The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-08-09
TheEuening Story
Ecclesiastes 1910
Copyright. 1916. 3y w. Werner

Mrs. Holcomb sat very stiff look.
ing stonily out the car window. II
was not necessary for Mary 10 queS.
ton her The mere fact that she
had not insisted on suitcase and
bags being placed just where a.r
glance might be on them constantly
was ample proof that she was angry
Mary looked AZ her frequently but
furtively her glance. strange to
say. merely curious She had
braced herself for tears, hysterla.
perhaps a collapse, a. they babe
farewell TO Medbury friends. because
from the first Mrs Holcomb had
been decidedly antagonistic 70 the
move 70 the city
Publicly she had announced that
city life would kill her She had de-
clared that il was heartbreaking TO
think OF dwelling in crowded
apartment building and not being
able TO be on social terms with the
tenants, because OF the fact, 40 she
had been told. that II was bette"
far not to know ones next door
neighbor in the city. And OF coursa
there would be no ladies aid TO pre-
side over, no sewing circle 10 meet
once a week, no sick body 20 run
In and fuss over-in fact. not ont
thing for Mrs. Hiolcomb 10 do eA
cept keep straight "A tiny. three-roou,
eat.
All these objections Mary hal
listened TO without argument The
move to the city was necessary
and as she had had the good for
tune to be enrolled on the faculty
Of the musical college where SIZE
had studied she felt she could %
tolerant with her mother. Never.
theless. the day of their departure
had menaced her continually.
When II finally arrived she viewed
the many friends assembled to wish
them godspeed with foreboding. She
prolonged the operation of checking
baggage while her mother sat with
friends in the waiting room. dread.
ing the scene she felt was being en-.
acted there. To her surprise, she
found she had been very much out
In her reckoning when Mrs. Hol-
comb suddenly appeared at her side
with the characteristic set" TO her
shoulders which 10 the initiated said
she was too angry TO indulge IN
tears. Mary was too thankful TO
inquire into the why and wherefore
then. and remained discreetly silent
until they were settled in the train.
Then, thinking to arouse a more
pleasant, train OF thought, she held
up a fragrant bunch OF violets her
friend, Alice King had brought her
Aren't they sweet, MOTHER" she
asked. Alice gave them to me-"
Mary Holcomb," Mrs Holcomb
snapped, don't you ever mention
that girl TO me! She Is a disre,
spectful little beggar, Back there
In the waiting room, do you know
what she said TO me? Well. was
telling the folks that an active body
like me would be better OF heading
for the Fiji islands, where | could
take a hand AT converting the
heather. than going TO city where
I'll have so little to do. I'll rust
when up spoke Alice King. Mrs
Holcomb.' says she. there's never 3
place where there isn't heaps for
people to do II they just look about
bit. You. who are so we'll versec
in the Scriptures, should keep in
mind Ecclesiastes 1910 was sc
indignant could just stare at her
And II was the same way with al
our friends But the barefaced liz
tie thing didn't mind bit and said
In case you're not familiar with the
verse it's, Whatsoever they hand
indeth 10 do. do II with thy might.
Did ever you hear such BRASS Dom
mention her name to me again"
Needless TO say, Mary did not
neither then nor in ensuing days
when they spoke OF Medbury
friends. She Vas wary of bringing
up old grievances when her mother
found new onees aplenty.
From the first Mrs Holcomb res
olutely refused TO hold convers,
with her neighbors. yet with the In
consistency OF her kind constantly
bewailed the fact that she had nc
one to visit Mary's loneliness sht
also lamented, though Mary assured
her lack of companions was the least
OF her troubles. stu, thinking II
would ease matters somewhat, Mary
was glad TO be able to say one day.
Mother, I've met some one-s
young man who rooms In the Ga,