The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-21
TODA Y,S SHORT STORY.

meet somebody who is going to be there-I don't know who."
 Rita looked coldiy at her mother.
 T don't see how you can go" she said, ,@with Ralph coming home at Il 80 Mrs. Nichols here and my bridge club meeting this afternoon sts3. .sss- 9S1nss
 There was an intense waiting silence. The light. went out from behind LIS tired. face she looked as gray-as aslita tie moth that had just fbeen thoroughly singed. Her small thin hand shook as she turned back to the kelephQne,9t <
 "I'm sorry. Alice I'd love to come, but I'm afraid I can't. Why? oh,I guess it's because I haven't aHffkhina to wear She laughed shakilv.r Tt is good for you to, s1x sthats buei il would matter to meS2fNo; . F taT' tad. positively ao GoodlBy r sr saara ri q
 She hung up the receiver. is,r-.s '.i 'Mothef,s, said Rita Rita in her hard voieE 4Hahd me the talennl for Ahaby." !" iV Uil got the stalenR and then went out to peel potatoes for lunch. AS sfBa stood at the sink at work d thought pierced her like a needle, in duced by the memory of something Alice Duncan had said at their last meeting
 "Anson Dean wrote my husband that he was coming north on big busi- ness trip. We expect him any day"
 Could it, be that he had come, that was why. Alice had asked her to lunch, to meet him? She had known Anson be- fore she married Fred Jackson, who had made her life wretchedness and had left her only Rita. He had wanted to marry her. What fool she had been! It was just as well perhaps, not. to meet him, after all these weary years. She would only pain and disappoint him. She had been young and gay when he last saw her now she was thin and old, with gray streak in her black hair. Her lips quivered and she dropped the potato into the pan of water with a big splash. @
 The day wore on. She; did, every thing she had to do, but felt inexpress- ibly sad and tired. The long afternoon, party and she had tried to iron a bit while caring for the two youngsters, had taxed her to the utmost. Supper was ready when Rita returned, too full of salad and coffee to care to eat and getting the prize.
 
 heard her name called.
 Mother; some one to see you" It was Alice Duncan.
 Nov, not word, Lil. Get on your things and come for a ride in this de- licious April weather. We are going to Sharon and return by moonlight--along tho river the whole day. Hurry. Never mind the dishes. Rita can do them-- for once"
 , The big, graceful woman commanded the scene, I.il uhheeding Rita's angry eyes, went to get on her meek little black hat with the. strings of faded rosebuds and her winter coat. She was led fortllS and placed alone in the back seat of the handsome sedan.
 A ride ill the April evening. She al- most never got a ride with Ralph and Rita for they always had some one of their crowd to take and she stayed home with the baby. Dear Alice. To make up to her for the lack of the luncheon. She must, have been mistaken about Anson, Dean Well, it didn't matter. She would enjoy what she could.
 Suddenly in the merry traffic of Main street the sedan stopped. The door opened and Lii, to her amazement, saw man entering beside her--a fine, gray, prosperous looking man.
 "No need to introduce you two," Alice Duncan laughed across her. shoulder.
 Lirs hand was in Anson Deans. Again the pallid opaque of her gentle, sweet face lit with that great trans forming light. And similar light in the mans face responded.
 Two minutes after Lil became aware that Anson was still holding her hand. She drew it away with q shy smile. The faded rosebuds on her hat danced like gay little incandeseent bulbs and her eyes danced with them. The little gray moth with her singed wings had become charming, exquisite butterfly under the spell of hope, the prospect of happiness.
 wanted you all these years" Anson 
 lie had wanted her! Oh, but not as she had wanted him, never as she had wanted him Some day she would cell him of that want supreme.
 THE INEVITABLE .TAILLEUR
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