Evening star., 1926-12-27

Maxine flushed angrily she was
dark and attractive, while Jenny was
a faded blond, who wore spectacles
and let her freckled nose go unpow-
dered.
Aunt Everine can't live forever.
Maxine said.
MY dear. she's only 20 and her
father lived to be 80. There may be
a score of years to wait yet. l hope
there will be. don't want what >
coming TO me until she's good and
ready To part with it. l haven't done
anything special to deserve IT. Ia
fact, the only reason she viii give me
anything Is because I'm her dead
brothers child She has never
handed us a penny and never will As
long as she's alive. Why. do you
know" little Jenny said earnestly, we
could both starve to death and she'd
never buy us a crust. That's Aunt
Everine Now I'm going to forget
about her and her money and start In
to do something for myself. I'd advise
you to do the same.
I've got a thousand dollars, which
was my share when we sold the
house." Maxine said coldly. II shall
study music and French. l shall pre-
pare myself for the time when l SHAH
be rich. What use would all that
money be to me If l waren't prepared
to enjoy it? I'd appear no better than
would old Andy Pratt If somebody
gave him Tuxedo suit and pearl
scarfpin."
Each had decided and there was
no more to be said. They took rooms
at Mrs. Hyatt's-Jenny the cheap lit
tie back one that looked into the big
apple tree. Maxine the better fur
nished front room with the balcony,
large enough for the plano she rented.
At II and 49, respectively, they had
settled down to the serious business OF
life.
Three times daily they met at the
restaurant on Maine street. Jenny
with real appetite, ordered bread and
butter. stews, corned beef hash. Max
inc ordered toast, salad and Ice cream.
Maxine stared pensively about her,
while Jenny read a book, over which
she sometimes giggled audibly. She
loved to read and found her greatest
entertainment in books. Evenings she
studied shorthand. She didn't mean
to work in that coal Office forever, for
she had found out that, do her best,
she need never expect to have her pay
raised She had her thousand dol
lars in the savings bank and she saved
a bit each week by dropping nickels
and dimes into the mouth of the green
metal frog on her bureau. Full of
coin the frog croaked pleasantly.
Maxine studied French and prac-
ticed for six hours each day. When
she got so that she could play SIM
pie arrangement Of Whispering
Hope" she asked her sister in to
hear it.
Its awfully hard, but I'm getting
nm Sh civhGH
$50 am I. had Constance Hall in
to read to me last night and / took
down dictation at IA words a minute,
Jenny declared brightly.
Mrs. Hyatt took a third roomer. n
young man named John King. He,
too, ate at the restaurant and Jenny
soon became acquainted with him. He
was clear-eyed, clear-skinned, frank
young fellow. sJenny liked John
King. He had come in from the coun-
try and was clerking in the Candy
Kitchen until he could look up some
thing better. But Maxine scorned him
and also Jenny for being friendly with
him.
You pick your acquaintances every
where" she complained.
Sure. They're all folks. / Ike
folks" Jenny returned unabashed.
Spring came and Jenny, as she put
It, graduated from Pixies and got q
better job in a real estate office. She
was now earning SIS a week. John
King, too, had found a better place
at higher wages. Maxine was still
hammering away at Whispering
Hope"
Summer came and Fall and early
Winter, Maxine looked troubled. When
she ordered toast and tea for the third
IL, esfw. Iorr nA ear
her understandingly. Maxine was not
sick, nor in need Of a diet. She was
economizing. 1t had come to that.
Jenny told the waiter to bring coffee
and stew for two and insisted on her
sister eating a hearty meal.
After that she ordered Maxine's
meals herself and, what was more,
paid for them. Nor was this all.
I've had a substantial raise,
Jenny said. coming into Maxine's
room one evening. She suspected that
Maxine had been crying. Cant 1
lend you a bit of cash, dear? That
thousand can't be going to last for
ever!'
Maxine broke down completely.
Its gone-these two weeks. I'm in
debt and-Oh, Jennier' She flung her
self face downward upon the bed.
Jenny soothed her tenderly. Two
hours before shes had had a cold
glimpse of Aunt Everine looking par
ticularly husky in a new bonnet, CIV
ing her French bulldog, Gig1, an
airing.
Johns gone into the First Ma
tional." She had to say something
and so blurted out her great news.
"He will be sure to work up there.
tell him he mustn't fail to be president
by the time he Is 45. He says If he is
he will buy me a diamond brooch. In
the meantime" her voice broke into
a low happy little laugh, ''he wants to
get me little pearl-and-amythyst ring
for my left hand"
Maxine looked up.
"Oh. Jenny! You're going to marry
him?"
Not just at once. We've got loads
of planning to do first. But If we're
able to manage that bungalow we're
talking about. there's going to be a
room for you, dear"
= Maxine kissed Jenny gratefully
There was the depth of painful re
solve In her dark eyes.
Next day the rented piano moved
out of Maxine's room and Jenny
moved in. Jenny paid the rent and
would continue TO do so until Maxine
could help out.
A week later Maxine went to work
in Goodrich's department store
When she drew her first pay envel-
ope she made a little return for the
many favors she had received from
both John and Jenny by treating them
to the regular restaurant dinner. Ii
was a very gay and joyful affair. By
this time Jenny was wearing her new
ring and John bought flowers for both
xfr-la I.
show
Miss Appleby's leaving in the
Spring and I'm going to have her
place." Maxine conhded. I'm going