Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-28
THE EVENING STORY.
FAILURES.
Copyright, 1914. by ". werner.)

Copyright. 1914 by W. Nefnef.)
The light was failing and Linda had
to bend low over her painting. She
had promised to have the picture finished
by tomorrow noon at the latest. 1t was
a water color scene, and with her eyes
upon it she almost forgot the w1ntry
bleakness outside and the turmoil of her
own anxious heart.
Times were harder than they had ever
been. Her husband was poorly and his
practice was falling off In the only
way possible to her, Linda was trying to
help out their meager income. But in
Westmore quantity was esteemed above
any amount of quality. and her pictures
found but an Indifferent market
Linda herself looked a picture as she
sat there busily working-a splendid
woman whose craving hair deepened her
coloring and the warm brown of her
eyes.
Outside the postman's whistle sounded.
A moment later the door opened and
her husband entered from his ONCE. He
was a big man, with, as Linda often told
smile of a baby. He smiled now as he
dropped a letter in her lap.
@.Too dark for you to be working now
DEAR" he said.
"A letter for me-! Linda exclaimed
Who can 1t be from?'
Il guess I'll wait and see.''
Linda opened her letter and began to
read aloud:
MY Dear Friend: I arrived at the
Ritz-Carlton in New York this morning
so much like to see you. If 1t is con-
venient to you I could come out for
brief visit, say the week end, before go
ing on to my home in the west
Linda's voice began to tremble. Turn
ing the page she read the names at the
bottom aloud.
Alice Evans! She was my bridesmaid.
Afterward she married Tom Evans and
went out to Kansas, where he made a
fortune in real estate I've never heard
from her since she went away thought
she had forgotten"
well, it seems she hasn't" The doc
tors voice was jovial. Let her come
out for the week end, or longer. If that
had any company. Tell her to come.
Send her telegram"
II must have time to think Linda
murmured Her glance passed swiftly
about the shabby room. The dusk hid
much, but she knew whre each make
SHIFT was. Alice Evans was used to the
luxuries of. life and Linda shuddered at
the thought of her friends eyes looking
upon poverty for which there was no
cure
bell rang and the doctor went to answer
the summons. Linda was alone She
pushed her work away and covered her
face with her hands.
Her thoughts went back to the time
when she had married Robert. She had
been SO sure then that the future would
keep all the promises it was making.
She and Alice had started even, but
Alice was long way ahead of her now.
Alice had even been abroad.
II can't have her." Linda thought. "If
she so much as gave a sign of what she
thought
Her bosom heaved. To Linda her hus
bands lack Of success was only an in
ability to gather where he had sown.
She held her head up, and for his sake
smiled bravey in the face of their care
less little world. but to smile in the face
of her friend who saw and showed that
she saw-ah. that was a thing she did
not feel strong enough to do.
I'D show her the door" she breathed
fiercely.
A, big. rough head was thrust under
her arm. The old dog had crept up SO
softly that she had not heard him. The