Evening star., 1925-08-23

\ eyes were feVer-bright. Mother watch
ed her with smiling fixity that held
| something in suspense, and Pussy
| presently became aware OF 1t.
I'm talking your head off," she ad-
| mitted with laugh that sounded
breathless. What have you been do
| ing?"
Mother launched it in her usual
quiet voice: Pussy. I'm going blind.
l shall be quite blind in two months" -"
! Pussy might have caught the words,
| for she heard better on the train, but
her attention had not really left her
own inner state.
"Oh, that's fine" she said.
I've heard how ii sounds, anyhow" "
mother reflected, turning away. They
were passing the outskirts of Newark
and to her thought, II sha'n't see that
| after two months" came a brisk an
swer: We'll, l can't say it's much
| loss!"
Pussy was talking again. but dis
jointedly. inattentively. Suddenly she
flung out an arresting sentence: IT'S
! my birthday today. I'm twenty-five. -
Mother went straight for what lay
| back OF the words. Pretty dull for
| you" she said.
People did not speak of Pussy's
| deafness, for she was said to be alb
normally sensitive. Perhaps they
Wv
| this direct approach with a gasp of re-
| lief.
"Oh, Mrs. Tudor, no one knowsr
burst from her. "It has been four
years now. I've done my best-truly.
And everybody has been kind; the
! girls ask me to play tennis and auc-
tion and all that. But I've known
| I've always known-it is so terrible
to feel yourself a nuisance"
MOthar'S lipS uera cInSa1u foIJaJ
but her eyes said, Il know"
Tears rained down Pussy's face.
Il want to tell you" she whispered.
mo one else. But with a secret as
big as this, you have TO tell some
| onei'
Mother understood that, too.
The first year / was treated a lot,
and hurt and hurt. and 1 only got
| worse" Pussy rushed on, 80 /
wouldn't stand any more. But today
L have been to a new man, and he
says the old treatment was all wrong
| and that there Is hope, there is good
hope-oh, ne thinks / can be cured,"
The eager young hands. burning hot
through their gloves, were clinging to
mothers. She made no bodily re-
sponse, and her words were, as always,
calmly sensible: We'll, that's real nice
for you, Pussy. I'm glad to know it.
But no one ever found her unsatis.
factory.
1T is only hope" Pussy warned
herself. II won't breathe it to the
family until we are sure-but l love
your knowing it. You have been so
kind! And you never told me about
afflicted people who took to geology or
bugs or electricity. and they were so
happy when they found beetle with
new stripe that they didn't mind If
they were deaf. Beetles! Who cares
how many stripes a beetles got"
Men can care about things like
| that" mother said, dubiousiy. II
don't know as we cam Though I do
like TO raise flowers"
Pussy heard only the last word
I've hated flowers" she said. They
smelled like all the things / couldn't
have. But now-oh, do you suppose
! it's true?"
Good things can happen" Mrs
| Tudor admitted, and went home re-
! freshed and steadied. It's the young
that matter. Old folks can get along"
she told herself
TNHE house was as she had left it.
Unmade beds and unwashed dishes
gave a shocked air of bad news, and
she hurriedly produced order. The
girls must be told gradually. and after
| they had eaten a good hot dinner. As
she worked she experimental in going
without eyes, with poor success.
THE kitchen tables been on that
spot for 35 years; you'd think I could
walk around 1t in my Sleep" she scold-
ed, holding a bruised hip. 81 guess
I'm too tired to learn my business to-
night. But you wait! I'm going to be
the smartest blind woman in the
country"
The prospect of telling the girls
grew worse as their hour came.
Mother trembled so that she could
scarcely go about her work. They
were so happy, the little girls! And so
kind. The experience would enrich a
thin nature, but they didn't need en-
riching. They were darlings just as
they were. In her mourning over
them she quite forgot that the hurt
was, after all, to her.
They made ii harder by coming
home in tearing spirits. Both had had
promotions in responsibility. and on
the train they had conceived a scheme
of going into business together half a
dozen years later.
III know the business from A to z
by that time and Monall know the
decorating" Betty explained, drying
her face at her mothers door because
she could not wait to talk. Mona was
behind her, comb in hand