The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1919-05-16
HOPE-BUBBLES
ey PEARL o. NEVER.

threw open the Kitchen door. While
walking down the dusty road. long be-
fore she came 10 sight OF the house. she
had plciured how That room would
lock. she was not disappointed.
I'm Tie sink solled dishes lowered
until they hohnobbed with the faucet
nozzle. The stove. rusty brown from
neglect. tottered under its unfair bur
den OF pots and kettles, grease-he-
smeared. Growing feature in This
remarkable bit OF still life, seated with
In reaching distance Of the table. his
plate held perforce on his knees. was
her lord and master. Zebedee Hawley.
"Wen, Zeb. I'm home" Hannah an
nounced.
awe had mighty interesting time,
Zeb," she commenced. Il want to tell
you all about IT,"
Zebedee's lips were set in hard
thin line.
ut all started from your plan to
have the barn roof slated she con
tinued. 'You know I've gotten up ev-
cry night it raned for the last fye
years to put basins on the attlc iloor
under the leaky spots in the roof.
"Then all Of a sudden. for no reason
whntevcr, II occurred to me that /
hadn't had a holiday in all the thirty
Years we'd been married. decided to
take it then and there. ] know youli
see the sense Of that, too, when | eN-
plain I took $500 from the tin box.
That was counting so year for va
cation purposes. which ! know you
would say isn't much. This Is what !
did with It,"
do YOU remember the first time we
went to the city after we were mar
ried. we looked az pair Of high-heel-
ed sinners in store window? You
said you were going to buy me pair
like that some day TO dance in--you al
ways thought ] dnnced 50 pretty. |
was that tickIed couldn't rest till |
rot back and told Sylyie Brlce about
II. She lust wished her husband
would get her something like that.
But, Zeb-you forgot TO buy them"
Hannah went 10 the door and
brought ln the suitcase. Opening 1t,
she reached down and lifted out pair
OF white satin slippers with absurdly
high heels.
'I'vc got them" she announced. bal
ancing them tendeily on her lap as the
only clean spot in the room where she
dared risk their inmaculateness. A
wistful expression Swallowed her face
MS she stroked the seek pointed toes.
I'm too old to dance / know; but
I've got them"
"There have been so many things
you were going to get me, Zeb and ev-
cry time ! rushed off to tell Sylvie
what you had promised. She always
wished her husband would do the
same. Then I'd wait, and dream, and
hope. But-some way you always for
got"
For the first time Zehedee gave no.
ticeahle signs Of life. He stirred UNI
easily in his chair and shot her side
long glance.
$50 last week | went away to have
some of those good times you used 10
talk about and 10 buy the things !
have hoped to possess ever since you
said should have Them"
Zebedee gave her another swift
glnnce. Her eyes were cast down.
Her shoulders dropped.
"Zeb-l" Her voice shook suddenly,
"This Is all it amounted i'>--just a
foolish pair of white sSiin slippers.
I found-I founG tilA' all the beautiful.
vaPi-colored opportunities that had
danced SO tant;tl2ngly before my
eyes and had kept my spirit soaring
through the years of hard work-they
had burst. Zeh, | am too old. l have
oUtgrown my hopes"
Hebedee twisted half round in his
chair in order not to face the sps-
Pfefeus glstenmg % her eyes.
~ stayed week in the hotel to
Stink It over
II cried some, Zeb, the dlsappoint-
naRNt was so bitter. prayed great
deaf, and | thought and thought all
dSG Finally came to the conclusion
INN IL was more my fault than yours
sikyN the most Of my hopes We're never
rcafixedp She made quick little
ESP at her wet eyes, patience car
vNA 10 an extreme can be a fault"
she concluded.
zAhedee Hawley Sprang from his
chair so suddenly that it fell over
Backward, cattcring Thwsting his
bands deep in his pockets, he strobe
60 the open door where he stood gaz-
ing at the marvel Of efficiency looming
before him In the guise of modern
dairy barn.
Here's the money that's left Zeh"
Hannah said In toneless voice. II
didn't spend much, after ALL"
Her husband faced about and glared
at her. Il don't want it." he growl
ed. "Keep it and take what more you
want" she could see he was strug-
Cling with an emotion alien to his ma
ture.
'rm glad the house roof is slated"
he continued hurrledly. "0f course
I'm glad. And as for those hope-bub-
bles you're talking about'-he was
swinging from one foot TO the other,
embarrassment printed in every line
OF his flushed face-"even If those