Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-08

waved, and the stin lines of her face
massaged.
All this and more she would do II she
owned that suit case crammed with yell
low SO bills!
But it didn't look as though she would
ever own such a case with such contents
Mostly, she paid the doctors bills. And
when Susan was sick, she was prosaical-
~ SO She was never languidly and be-
comnely i'll nor tragically lowering at
Deaths door. She did not have nervous
prostration nor appendicitis. She was
just plain sick.
Usually she got cold. had an ordinary
chill, followed by the regulation fever.
She did not lie around. dur ng her Illness,
in fluffy kimonos. No. indeed, She part
ed her hair ruthlessiy in the middle.
combed it straight down on each SIDE.
and she wore one of those red. fleece
lined. belted wrappers. She detested
them. And that was why she actually
thought she ought to buy them.
Her sickness had occurred frequently
since her marriage. "Overwork. the
doctor said. But Susan knew 1t was
chiefly incongruity between her indtvtdu-
atty and een-dollar-a-w income.
This particular sickness had bean as pro-
sale as usual. Susan recognized the fact
when, for the first time In two weeks. she
took the estimate of her PALE thin face
in the mirror.
Susan said her husband, after sup
per that night. Il have been waiting TOR
you to get strong enough. want to
talk with YOU
More economics thought Susan
What's all this about just plain girl p
he began, abruptly.
Susan gasped. She. had never. as far
as she knew. mentioned to her husband
the incident that occurred two hours after
her birth. and that. repeated as family
tradition during her girlhood, had set its
stunning stamp, as she supposed. On her
development.
"How-how did you know" she man
aged to ask.
You were delirious." he said, gently.
as he came over to where she was ly-
ing on the couch in her scarlet. fleece
lined be ted wrapper, her hair parted IN
the middle and combed straight down
each side. with the two heavy braids
massively conspicuous against the scarlet
of the gown. You were delirious" he
repeated. land you gave 1t all away
lines about the eyes. dearest l have
been troubled about the sorrow lines. for
l feared that in some way / might have
caused them. I was afraid that l had
not made you happy after all, when I
would give my life just to make you
happy"
Susan could not speak. She could only
lie still and listen.
''Dearie." he was saying, and the love
In his voice answered the deep woman
yearn in the heart of Susan. "Dearie,
you could not be Just plain girl If you
tried ever SO hard. You are just you.
And as you, you are the joy Of every one
that knows you. You are the joy of the
whole street we live on. There hasn't
been a day since you have been sick
that some one hasn't stopped me to ask
how you were and to tell me how they
missed your CHEEKY face, the inspiration
of your smile. The persons that stop
me are mostly children and old people.
''Oh. my dear little wife, you cannot
estimate your own value; you cannot
judge how bravery you always meet life's
problems; you cannot weigh your influ-
ence on others, least Of all your hus-
band, who is blessed above men that you
are his
But look at me- protested Susan,
barking back by force of habit to the
outward manifestation that called forth
the doctors label. II certainly look ordi-
nary enough. See this detestable wrap
per-
THAT is easily overcome" laughed her
husband. as his eyes twinkled. even
though didn't have a suit case crammed
with ten-dollar bills
Before Susan could repudiate this |
further confession of her delirium the |
average man drew from under the couch !
four boxes filled to overfowing with |
fluffy finery. On the top of one of the |
boxes was rose-colored tea gown.
For minute Susan did not move. |
Then she jumped to her feet She put |
on the rose-colored tea gown over the |
detestable wrapper, piled her redeem |
Ing feature"-which was still redeeming-l
high on her head and threw around her |
shoulders a white feather boa. And, |
glory of glories! in the bottom Of the box |
was pair of French slippers with gold |
heels. OFF went her cloth juliets in |
jiffy. while the just plain man struggled |
to smile away the tears in his eyes. |
Tremblingly Susan cuddled up In the cor
1er of the couch. her hnery heaped about !
her.
Perhaps that doctor wasn't infallible |
after ALL" she laughed to her new-found |
self.
(THE ENID