Evening star., 1927-05-21

old home. II was stately
portal, this of the Glenn house,
with a lilac now out of bloom standing
on either corner and huge brass
knocker that bore the hallmark OF
genuine antiquity. With her han0
uplifted, Rose still hesitated to send
that summoning rat-tat-tat sounding
within.
1t was a breathless morning and
Rose looked n bit wilted in spite of
her excited flush. She had ridden
into town with the Pratts, who had
had a carful without her, But Mrs.
Pratt had insisted that she accompany
them instead of taking the bus, so,
unable TO refuse, she had held the
fourth Pratt baby on her lap all the
way. In consequence her skirt was
rumpled and a lollypop which the
third Pratt baby had been eating had
mussed up the front of her crisp
blouse
woman passing stared curiously
at the girl who seemed afraid to
announce herself, and with sudden
determination Rose lifted the handle
of the knocker. Almost instantly,
quite as if she had been peeping from
the window, woman opened the
door. Rose lifted her dark eyes to
oldest sister. Ada PatChen.
"Oh, good morning. Ada said,
There was no enthusiasm in her voice.
She did not offer to take the hand
Rose timidly advanced.
Behind the woman on the threshold
an inner door cautiously opened, and
face similar to hers gave quick look
at the visitor. Rose recognized her
husbands second sister, Abigail, who
lived at home with her mother, and
was unmarried
Come in" Ada Patchen held the
door open far enough TO admit Rose 6
slender shape. Come in." she re
peated and opened the inner door
from which Abigail's face had dis
appeared.
Rose found herself in the family
sitting room in the presence of her
husbands mother and Abigail. Abb
gail stood behind her mothers chair.
There was no welcome in her icy blue
eyes But into Mother Glenn's face
had sprung a look of interest. She
was most unlike her daughters, for
her eyes were dark and the cut of
her nose spirited. AS Rose shyly
advanced Mother Glenn held out her
hand It was chill, the hand of ar
old woman whose circulation Is none
too good. Rose grasped the thin
fingers with her warm, pulsing ones.
She would have kissed the wfthered
cheek, but she remembered in time
that Glenn's sisters scorned any DEM
onstration of affection, rating 1t as
weakness.
Mother Glenn pointed to chair and
Rose sank into it. Very graceful and
with that little air of distinction which
makes even the plainest hat and
blouse charming, she awaited some
sign on the part of this chilly interrog-
ative trio of women. Meanwhile there
raced through her brain thoughts,
memories. intuitions. These three
women had opposed Rose with all
their might when Hugh Glenn sought
TO marry her. If she had not loved
him so deeply and been assured that
he loved her, Rose would never have
consented to be his wife. When after
ward his mother and sisters had failed
to accept her, Hugh had refused to
go home without her. For more than
Il year he had never set foot in his
old home. Then suddenly Mother
Glenn summoned the young wife into
her presence. do as you please
about going" Hugh had said. She
had thought it over carefully and had
decided to put her own feelings aside
and go for her husbands sake.
Rose" Mother Glenn began in
slightly unsteady voice. Rose looked
at her attentively. II sent for YOU
because / wanted to see you. I am
rs years old and my heart is weak.
I may go any time. Hugh is my
youngest child-the youngest of seven
all gone but three"-some memory
interfered with her train of thought
II have a few articles which I want
to give away now while 1 am here to
see about. it, Then there won't be
any quarreling about them when I am
gone. Abigail, bring pencil and paper
and write as I tell you
Abigail with compressed lips obeyed
Mother Glenn, playing with the
fringe Of her shawl, stared into some
remote vista of her own. AT last she
began to speak slowly.
r. want you, Samantha as my