, rolling collar, such as
Tom would have worn in the old days at
a summer resort, and the cool. Well fit
ting tweed suit. His hands showed work,
it is true. Indeed. his whole person did.
but in an attractive way. And. above
all, he was faultlessly groomed. Nor did
the grooming have the appearance of be-
ing performed for the occasion; it looked
habit. From appearances rumor Ger
tainly had not stepped over the line of
probability when it claimed Tom Raleigh
had done WELL
And the wife who has helped make the
fortune? AS her glance went from Toms
trimness to Elizabeth's dowdiness a silent
rebellion grew within her. Things didn't
square up to suit her. though everything
appeared beautifully amlcable. To drive
away this thing she could not understand
she gave her attention to oTmmy. staring
at her in boyish admiration. Suddenly
he turned to his father. Daddy, isn't
that pretty thing round Miss Edith's neck
pretty-pretty?"
1T is daddy answered. and awfully
becoming. Pink's your color Edith" For
just a second Edith saw faint shadow
in his eyes Then he changed the sub
ject.
And again she had food for thought.
Tommy calling his fathers attention TO
the coral necklace instead of his mothers
was easily accounted for. Elizabeth had
termed his fondneSs for pretty things an
trait which she strove to
curb. But father had the same fond
ness therefore. Tommy would turn to the
one from whom he received understand
ing and who would enjoy with him the
pretty thing" But the other thing,
white used to be Elizabeths'' Did the |
man mean that Elizabeth had reached
the stage where she no longer appeared
attractive? Or had white. in which she |
had looked perfect dear, been entirely |
discarded? 1t took just one week to an
swer that question to her satisfaction.
Tom Raleigh had kept up with the !
times in making his fortune. And now |
that he owed not dollar on the farm |
and had a snug balance in the bank he |
to taste a few OF the many pleas |
ures to the hand of the well-todo farm |
err But Elizabeth never had time, sim |
ply because-and here Edith found the |
answer to her Observation-Disclosures be- |
longed to that class of women who have |
a plus degree of the saving instinct-an |
instinct sharpened by her deep love for |
Tom and Tommy Now that the farm
and the bank balance were theirs, she |
must save for Tommy's future. She
never reckoned with that bank. balance
steadily increasing, so much part of her