Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-22

" LIZA BRUCE gave a gasp of
l. dismay. She bent close to look.
Yes, Another petal had fallen
IL from the fuchsia. 1t lay like a
snowflake beside the other petal
which had fallen off a week before.
She stood staring aghast at the wax
cross.
The wax cross was marvel of
snowy beauty. Wreathed with deli
cate flowers, it stood enthroned under
a glass globe on the parlor table be-
tween the two front windows under
the framed portrait of ELIAS father
Eliza could not remember time when
it had not stood in the same place,
and she was now nearing middle age.
It was one of the few things for which
her mother cared. Eliza dreaded her
mothers finding that fallen petal. The
other petal had passed as an accident.
Eliza had braved the blame of Earring
the precious ornament. But that a
second petal should fall within week
meant that time and cold were begin
ginning their devastations.
Eliza trembled as she heard her
mothers approaching step. AS Mrs.
Bruce entered, her sharp black eyes
encountered the timid blue ones of
her daughter. She seemed to divine
what had happened even before she
glanced at the cross.
We'll" she said. THAT settles It..
I'll not leave the house this Winter"
"Oh, mother" Eliza protested faint
~. They had planned to close the
large, dreary house and go to the city
to spend the coolest months with Mrs.
Bruce's sister. Aunt Julia was differ
ent from mother and Eliza had looked
eagerly forward to the visit.
GO build fire in the fireplace.
commanded Mrs. Bruce. "We must
have some heat in here. My beautiful
cross"
Eliza made the fire, her heart heavy
with disappointment. TITO stay at home
all Winter because the wax cross must
have heat in order to prevent disinte-
grationi AS for moving it from the
place it had occupied for so long. who
would dare?
When Eliza had made the fire she
went over to see Miss Bellew. Miss
Bellew was very tiny and old. Like
the wax cross, she demanded a kindly
temperature and could not be moved.
She had lived in one room for half
decade. Yet it was CHEEKY room,
full of color and charm, and Eliza,
escaping to it from her fine. cold
home, found there the sympathy and
EeIEl SIG CIdfGu+
so your mother is going to stay
home on account of that wax cross
Miss Bellew said, laughing. Don't
you remember, Eliza, how she used to
send you and your father, when he
began to fail in health, off to the
South while she stayed behind? All
on account of that cross! OF course
you understand you need to go to
Julia's. You live there year in and
year out, without a mite Of change
| It's hard for both of you, especially
| for you, Eliza. Besides, you're getting
! on toward middle life, and If you are
ever going to be-"Miss Bellew hest
tated to say 'If you are ever gonig to
| be anything but your mothers serv
ant" for Eliza was loyal. Instead she
ended, ''if you are ever going to be
happy. you must begin SOON"
| ELIAS sensitive face colored and
| tears came to her eyes.
Aunt Julia mentioned Mr.. Dare In
| her last letter." she sighed. Mother
didn't like it. You know we met Mr.
| Dare when we were down there last
Fall. He was very pleasant. He
Eliza broke off, twisting her slender
| hands
1t was foolish, of course. but she
| had looked forward to seeing Mr.
| Dare again when she got to Aunt
| Julia's. There had never been any