Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-14
THE LETTERS OF PATRIOTIC POLLY, A WAR WORKER

The shower finally ceased and the
sun shown out as suddenly as the rain
had begun. The woman gathered up
my wet clothes, hustled out to hang
them to dry, while / wandered to the
front door to look out over the bright
shining river and on to the banks of
green that rose out of it on the other
side. Just SO the daughter of the
house must have gazed often the days
past, gazed with thoughts that, no
matter how like her 1 might appear,
I could; never feel, for back in my
mind like rich tapestry hung the
changes that the years had brought
e from her day down to mine. But these
tried to- crowd out and l thought
only.iof how the river caught up the
back in the face of the sun and of the
roses in the garden and of the laby-
rinth hedge might walk past that
. evening II some cavalier sutton should
, come. riding up from his neighboring
estate.
In the midst Of these thoughts I
heard tinkle of silver and a deep
chuckle. turned around to find that
the most hallowed spot had been en-
tered. The caretaker and his wife
were arranging on the dining table. in
the family china, the remains Of their
own frugal midday meal. The old COL
ored man, who had bowed SO stately
in the morning on my arrival, was
coming in the door with a pitcher of
water drawn from the spring. When
he saw me he stopped SO suddenly
that was afraid he would drop the
precious vessel. "Lawdy." he NUT
tered. III 1t amt the Twin image of
Miss Nellyr'
Attended to by the three 1 ate in
solemn silence. Through it all, Dad
dy. was q silent. though thought
ful. actress. Modern speech had no
place in that resurrection Of the
past; nothing could have said but
would have savored Of the present,
and while the illusion was perfect
wanted to keep it SO. When lunch
was over played again some quaver-
ing chords Of music while the men
listened and tho old darkey brushed
his hands continually across his eyes
as though he were seeing something
in a dream.
knew that could not go long in
that dear costume. much pleasure as
1t was creating, and I was afraid
that at any minute the machine
would come. The presence of more
modernity knew would destroy the
impression entirely. So I soon hurried
upstairs to give the bedrooms a little
peep at their CORNER young mistress
while waited for my own dress to
be pressed and brought to me. In
my room I crawled upon Nelly Gus
It's bed and lay down in luxurious
softness. It seemed that had only
put my head to the pillow when I
heard step in the hall and a soft
southern voice say: "De carriage
am ready for your drive. Miss Nelly"
My drive! had forgotten the old
coach that. like the last leaf on the
tree. maintained its solitary grandeur
still in the old stables. I went down
the stairs as though going to ride
in 1t was the most natural thing in
my days program. / had succeeded
in forgetting that was only the
latest type Of twentieth century wom-
anhood--a war worker. With all the
gentle dignity of tho young heiress
of the mansion, moved through the
historic hall and was assisted into
the coach by the waiting coachman.
who bore q striking resemblance to
the celored man at the gate. He then