Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-05

had come from some distant ancestor.
There had been singers i'll the Moon
. famil!, and now there was to be an
other songster which must excel them
all For Millicent had sweet, fresh
voice that must some day command the
attention Of large audiences. Mrs.
Moon had been the first TO discover the
treasure. and with every means in her
power she had cherished il. She had
pinched ard saved that Millicent might
have good instruction. She had borne
the girl along on the wings of her own
high ambition. MilIicent might flag,
but she never tagged. ooh. mother. If
only I had your vim of spirit" MILL
cent often laughed Il like TO take
things easy. If only one could sing
without all this nrsv Gus effort
Nights when Millicent slept the dream
less, quiet Sleep OF girlhood. Mrs. Noon
had sat in her chair planning, toiling
with mind and soul. Daytimes when
Milicent would have played rather than
kept her going. With unfaiing opti-
n1ism she hung bright pictures before
Miihcents minds eye. The future-the
future, was her whole theme You
happiness Mii!tccnt once queried
dreamiiy. They must. Mrs. Moon re-
piled She spoke soienniy Success and
money were things as vision to her
untried things. She knew that love and
marriage were for her but husk. She
looked about her and perceived what had
the appearance Of being happy donles-
ITCHY, bur she believed ii to be only a
mirage. Her own experience had terribly
disillusoned her She still loved her
husband, excused him. shielded hiEu from
her own better judgment, but she knew
that ne no longer loved her. that only
the marriage tie kept him hers. Such a
union meant the downfall Of all wo-
mans hopes, aims, longing. She had
seen her bright dreams go in tatters.
But there was ever Mllicent She
zrr.-I piy ont Of he h.Sy %
life And the best of life lay not in
marriage. II must, therefore. lie in sue
cess. Millicent must win success
Now, ii seemed. Milicent was bout to
reap the reward of her mothers long
sowing. In the school where she had
begun to study she had risen to the po-
sition of teacher, still improving her
voice and method. Great things were
said OF her. She had written to her
mother: Il am sure to be offered :.
contract soon. oh. mother, when real
! " get upon the concert stage you must
come 10 hear me sing. | will sing TO you.
for YOU have done II all What is :. mere
voice without the pluck. the persever-
s,nc", the ambition TO use 1t? You shall
have 4 new gown 10 wear and my APP
piause Shall be your applause We will
both be very happy. But. oh. mother,
darling. | wonder if that way lies hap
piucss, after all? When ] have earned
all the money and sung my voice away
shall l not wish that 1 had taken the
other road"
The other road -AlillIcent meant mar
riage, Mrs. Moon had written back.
The other road! The one l took, Dear,
you must let my experience do for you
there. / want the best for you, and
there is nothing better than success and
money. Oh, Millicent, to have your
place in the world. to be able to buy
ease. food for soul and body, all the
bright, innocent. tempting privileges Of
life with the money that comes from
honest toil!'
She was waiting now an answer to
this letter. With all the might in her
she had appealed to the girls reason.
Sin" had brought out the pitiful. faded
roses and tattered shreds Of her own ro-
nance and laid them before her childs
eyes. She had held her heart in her
hand that Miliicent might and be
wise.
The postman ran up the steps and
dropped a letter in the box Mrs. Moon