Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-02

N N reluctantly from the dentists
V She had gone there much too
i early for her appointment be-
cause there was a certain
quiet corner and a pile of magazines
available. Even when the drill was
busy with her tooth she continued to
recall story she had Just read. 1t
was about girl who had a wonderful
mother.
Mrs. Nane glanced up as her daugh-
ter entered. She sat curled upon the
davenport embrodering o motif on
white linen. Mrs. Nane was always
embroidering, for her eyesght was
perfect. Besides. she had beautiful
hands.
See what a lot I've done to
Genevieves dress she began. Il can
just fancy how sweet she Will look in
it." Genevieve was the daughter of
Marjorys older sister, the married
Lucia. Lucia was replica Of Mrs.
Vane and Genevieve was a replica of
Lucia In her daughter and grand
daughter Mrs. Nane saw herself re-
peated with fiattering effect. 1t may
be added that she never bestowed any
of her handiwork upon Marjory.
II suppose" Marjory said, Il may
as well prepare lunch. Have you any
plans for it, MOTHER"
MIS-. tdIle ItipuS IillQliN lhbbCN iiSI
nose with her gold thimble.
There's a can of salmon" she said.
ST don't know what else. Get what
ever you find. I'm not hungry. Be
sides, l want to finish this leaf while
I'm at it"
For the next Is minutes Mariory
worked rather desperately to evolve
a tasty meal out of the materials at
hand. AS usual, her mother had for
gotten to hang out the ice card and
the refrigerator was empty. A few
flies were rampant in the dining room
and must be subdued. The tabecloth
was soiled. Marjory longed to change
it, but the laundry bill was big enough
as it was. There We're crumbs under
the table and some flowers had
dropped their petals on the buffet.
At Marjory's invitation Mrs. Vane
strolled out casually. She was a
plump, smooth. blond woman in blue.
Marjory was a thin, quiet, dark, young
girl in tan.
did Miss Barker call up while l
was gomez" Marjory asked, passing |
the salad to her mother.
NO" Mrs. Vane helped herself /.
bountifuly. you've made it look |
quite tempting. dear. Can't be she |
means to ask you.
lance. 81 was-pretty sure she |
wouldn't. But 1 hoped"
1T doesn't matter, of course" Mrs. /
Vane said comfortably.
Marjory crumbled her bread absent |
1y. 1t did matter, perilously to her, |
that Miss Barker had not asked her
along with the other girls, Julia and |
Frances and Elizabeth. Why-why |
had she not? What had she done that |
81
Stunned her, that lovely women like |!
Miss Barker did not ask her to their |
homes? Suddenly she remembered |
the story she had read. The heroines |
mother, like Frances like Elizabeth's |
and the homes of these girls. She |
compared Julia's dining room with /
this, EliZabeth's living room with the |
room beyond the japanese porteres. |
Yet what had these things to do with |
herself? If only she knew.
You're not crying over it, I hope! |
A little thing like that" Mrs. Vane
said. Your face will look pretty for
the club meeting this afternoon"
I'm not going to the club. It's |
only a makeshift. I'm going to stay |
home and"-think things out, was
what she could have added.
Mrs. Vane shrugged her plump /
shoulders. Suit yourself" she re-
marked dryly.
After her mother had dressed and |
gone to play bridge for the whole at
ternoon Marjory washed the dishes
and put the small apartment to order.
Then she sat down on the davenport,
set her square chin in her palms and
proceeded to think things out.
They had money enough, she and
her mother-father had seen to that |
by leaving them large life insurance.
She herself was not silly or selfish or
boyStruck. Yet at the school she at
tended she was not popular. A few |
times she had felt that marvellous I
friendship was dawning in her life, |
but the girl would come once to the |
apartment-and that would end it. |
.Elizbeth Craven's mother had called
and nothing had come of it,. Once
Marjory had asked a girl to lunch;
her mother had ordered the lunch. |
Afterward Marjory learned that the
girl abhorred potato salad
1t was true they did not live in a
nice way. Mrs. Vane embroitered and
played bridge. Once a week woman
came in and cleaned up. They culled
their food as they could. Mother was
not interested in books or magazines
Marjory wanted a radio but her
mother disliked noise. Lucia lived
just as mother did and Horace did not
stay at home much.
IF ever I marry I shall do very
different with my husband" Marjory
thought.
The back door opened and she went
to see who was there. 1t was Mrs.
Lille ready for an afternoons work
Your ma said I could come this
afternoon instead Of tomorrow" Mrs.
Lille said. She was tiny, old woman
made Of steel and whalebone, durable,
efficient, tireless. At least Marjory
had thought her so until this instant
Now she realized that in Mrs. Lilies
calm face was perhaps what she was
seeking.