Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-27
BY IONA GALE

I to YOU" she said ito tell YOU to take
no stock in what she's gonig to say
To YOU"
Little Minnie. in her wedding gown
and veil rose from her dressing table
She walked straight to Esther and
took her hand.
I've failed" she said. Il thought
| might have everything arranged
butt was too much for me. Father
promised me 10 do nothing about your
farm until We got back home. But
mother has gone on with it-and now
its too late"
Listen at that ingratitude," said
her mother. When | did ii for you
Esther felt "a stir Of pity for the
woman. IF il was me, wanting To
give wedding for my little girl that
died she said. Il might have done
the same thing"
The papers are in my room.
Mrs. Burns said briskly. IN have
up father and couple Of witnesses
there's enough of EN- handy.
Might AS well sign now.
Esther looked at her curiously In
the last half hour before her daughter
was to leave her
From suspicious proximity. Mr..
Burns appeared The witnesses. he
said We're ready: and if Mr.. and Mrs.
chaplin and his wife would step this
way-the four went into the next
room.
MINNIE. opened the door which led
A'A To the passage.
Dean she called.
From his room the brides room APP.
peared as if he had been waiting the
summons.
Darling" he said, how dear OF
you-and how lovely YOU look-what s
the trouble
MY heavens. YOU don't want TO
back OUT"
Her kiss satisfied him. but her face
stin held its grief. She told him.
But your father promised to wait
until we get back.
Its mother-she's the one. Can't
We do something"
lie looked at her sadly. This.
he said. lis the first disappointment
to come to YOU from marrying poor
man
This" she said grimly, lis one OF
the things that happens when your
family wants property. IL WASH Just
the wedding. Its the poison of the
greed for adding field To field.
Back came her mother and father.
The papers were signed and delivered.
Minnie went to Esther III the doorway.
oh, my dear she said, my dear.
Thank you-for our wedding
E.sthers simple dignity was like Il
mantle on the moment. II only she
said, IF only il was that way. a little
bit Don't you see, we haven't got
ANYBODY to make "A wedding for. SO
if IT WAS the way you say, and If We
had helped "A ittle-oh don't YOU
see
Its about time for YOU to SO down
now, Minnie" cried Mrs. Burns
briskly.
suddenly Minnie saw her mother,
tired harassed. hard working, anN-
ious for her children. Even the hard
lines In her face We're there because
she had tried To make life easy for
them. Minnie ran to her.
Mother" she cried. Don't YOU
think that | don't kmuw-
Her mother adjusted the soft veil.
Well go on down then, why don [
YOU" she said. not understanding.
X x
THE Autumn fingered long and
slipped graciuu$lN into Il colored
Indian Summer and into mild No
vember OF silver aud slate: so that
the warm Ohio valleys We're unpre-
pared for an icy December. BY mid
month the world was sleeping as
sleep the wastes of the North
For the chapius. in the little
ga bled house at the top of the hill,
the hard season was another in a
chain Of catastrophes. To pass from
the ownership of their home had been
enough. But an old ailment OF
Esther's had returned which, early in
November sent her to her armchair
by the stove. where she prepared and
cooked what Michael brought to her.
and groaned to see his clumsines s
struggle with the other tasks. 1t
was on the morning of the first heavy
snowfall that Michael carrying jars
and lamp from the trap door of the
cellar. slipped backward into space
and wrenched his ankle.
Now were done for" he said; and
looking a Esther duly. he kept say
ing this over. Now were done for
For some reason. when she saw
that his neck was not broken, his
plight made his wife unexpectedly
angry.
y" "'"n "a! 80 lilo >.,InuuAd Il