Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-16
THE DAILY STORY.
"THE HOPE CHEST"
Copyright, 1916. by W. werner.)


Eliza Blair stood staring at the piece
of linen in her hands. Even the dim
light of the moist May day could not
conceal the fact that it was yellowed
to the point where bleaching is a cry
ing need.
| I'll not lay them out on the grass
again" Eliza thought. Last time the
neighbors all peeked over the fence
and / heard what they said. Old Mrs
,Pyle yelled right out to Martha Harvey
Just look. Eliza Blair's got her we'd
ding linen out whitening again. And
Martha yelled back. We'll. she might
just as we'll leave 1t to yaller. Shell
never need it, blcachcd or unbleached
| / know that just well as they do, but
it does seem a pity"
A sob caught in her throat. and al
though she lifted the linen pillow snip
close to her eyes she could not for a
moment see the delicate tracery OF vine
which embellished the monogram II
B." so soon she had thought to change
to "E. p How faithfully she had
toiled to stitch and embroider it. Al
most every piece in the chest repre-
scented some personal sacrihce. some
self denial. From the time she was
sixteen she had boarded and labored
five now, and knew all her endeaVor
to be in vain.
For seven happy years she had hoped
to be Abram Poolc's wife. IRON her
sixteenth birthday she had never
thought of another man That day, to-
ward evening. Abram had come across
lots for the first time to sit with her on
the porch in the presence of her father
and mother He was four years older
than she, and since his fathers death
L 4 ttf fAV
years later Eliza became engaged. I've
Just one objection" Mrs. Blair said. land
that is, Eliza, don't believe you're ever
going to get along with Abrams mother
don't want to set you up. but I've known
Ellen Poole always. And she's awful
hard to get along with" Eliza had heard
a great many people besides her. mother
say that. She did not like Mrs. Poole
who was unlike Abram as might well be-
"Abram takes after his pa" Mrs. Blair
said. He was an awful nice man. But
Ellen never gave him no peace while he
lived. They was always pulling and haul
ing 1 guess Abram gets along well
enough with her. though" Abram did
Poor little mother he would say.
shes never been rugged. She can't help
her feelings
Eliza always WINGED when Abram said
that. She felt his mother was going to
stand between them. She loved Abram
passionately, and she would have had
him love her to the exclusion of all else.
She was jealous of his mother. and she
became more jealous. AS time went on
she began to hate Ellen Poole. II can't
put up with her. she told her mother.
And that's sure to make trouble
You'll have to show sense for BOTH"
Mrs. Blair advised.
We'll. Il guess not" cried Eliza. hotly.
I'm only girl and she's woman who's
raised a family. though all she has left is
Abram. She's the one to show sense"
Fear followed jealousy in Elizas breast.
She feared the outcome of her marriage
to Abram. Let's wait a while longer
she pleaded I'm only twenty yet"
Abram said. Eliza flushed. We'll, l
don't take your mother for my example.
Mine wasn't married till she was twenty
three
in putting off their marriage. Abram
You won't live with mother he said.
We'll. it is retorted Eliza.
He turned white. Eliza. loved
mother before I ever loved you" he said
Il understand" Eliza answered Hold
out your hand
He held it out and she dropped her en-
gasement ring into it. Then she went
away and left him.
as one widowed In the interval Mrs.
Poole had died and Abram had gone
away. Nobody knew whether he would
ever come back. The house stood closed
and empty. Eliza could not bear to
pass it.
There was actual pain to her in the
touch of the linen in her hands With
another sob she stopped to lay it back in
the chest. At that instant the door
opened and girl looked in.
Your mother said l could come up"
the girl apologized. II wanted to see
you. Eliza. about" She paused, star
Ing at the open chest. Then she darted
forward Eliza, do you mind II Just
look at that pilowcase " she pleaded.
Before she had finished speaking she had
the piece of linen in her hands IT'S
beautiful, the way you worked. that little
wreath Do you suppose 1 could do it?
Will you show me how%'
Eliza had turned to hide her face. Eyes.
III show you. Did you bring your ma
terial with your"
Yes: here" The girl thrust a roll of
cloth toward Eliza and went on admir-
ing the monogram upon the pillowcase,
Eliza took the cloth and unfolded it.
1t was linen, but Of cheap. coarse va
riety. She looked at the girl thought
"a W