Evening star., 1915-04-04

had worn all the morning, while max
ing ready to leave. through the hasty
noon meal and through the afternoon
of unpacking and getting household
goods in some semblance of order for
the night. Toward night, indeed, some
thing very fierce and hateful crept into
and mingled itself with the sullenness.
How she hated. loathed. detested that
ugly little house Shed never be happy
there; she'd never be good tempered
there; she'd never try to make it home!
Toward supper time she saw the
owner of the little ugly house ap-
preaching. She received her ungra-
ciously. But Mrs Bowen did not seem
to notice. She sat down upon chair
and stated her business Over by the
rosebush-Agnes smiled unkindly. 1t
was such scrawny. homely rose,
bush-were some daffodils. Would
Agnes in the fall save her some Of the
bulbs? She was going to the city to
live with married son. and, though
that son lived in an apartment, she
maybe could have window box OF
flowers. They were the double va
OF course, it wouldn't be the same as
having them grow in the ground. but
it would be better than none at all
Mrs. Bowen spoke rather GROSSLY.
Agnes promised. The ungracious-
WEAKNESS. Moving ones household
goods is known to be wearying work
Mrs. Bowen did not notice anything
to take offense at She thanked Ag-
mes; then still sat there, her eyes look
ing intently at the yard, now being
obscured by the gathering night
Agnes went about her work. Still
Mrs Bowen sat there. Fretfully Agnes
wished that she would leave. The
children were whimpering The day
had been long and hard for them
harder because Of their irritability
They clamored for supper. Jeff was
out at the barn feeding the horses
Agnes gave Mrs. Bowen perfume
tory invitation to stay for the meal
She declined in an absent voice.
Finally she rose. Il guess you're
wondering why l amt going" she said
in some embarrassment. instead OF
you're working
Not at all" said Agnes, embar-
rassed in turn at the clear reading OF
her inhospitable thoughts.
II lived here a long time" she said
"more'n thirty years. 1t amt much OF
place. but ! was real happy. Now
I got to go and live with my son in
the city. And he married city girl
Il don't know she continued, trem-
ulously, Just how I'll get along with
her. Maybe she doesn't want me. She
don't seem to care terribly about my
coming But l guess there's no place
Agnes was silent but she listened
queerly.
you can be glad" said Mrs. Bowen
DULY, that you're still young and can
call your home your own-no one to
make YOU welcome or unwelcome." She
broke off, looked around. Outside it
was quite dark. Agnes heard Jeff
entering the kitchen door
.It used to have quite few flowers
in the yard" said Mrs. Bowen, till
nv rheumatism got so bad I couldn t
work so much with them. The silence
which followed seemed to vibrate with
usefulness and unhappiness
Jeff was washing his face and hands
at the cistern. Agnes drew long
breath.
Then Mrs. Bowen left, though Agnes,
in voice not perfunctory. urged her
to stay. But she was leaving on the
early morning train and, the friend in
town with whom she was spending
these last few days would be waiting
supper for her.
JEFF picked up the baby. Can I
help you with the supper, Agnes?" he
asked His voice was weary and ap-
prehensive and placating and discour-
aged
shame swept over Agnes in a great
flood What did anything matter since
it WAS her home and there was no
one to say that she would not be well
come?
.'You can set the table she replied.
softly And quite unconscously Agnes
hummed Home, Sweet Home
Over Jeff's face radiance spread like
a slow but dazzling sheet OF sunshine.
(THE ENDD