The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-19

cnlckens IOO-pIump ana WnlCe ana containing untold delectable possibili- ties. Chicken was not such a frequent occurrence in the fiat that it could be lightly considered.
 It had, she recounted mentally, been difficult year at best, for she had tried to make the money Alan sent should not work now that he was able to take care of her and she had given up her work in the store and tried to get along on the money he sent home. He had no idea what lot 1t took now adays to keep things going. But for the fact that the dG rotor had urged her to rest she would have gone right on working; but she thought it best to lay off, especially as Alan was so in- sistent. She knew that it had been as hard a year for him as for her, and they had not once seen each other. He was too far away to come home, but now he was coming. She did not know why. She was afraid he had lost> his job. It must be that or he would have told her. He never told things that would trouble her, yet she wondered sometimes if the simple facts would not be easier to bear than the doubts of the unknown.
 But at any rate he was coming home. It was going to mean much to see him, hear him, touch him. He was her own and all she had, or had ever had, prac- tically. For her husband-But then Alan did not take after his father. That was something to be thankful for.
 From under the cushion beneath her head she pulled a hand glass and look ed at herself. She was an old woman as far as looks were concerned. Her hair was gray and dead looking, her mouth drawn down by sad lines, her eyes tired. Once within Alan's mem ory she had been young and beauti- full and he had liked her so. My pretty mother" he had said, batting her hair with his little hands. Tears struggled to her eyes. For him she would always have been young, always beautiful. But years of standing be- hind a counter by day and of doing housework and mending by night that he might be brought up and educated, had changed her. How could they fail to?
 She put the hand glass hack and wiped her eyes. Through the crack of smudge. She called and Mrs. Stack appeared.
 Anything burning?"
 stove." The old woman glanced at the clock. "My land! He'll be home right soon now. must get the pota- toes over. He'll be as hungry as a bear" She started and listened. ''That can't be him nowT'
 But the steps were too light. The door opened and a girl of the neighbor- hood,. one of Alan's schoolmates. enter ed. She was a dark, vivid little thing with lovely mouth.
 Here's some carnations for you, Mrs. Herrick," she said.
 "Oh. Margery, you dear, extrava- gant child!' Helen sighed as she took the flowers. She knew that the girl had made a little sacrifice to please her. ''Take them and put them in wa ter, please, Mrs. Stack" she said. The sweet grettiest" appreciated pink---like your cheeks Miss Margery." ;"
 Margery laughed and grew pinker. Watching the girl a thought came to Helen. "You couldn't go down to the station to meet Alan, could you?" she asked wistfully. Tt seem too bad that he shouldn't find some one to greet him."
 Margery's hesitation was little more than a shade.
 "Yes, can go," she said. She tried to hide her pleasure under a little laugh. T shall make a mighty poor substitute" she added.
 Mrs. Stack brought in a vase of wa ter for the carnations, put the flowers in 1t and set them on the table beside Helen's couch. Helen cullsd three of them from the bunch.
 "Fasten them to your coat, she said. ''They go so well with that little spring hat and your color. And hurry, please, Margery or you won't have time to get there."
 Margery went in a rush. Mrs. Stack watched her from the window.
 She's the right kind of girl" she said. Do you think Alan"
 Helen shut her eyes.
 I've always wanted him to like her. she murmured.
 Mrs. Stack went back to the kitchen and Helen was alone. She pictured it all, Margery with her oOlOE and car