The Press., 1918-01-17

|. nYes. bi1f once in life time. Now, if you should want something, I'll get if. because if you get out of your chair you'll forget which one you sat in, and if you get into one of the others-all will be lost ]" t/
 The stage was all set for the play, when Ted. with his mother and sister, drove up to the door. The room had gone through a transformation. The carpet and dainty white curtains, the freshly painted chairs, the tables ar ranged with books and flowers, calm and happy mother and, best of all, radiant Jane, presented beautlful picture to even the most critical eye.
 Jane noticed a puzzled look on the face of Mrs. Somerville when she looked at her mother. As she was warmly greeting Ted's sister Bessie at the time, Mrs. Wilson was ObliviOus to this.
 For a. moment Jane was dismayed. esI wonder if it Is the earrings?" she asked herself, but she did not have time to worry about it, as she had to go out and make the tea. Everything was going on splendidly, and she was elated with her success.
 "Just the thing to do," thought she. When Jane came in for the last time she heard Mrs. Somerville ask her mother, "From what part of Pennsyl- vania did you come from, Mrs. Will I son?" ,> =, ,e~,s- .es'
 "From Ellicuttown," Mrs. Wilson smiled reminiscently.
 '''ElllcuttownY gasped Mrs. Somer- vile. '"What was your name before you were married?"
 "Grace Tompkins," answered Mrs. Wilson with surprised look.
 "Grace Tompkins, I was sure had seen you before. am TheO Alexan- der"
 "Theow exclaimed the astonished Mrs. Wilson. "Is it possible?,. had lost track of you entirely. Why. we haven't seen each other since the high school graduation"
 "Yes, we all went to Europe after that. Father died there and we just stayed on until met Dick SOmerville in Paris. He was there for years study. Then we were married ani | come to live In SaylOrville, and have been here ever since. You are the first person from home I have met since we came.""
 ''I am so glad to see you, TFeO. Isn't it wonderful that our children met each Other?"
 "I didn't know any Wilson's in Elli- cuttown," said Mrs. Somerville, 'so the name did not impress me-"
 "My husbands people moved there several years after you left, Theo. NG- thaniel found work in the bank toO confining and we came here four years ago to make our fortune." l Jane stood, with teapot in hand, in bewildered surprise. ....s
 '"Then need not have tried to de ceive you; you'd have loved mother anywayw
 Ted sprang to her side and put a protecting arm around her.
 "What Is it, dear?" he tcnderly inc quired. '~-
 q know you'll all despise me. l ] made mother pretend we had more l rooms--and the stove Is out of doors --and we would be taken for Hill Bill | iys-and-I did 1t all ]"
 Ted took the teapot from the excit- ed and weeping girl and seated her in a chair. Turning. to Mrs. Wilson, he l asked: '5@.
 ""What is Jane talking abont?"
 Mrs. Wilson, between smiles and tears, told of Jane's struggles of the morning&and of her fears lest, being found in the old shack with scant furniture, her parents would be looked down upon by the great Mrs. SomeF' vile.
 At this everybody laughed and Ted lOudest of all.
 "Why, that's plucky, Jane. By George, but you're plucky. Let's have look at the kitchen that isn't a kitchen" ,< l.. :.
 By this time Jane was laughing with the rest. ....
 "As if," said Mrs. Somerville, with e warm smile, looking at Mrs. Wilson, "anything could make Grace Tompkins better than just Grace Tompkins."
 Then putting her arms around Jane and pressing kiss on the girls tear stained cheek, she said:
 'sYou ought to have seen the ugly house we lived in our first year. am proud of you for Ted's sake. He will have a helpmeet in one who will not be baked by obstacles. Come, do give ! wnA W0vna unnro foO PS