Evening star., 1927-10-03
THE EVENING STORY

steady hand. an acceptance for her.
self and daughters of Mrs. Darrin's
invitation.
At the breakfast table next morning
she said quietly that she was going
downtown. When the Darrin car ar.
rived the girls could direct the chauf.
feur to find her at Mime. Louises hat
shop.
Oh, you are going to get a new
hat Peggy cried. Might l come
with you. too, mother? / do so want
a new hat myself"
"NO," Jessy replied with unwonted
firmness. You can't want a new hat,
Paggy. You have already had three
this season and so has Betty. 1 have
not had a new hat in two years"
She tried not to see the cloud of
pout that descended on her daughters
face.
An hour later she stood at the bank
window drawing out money. 1t was
money she had saved. bit by bit,
against some unexpected need Twice
before she had been tempted to use
it-once when the girls wanted to go
with the Jensons for an outing at the
seashore: once when she had been i'll
and the doctor had urged a short sea
| trip as cure. Now. actually, she was
going to use the money. 1t seemed
pity. Even when it was in her hands
her purpose nearly failed. Then she
remembered that she was wearing
the n1adeover charmeuse and what
Peggy had said about it.
just before noon, when the street
was crowded, Mrs. Darrin's mono
grammed limousine drew up before
the small. Frenchy.looking little shop
whose windows bore one word only
Louise" Peggy and Betty, fresh and
expectant. looked out for mother In
| her new hat.
Il wish she'd let us help her pick 1t
out" sighed Peggy.
Coming toward them down the street
| was lovely young woman, stepping
| gracefully in the dantiest of shoes.
Gray from head to foot--such gray
with bunch of violets pinned in the
correct place. Peggy gave a gasp,
| Betty gave a start. for the woman
stopped Is the chauffeur held open
| the door of the limousine, and the
smiling, yet wistful. eyes that looked
| out from under the charming hat
brim were-mother
| Not a word was said before the liv-
cried chauffeur of Mrs. Darrin. Peggy
and Betty were too well trained for
that. But how they looked! Under
other circumstances. Jessy might have
| cIlJONou tnelT dSLOTlSET1e0I. fer
| purse was empty. She must begin to
save again. and it was going to take
a long. long time to replace what she
| had expended so lavishly-she could
not say foolishly yet, for in some ways
she had never felt so contented in her
life.
| Her progress across the broad ve-
, randa and through the crowded lobby
of the ReXmere might have thrilled a
vain woman. but it only embarrassed
Jessy, and she was glad when at last
she was safe in Mr.. Darrin' suite.
| Girls, your mother looks like your
sister," Mrs. Darrin said. How have
you done it. JesSy. with all your cares
and anxieties?" Then. as Jessy smiled
TREMENDOUSLY. Mrs. Darrin hurried on:
"My brother, Maj. Scott, is to lunch
with us today. You remember him,
Jessy? He married Helen Soule. She
died couple Of years ago"
A wonderful luncheon. Hal was not
there and Maj Scott was the only
man in the party. For the first time
Peggy and Betty saw themselves set
aside for another. And this other
their mother!
Il bet she marries him." Peggy said
to Betty as later they joined a gay
boating party of young people. "Well.
| don't blame her. We've been awful
pills. And the major is nice. But he's
got a strong jaw. Bet. He won't let
anybody sass her. Well have to
watch our steps. And so you know
| I'm glad? Mother is queen. I
| never realized it before. What q
shame that she had to wear made
overs when she might have looked
like that. 1 feel like a pig. / do
really. Don't you. Bet?"
And Betty murmured sober assent.
THE END.
(Conyripht 1871