Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-30
THE EVENING STORY

back from the complexities of the mar
row eyed woman's nature.
II don't see how you can endure
her." she told Zelie.
why, Sylvia! / find her very m
teresting. She knows so many new
things. And Lewis is quite taken
with Mr.. Card. She has asked us
over to play NAH jong tonight"
Sylvia shifted.
Next day she had to hear all about
the nah -jong party.
She carried out the Japanese idea
right straight through" Zelie related
enthusiastically. she served n NAH
jong salad. made with sprouted beans
and bamboo shoots. 1t was the best
stuff. Lewis was crazy over it. She
told me how she made it. and I'm
going to try some. You may have
the recipe If you want 1t, Sylvia"
Il don't want it," replied Sylvia
sharply.
Spring came on apace The SHOWS
melted from the path and the green
grass sprang up. 1t grew rapidly, for
there was a diminutiOn of the travel
that had once annoyed George Decker.
More and more the Cards and Brock
etts were together, for the Cards
owned n good car and were always
ready to take their friends about with
them.
Sylvia Decker found herself ms
bereft as n bivalve stranded at low
tide. She had go long depended upon
Zelie for companionship that her other
neighbors had got into the habit Of
doing without her company. She was
very lonely and very sad. for she had
sincerely loved Zelie. and il hurt her
cruelty to see Zelie wooed from her by
"a woman she did not like.
Many an evening that early Sum
mer she sat alone on her porch and
watched Zelie go forth gayly in the
Cards sedan. Mrs. Card never asked
her to ride, never asked her to din
ner or to play bridge in the evening.
Indeed, Mrs. Card scarcely knew that
she existed.
George Decker's business called
him away a great deal. and Sylvia
either had to go with him or remain
lonesomely at home. She chose to
accompany her husband every time
she could for the sight of the lawn,
unmarried now by the little path, sent
arrows in her heart. George, of
course. was well pleased with the
| result of that severed ligament.
One night Sylvia returned alone
to her home after a weeks outing
with George. She had come because
| some inner sense, or 1t might have
been some other voice, urged her to
do so. AS soon as she snapped on
her lights. Mrs Chester came over.
"Zelie is sick" Mrs. Chester said.
! she is very sick. She ate something
that didn't agree with her when she
was picknicking with the Cards yes
terday. I'm glad you've come, Sylvia.
I've a houseful of company and ]
can't take the time to look after
IAlt A,N1 AI 60
Sylvia said without hesitation:
iii go right over
If she had had any doubts about
how Zelie would receive her they
| were dispelled when she saw the
way Zelie's eyes filled with tears at
sight of her.
"Oh. SYLVIA she said.
| Sylvia stayed with her that night
and by morning Zelie was so much
better that DIR. Potter himself was
surprised. Mrs. Card never came to
| see Zelie at all.
| "She never goes where there is
Sickness" Zelie confessed She
| she is a fair-weather friend. guess.
But you-oh. Sylvia. What a fool
I've been to be led away, And our
dear little path has grown over
| She cried out of sheer gladness to
| have Sylvia there. strong and re-
| liable, unchanging. and holding her
hand. at is my fault that our path
has grown over" Zelie added.
Sylvia gave Zelie's hand a long
| squeeze.
| Never mind" she said practically.
| The path itself doesn't matter. It's
its the spirit of friendship that is
| back of it. And because of it. And
| because of that spirit, Zelie. the lit
| tie path ought to be carpeted with
| everlasting flowers"
(The end.)
downright 1926