Evening star., 1927-12-08

~ street to enter the house she
a heard a swift fall of steps be-
A L hind her and a painting voice:
"Wait, Classy! / want to see
your
1t was ELY Marsh, who doubtless
mad seen Classy passing by, had thrown
a shawl over her head and run out to
Intercept her.
II was watching for you and called
to you," ELY said, but I guess you
didn't hear. I've got something for
you. THERE" She pressed a small
package into Cassy's hand. Then in
answer to Cassy's astonished look. she
added: "You know what it's for, don't
you? Your hirthday?'
"Oh, yes! This is my birthday isn't
1t? Do you know ] couldn't think for
minute. How good of you to remem'
ber 1t. Ellyl And thanks for the gift.
You always are such a darling, Ely.
Tiff we weren't standing here in the
street with Miss Piper watching us
from her kitchen window / should
certainly kiss YOU"
'It isn't anything of great value,
only a remembrance, ELY said. "And
now I must run or my potatoes will
burn"
She was gone, and Classy went on
into the house. a smell of turnip met
her in the hall. Upstairs she could
hear Miss Frost and Miss Marx, two
other boarders who had got home
ahead of her, talking through open
doors as they prinked for lunch. There
was no one in the sitting-room, and
Classy went i'm there to open her pack
age. Her birthday She had forgotten
all about it, her thirtY-siXth birthday!
She almost wished ELY had not re-
membered it. What had ELY given her?
What could any one give her that
could brighten the fact of her being
36, alone and obliged to work hard for
a living?
Without expectation or thrill Classy
opened the little package and found
g. delicateIy handmade handkerchief
wrapped about something thin and
hard. A card? No, a picture-a pho
tograph of herself. Now, where had
Ely got hold of that, and what did
she mean? Classy turned the photo
graph over and found that Ely had
scrtbbled on the back: This is the
wav you looked at 90. Compare it
with the way you look now, and be
thankful for your thirty-siXth birth
day!'
A smile twitched at Cassy's lips as
she gazed at the little picture, which
recalled to her an almost forgotten
self at 90. Hair dragged back from
forehead into a high pompadour, built
up over a scratehy jute pad. exposed
ears, collar straining her neck, huge
sleeves-how funny, And her face was
long, she had been thin at 20. Looks
as IL I could have eaten oats out OF
a churn. as grandmother used to
say" she commented with amuse-
ment. And vet, too, she felt curious
bit of sympathy for the girl with the
pompadour who had been herself 10
years ago. What a fool the girl had
been, to think that Enoch Morrow
could care for her! She could under
stand now, looking at the little photo
graph, why he hadn't. why he had
married Alice Simpson and gone
away into a life unknown to the Castle
Creekers.
The lunch bell was jangling, and
Classy, tucking the picture away in
side her blouse, went into the dining
room. About the huge square table
gathered seven people besides Classy,
Mrs. Highly sat at the head, Mr.. Hig-
by at the foot, and on either side were
ranged the boarders. Classy sat be-
tween Mrs. Pike and Mr.. Horton, who
was staving there while his wife made
her annual visit to her old home.
ST shan't be here after today, folks,
Mr.. Horton announced. Got a letter
from Molly this morning and she says
she will be home tonight"
"Sorry to lose you, I'm sure" said
Mrs, Pike in her stiff way.
"Sorry to co. rejoined Mr.. Horton.
And as Jenny just then came in with
the roast. conversation subsided for
some minutes.
Classy hurried through lunch In Or