Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-23
THE EVENING STORY.
HELENS MOTHER.
Copyright, 1914, by W. wener.)

She had lived a serenely happy life
in Helen's modest home ever since
the arrival of Helen's first baby. She
had enjoyed to the full a pleasant re-
|sponsibility given her and never
thought for a moment that her lot
might have been cast in better en-
vironment until Helen's brother Ran
dolph, with his young wife, came to
visit.
Randolph had made good" in the
city and taken unto himself a wife with
means. This visit was her introduction
to his relatives, who had looked for
ward to it with some treeidation. fear
ing that such a rich young woman OF
such social prominence would be an
embarrassing element in their unas-
Stunning household.
However, she wasn't. She proved
particularly adaptable, seemingly fall
ing in love with Helen's little home
and Helen's mode of living. And she
was dear and sweet to Helen's mother.
with her by the hour. embroidering the
very latest thing in fancy work, while
Helen's mother knitted winter stock
ings for Helen's children. On the back
stoop she shared her task of Shelling
peas or stringing beans, and she helped
her take care of the children.
Because" said she, frequently, you
have too many duties, little mother
kins. When you come to Randolph and
me you won't have a thing to do but
enjoy yourself We're SO anxious to
have you. Really, you need the rest;
the children are wearing you out. You
must have the comforts, the luxuries,
we can give you which Helen cannot.
She smiled SO sweetly, SO solicitous-
ly, Helen's mother forgot to tell her
cha,1 ia'' he
beloved duties and her babies" and
began to wonder if it wouldn't be
rather nice to be petted and made
much Of by such charming young
woman in her beautiful home. she had
seen pictures of it, and she had lis
tened with wide-open eyes to a de-
scription Of the apartment set aside as
mothers" Such lovely, large bed
room, with bay windows overlooking
a fashionable boulevard. Now, in
room in the house. Moreover. little
Helen's cot stood in one corner. OF
course it was a pleasant room, but it
was slant ceiled-cramped, she felt
Randolph's wife thought it-and its
outlook was only the old apple orchard
With thrill she thought of the boule-
ward, and began to dream. and from
that on listened avidly to tales OF the
wonderful life she would lead should
she consent to go to the city.
November found her sitting by the
side of Randolph's wife in splendid
limousine, speeding from the depot to
the home on the boulevard. There was
an air of extreme grandeur about Ran
dolph's wife that she hadn't noticed IN
the summer. She supposed it was the
magnificent furs, feathers and what
not, and she began to wish she had lis
tened to Helen and worn her new black
silk. Maybe she might put 1t on that
afternoon, though it was particularly
for Sundays.
She caught her breath when they
pulled into the curb in front of Ran
dolph's home. My, it was big. And
the hall they entered in a moment
we'll. she guessed it would take in
every room in Helen's house. Ran
dolph's wife did not give her time to
thoroughly look at it, but hurried her
upstairs, and presently she found her
self in a big room, flooded with light
and warmth. She was pushed into the
depths of a luxurious chair. and deft
hands quickly removed her bonnet and
wrap.
"You must have a rest, little mother
kins," the soft voice of Randolph's wife
announced, but first" - she fitted
across the room and pushed button
in the wall-"a cup of tea and-yes,
JEAN" a white-capped maid had en-
tered, bring a pot of tea and some
sandwiches" Again she fitted across
the room, shook up silken pillows on
a couch, shook out the folds of a