Evening star., 1919-04-13
BY EDNA FERBER

icate way that Floss was pretty now.
They were to have been married.
Roses mother fell III. Floss and Al were
was put off. The illness lasted SIX
interminable. The breach Into % waicS
Rose had stepped closed about here and
became prison.. The man had wait,
beiled. He had Ned. probably TO marry
a less incumbered lady. Rose had
gone DULY on, caring for the houses
hold. the children, the sick woman.
In. II the soys ysass ssa that nsa BY ,: ns.
lessness. She only recalled the wonder
Of having been first in some ones
thoughts-she who now was so hope
iessiy, 80 irrevocably last. These let
ters were her ballast. her refuge. the
her existence. This man had wanted
her to be his wife. She had found
favor in his eyes. She was certain
that he still thought Of her, some-
us thought I Of him. Il helped Ser to O. ,ivs Sne
Not only that. it made living possible.
A clock struck. a window slammed,
or street noise srnote her ear sharp
ly. Some sound started her out OF her
reverie. Rose, jumped. stared mo.
ment at the letters in her lap, then
hastily. almost shamefacedly, sorted
them (she knew each envelope by heart)
tied them, placed them In their box and
bore them down the hall. There, mount
ing her chair, she scrubbed the top shelf
with her soapy rag. placed the box in its
corner, left the hall closet smelling OF
cleanliness. with never hint of lavender
to betray it's secret treasure. -
there to spend her days thumbing a
golden harp, her hands. by force Of
habit, would drop harp strings at
5:45, to begin laying celestial and
unspotted tablecloth for supper. Hab-
its as deeply rooted as that must hold,
even in after life
Tonights 6:30 stampede was no.
ticeably subdued on the part of Pa
and AL. 1t had been day of sudden
done its worst to them. Pas pink gills
showed hint of purple. AIS flimsy
silk shirt stuck to his back, and his
glittering pompadour was many de-
grees less submissive than was its
wont. But Floss came in late, breath
less, and radiant, a large and signifi-
cant paper bag In her hand. Rose. In
the kitchen. was transferring the
smoking supper from pot to platter.
"a: IN the doorway Of the sick wom-
fourteen year-old question with his
usual assumption of heartiness and
cheer: We'll. we'll! And how's the old
girl tonight? Feel like you could get
W ana punlsh littie supper, eh?'
some one whom he addressed pro-
pr1etarily as Kid, was deep in his
plans for the evenings diversion
Upon this accustomed scene Floss
burst with havoc.
gette crepe? Listen! Guess what" Nu
.nis as she was rushing down the.hall
paper hatbox still in hand. Guess
"no was In the store today" Isl
rose, at he oven. turned flushed
Who? What's that? A hat?"
FLOSS whipped 1t out OF it's bag, de-
nantiy There! But wait a minute!
Let me tell you-' a.
How much?"
wage was nine dollars a week. Then,
SeVen-hfty. trimmed" The hat was
one Or those tiny. head-hugginE alb
surdities that only the Fiosses can
Rose, in-lipped with disapproyal,
turned to her stove again =,
roinv we',. - 9pt ,ha ! ,, had to have it. I'm
guess who with! Henry Seiz!" 80.
-, i,snry thn Seiz was the unromantic name
niteen, year-old letters Rose had
giowed and dreamed an hour before.
~ was name that had become myth
tEa nna pn.. IN that household--to all bue
~sNSS .sSdAu ~ spoken now with
sense Of unreality. She smiled a
little uncertainty, and went on stir
ring the flour thickeninY for the
gravy.
whats the jolie?" she said.
Joke nothing! Honest to God! I
was standing back of the counter at
ABOUT 10. The rush hadn't really be-
gun yet. Glove trade usually starts
late; ! was standing there kidding
aiero' the stock boy. when down the
aisle comes a man in big hat. like
you see In the western pictures hair
niue gray at the temples, and every.
!hing, just like a movie actor. said
10 Herb. 'Is 1t real? hadn't got the
words out OF my mouth when the fell
low sees me, stands stock still in the
middle or the aisle with his mouth
Wide open and his eyes sticking out.
Register SURPRISE said to Herb, and
looked around for the camera. And
that minute he took two jumps over
20 where l was standing, grabbed my
nands and says. Rose! Roseg kind Of
Ghocky. Not by about twenty years.
ao = sald. ,..a: J., I'm Floss. Roses sister. Let
Rosa transflgured Rose, glowing
trembling, radiant--repeated, vibrant,
", you said, I'm Floss, Roses sister.
Let go my hands!' And--?'
He looked kind OF stunned, for just
minute. His face a scream. honest-
~ Then he said, But of course. Fiji
teen years. But / had always thought
OF ner as lust the san1e' And bo LIND