The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-07-30
II EVENING STORY
THE DESPOT
tcopyf;sht, 1918, by ". wernorl.

COME to moan th" whole world To- her
How much she meant to him she
could not yet gauge. hut she felt -ir
meant something aud under thc right
circumstance she would mean more
He had asked her to Eo to the Easter
Sail with him, bat how could she
gu without u suitable gown To think
that she must lose 80 much Tor the
sake of q few yards VI silk which she
herself could fashion into a party
dress?
~ had anything 10 sell, II I
could borrow with the hope of ever
being able To repay she thought bit.
terly, Tears came in an uncontrol-
liable torrent and she seemed for a
few moments TO be sobbing her heart
away.
That afternoon she began a dreary
tummage among the few things her
mother had left behind. She had a
wild hope OF being able to find some
thing she could use. Hitherto this old
chest in the attic had been almost as
sacred to her as her mothers crave.
She was On her knees reaching far
down into the rosc-scented depths
when a voice spoke behind her in
tones of quiet amusement
THAT looks like the chest they used
10 SIM about in the 'Mistletoe
nough' when I was "a girl Are you
the fairy bride o."
Esther saw with nstonishmen, a NJ.
tie old badly with blue eyes and pink
%puckerod checks who was dressed In
elegant. almost Youthful purple.
uAI N...s Nt.v,Iu stt- tarsfff vha
gasped.
Mrs. Dyer SAM down with u faint
rustic upon the edge OF a crippled
cane seated chair. Those stairs took
my BREATH she said. Your father
said you were M here He wanted To-
call YOU down. bnt I wouldn't let
him. ] thought d see what YOU were
mp to-
Pm in mischief Esther said
smiling hack az the irresistible humor
iu tn" little withered face.
~ shouldn't wonder Elinor's things
are i'm that chest, aren't they Pretty
large receptacle for such scanty pos
sessions As hers always were, Truth
fully. Esther. / don't hin the Lord
ever made a meaner man than my
brother, wis H. your father. | always
felt that after He got through fashion
ing Humphrey he broke the pattern
lest he be tempted To make another
like him one 81 that kind WA
enough. and more than was neces-
sary. I should say. haven't been III
his house since your neither died
and | haven't seen him IN land knows
when, hut see he's the same old
artile he always was. why don't YOU
get married and leave him?
Esther's head dropped. She blushed
silently.
An, there IL somebody them cried
Mrs. Dyer. I'm glad to near ~. II
hos amy kind 81 a man at all don't
you let him get away from YOU. Any
body would be better than youI
father"
kenneth is the best man in the
world" Esther said earnestly,
IL believe he a.. The other Kind
wouldn't be your fancy. what are
lou trying to do. child? Find some
old dnd OF Door Elinor's that o can
pretty yourself up in? Why, there
isn't enough in one OF her whole
dresses to make YOU "A petticoat
Come downstairs and make me u cup
OF tea and Wen take counsel together,
article he always was. Why don't you
You've laid heavy on my heart for a
good while"
Esther rose up and, going 10 her,
kissed her. I'm glad you've come,
Aunt Martha" she said. mother
liked o And I shall. too, no matter
how father behaves about It,"
old Mrs. Dyer ohuckled. st like