Evening star., 1923-03-04

" were enough young people nome
for the week end to get up fair
sized picnic crowd. Cars were pro-
hibited. Tommie Hickson was to
bring a hayrack so they could all go
together.
Mother thought it a hne plan and
began hustling preparations for
basket supper. Tillie, whose emotion
over Marcia had worn Off. was dis
gruntled to have the Saturday work
upset.
You do spoil them girls, Molly" she
volunteered. Here's Kathie engaged
to that Baldridge. and Marcia q grown
woman, and even Eleanor getting
along. Accordin' to my lights they
ought to be hemmin' sheets and
round to picnics."
'"Tillie," mother said calmly. "A very
wise poet once wrote about rich
old man who was robbed OF all his
wealth. The poem ends:
"'They robbed him not of golden
shred
OF the childish dreams in his wise old
head;
And. They're welcome to all things
else" he said,
When the robbers came to rob him.
IT figure you can buy sheets and
comforts in any department store,
but you can't buy dreams and memo
ries Of youth"
"Pfs" Tillie had a special snort
| that denoted scorn. You can't eat
| dreams nor cover your nakedness
with memories"
NO" said mother placidly. 'you
| can't. And when the girls are old. old
| ladies. the richest food won't feed
their minds nor the thickest comforts
bring warmth to their hearts"
So they went on working together,
side by side. two good old friends
who would do anything for each other.
but as far apart as the earth and the
stars. as far apart as Martha and
Mary-a piecer Of quilts and weaver
of dreams.
Tommie Hickson came with the hay
rack and two horses. which seemed to
share Titles scorn for the festivities.
Marcia apparently frightened under
the witching spell of the green woods.
the pungent. wild smell OF the crab
apple blossoms, the sweet, weird call
of the mourning doves and the sheen
of the silver river. Mother was right.
No matter what fate held in the hol-
low Of her hand, the girls would al
ways have memories left to them.
On the way home. after the manner
of youth, the crowd sang. Marcia did
not sing. She sat in the end of the
hayrack and tried to reason it all out.
Since yesterday she felt changed, sub
dued, unreal. She looked up at the
clear, calm face of the yellowwhite
moon. Why did that hour on the cam
pus seem so set apart from other
hours? 1t was like a little house in
the woods. She had come upon 1t.
rested in it for one hour-and gone on
| again. Must she forever be looking
back at the little house by the side of
| the road?
| THE crowd was unloaded at the va
i rious homes with merry good
nights The Mason girls found that
| the rest of the family had gone up
stairs for the night. There was a
letter on the dining room mantel.
Father had brought it home from the
) o'clock mail. The letter was for
Marcia. With fingers that trembled
she tore 1t open and read it. Then
she ran upstairs and called. Folks
Everybody. Come here"
Father and mother. fully dressed
y ar
door cautiously and put out her head
A striped kimono falling away from
her long neck gave her the appear
ance of a curious giraffe. Junior, hear
ing the noise, came stumbling out OF
his room.
Listen. It's from him She read
aloud:
Dear Miss Mason: tried to see YOU
Yesterday afternoon. but your land
lady said you had gone home for over
Sunday. I hope you are not taking
my talk to heart. Most probably YOU
are not, as your disposition seems to
be of marvelously cheerful and
elastic type And. anyway. what's g
dandelion or two between friends?
Have just come from board meet
ing and have the pleasure Of report
ing your election. / have placed yo,
in the Lafayette School for next year
the grounds of that building being
somewhat overrun with certain vel
low weeds. You will no doubt tak'
pleasure in assisting the janitor t.
| eradicate them.
1T have just been talking with Keitl
by phone and If I do not hear from
YOU that ii would be inconvenient,
congratulate you in person on tn
| professional hit you made with tn
ICapitol City superintendent.
Sincerely.
JOHN r. WHEELER"
Marcia threw out her arms to then
all. Folks" she said in little tense
Iawe-struck voice. IT was born unde
lucky star"
q Land sakes, | believe it," Fathe
7 said.
n They were all talking at once, afte
. the manner Of Masons.
Katherine laughed. You old fraud
r you. don't deserve it,
, Eleanor's contribution was. "Of
), Marcia. I adore a good profile"
Tillie was saying, MY good LAND
you do beat the Dutch!''
r Junior. at the close of a prodigiou
= yawn, asked unintelligibly, Wild ;
! mean, dandelions?"
Only mother said nothing. She wa
!, looking at the lovely flushed face o
: her starry-eyed girl and making
9 little incoherent prayer, Dear Lord
4 keep her happy-like that"