Evening star., 1922-06-18


do solve them.
One never knows when the small
est happening may turn out to be
A big thing in its effect on the mind
of two people who love each other.
in all the years that may come never
to be forgotten.
Sally, the blue eyed, soft-cheeked
wife of Carlton May. whose photo
graph with its firm lips and steady
ewes reinforced her spirit from the
little table beside her-the mother
of the two curly heads and the baoy
upstairs with Maggie-was busy with
her own problem, as she sat in the
small firelit room looking out or the
window, in the fast-darkenlng WIN
ter afternoon, at the flooded vacant
suburban lots and the leafiess bushes
that trembled at the fierce slashes
of the rain.
She was listening to the footsteps
of her father as he paced up and
down the narrow hallway; every now
and then he called to her defect
edly:
at doesn't look much like clear
ing, Sally" and she replied:
''ON. tnlllh II uOeS, tho0o-
she didn't think SO at all.
How. how. she wondered desper-
ately. could she make her committing
husband appear glad to go back 10
town this evening, after the half-
mile walk home from the station In
this icy slush and rain? There never
were any taxis in this outlying part
of the suburb. How had she failed
to remind him in the unclouded morn
ing that this and not tomorrow, as
first intended, was to be the night
of fathers treat? Ever since lunch
con she had tried repeatedly to get
Carleton on a phone that had gone
dead" She knew intuitively that,
unwarned, his first loudly spoken
words in answer to hers would be.
Go in town tonight. You're crazy
Oh, no enforced resignation on his
part would suffice. There must be
a glow of enjoyment to satisfy poor
father, who had planned this fes-
tivity for his brief trip up from the
south, where his health, since the
death of his wife, kept him in the
lonely winters; the thought OF this
plea sure given to those he loved
would warm his heart for months to
come.
TIE was a tall, soldierly old man,
L with a square gray beard and
piercing eyes under bushy gray eye
brows. His old friends called him
Major, but he was mostly known here
as Sally Mays father; absent or
present, he was so much father.
always, as far as moderate means
could afford, doing something" for her
and hars.
But this theater party tonight-for
which the most expensive last=min-
ute seats had been procured-and the
prospective supper, while embracing
Sally and Carleton's young visiting
cousins, Howard and Ellyn Brown,
here on their way to Florida, was
really intended as special treat for
his son-in-law. Carleton was going
through the struggles of young
man to support his little family, buy
ing shoes, perforce, instead of the
ater tickets He had. moreover, a
chivalrous kindness for the major.
which the latter deeply appreciated.
He came in now to stand beside
his daughter. saying, anxiously:
I'm afraid Carleton won't want to
go out in the rain again"
"Oh, he's indoors all day, you
know" said Sally brightly. And
Howard and Ellyn are looking for
ward to it all so much-young people do
love a treat"
Yes, yes, that's true" responded
the major with a pleasant smile.
He turned expectantly as tall.
dark. languid youth of sixteen strolled
into the room.
What is it, Howard"
II don't think I'd better go to-
night" said Howard. briefly, II think
] ought to stay home. sir; I've got a
cold''
HE hasn't at all. mom,' volun-
teered the wide-eyed. eight-year-old
Carley. who had followed on his
cousins heels. "He says he's sick of
theaters He wants to stay home
and read The Hound of the Basker-
villesn''
IF he has a cold" said the major,
oblivious of his grandson's remarks.
ANY plea of health was always valid
to the major.
Yes. you had much better stay
here, my boy: much better"
well, Ellyn will enjoy 1t any
way" began Sally comfortingly. as
Howard disappeared. and stopped
short as tall thin, abnormally
short-skirted young girl came to-
ward them. with an agitated express
sion on her small, pale, snub-nosed
countenance.
rs there anything the matter. FL
lyn?"
,"Oh. nothing. but"-Ellyn was al
the age when to make one of FAM
lily party ce pleasure was nothing
snort of agony. "T do SO hate tc
tell you and the major, but one oi
my neuralgia headaches is coming
on and ] think-I'm afraid ought
not to go out in this weather. know
mother wouldn't want me to be ex-
posed"
NO. of course notw said the major
hastily, in spite of his stricken
-countenance You mustn't be ex'
posed on any account. my dear child
Mo-"
"I feel dreadfully about it. major
dear" murmured the girl with
sharp look at Sally, who was fiercely
silent. Two tickets cast away. and
the major had paid seven dollars
apiece for them to a speculator.
Little Maisie May, with her out.
standing crop Of curls. guilelessly