Evening star., 1927-02-16

| ~
| hu happy. The remnant OF blue
| IV linen sent to her by her sis
ter was just sufficient fof
Juniors rompers. In the
! same parcel also there had been an
| old brown silk dress of jennie'S which
dyed deeper shade would make hei
| a lovely blouse. She was very clever
| with the needle and handdowns OF any
! sort became charming clothing once
she set to work upon them.
1t was raining and that made fine
| day for sewing. She meant to get
| Juniors romperS finished and on him
| by the time his father came home nj
o'clock. She glanced at him loving
! lv as he sat playing with his blocks
| With his sunny hair. like Will's. and
| his bright color. like her own, he
would be exquisite in the blue linen
| She could see Will catching him up
kissing him and going wild over his
| chubby lovelinesS.
Margaret sang as she sewed. She
| was so very happy. To be young
loved and loving, with baby ike
Junior a four-room bungalow and
| a whole 500 month to live on--what
| more could one want? She envied
nobody. not even Mrs. Kendall, who
| lived next door, although Mrs. Ken
-
| people thought she lacked nothing in
| the whole world.
Some one pushed the bell and Mar
garet went to open the door. 1t was
Mrs. Kendall herself. Mrs. Kendall
sat down and loosened her coat. She
| ignored Juniors uplifted flower face.
Such nasty weather. she murmur-
] ed 81 hate staying indoors. But
then I hate equally motoring in the
| rain"
I'm rather partial to rain myself.
1t gives one such sense of snug
| ness" Margaret said. Don't put
| that in your mouth, Junior"
What a high color" remarked
Mrs. Kendall, apparently seeing the
| child for the first time. Worms"
"Oh, no. Margaret flushed. "It is
| natural. He is perfectly healthy
"One can never tell with children
and dogs, 1 suppose. Mrs. Kendall
| lifted her arrowy black eyebrows.
my dear little Mimi nearly died with
veterinarian. 1t was all that stupid
Adas fault. I've told her repeatedly
| not to give Mimi cream and salmon
at the same time"
There was silence while Margaret
wondered if Mrs. Kendall had mean
ingly compared Junior with Mimi.
Children and dogs. She tried to
change the subject. but nothing seem
ed to please Mrs. Kendall. She was
horribly caustic and Indifferent. Mar
garet thought she would never 60
away.
When she did at last. Margaret s
indignation gave way to tears. 1t
was time to prepare dinner. The
| blue rompers must remain unfinished
| and her little drama of Homecoming
| and surprise was spoiled.
II hate that woman" she eXclaim.
| ed. II hope she will never come into
my house again. Children and dogs,
| indeed. To compare my darling with
| that horrid pinch of fluff she calls
Mimi She ought to be ashamed"
whats the trouble?" The back
! door had opened so softly that Mar,
| garet had not heard anybody enter
She brushed away the tears and faced
| her other next-door neighbor. Mrs
| Emmons Mrs. Emmons was stout
and gray and jolly. She picked uE
| Junior, kissed him and cuddled him
! Junior loved Mrs. Emmons. Are
these for the young man?' Mrs
Emmons reached into the worlba sket
| after the rompers. Aren't they cute:
| Going to get them done so he car
wear them when his daddy comes
! home?"
"Nor Margaret burs tout. II could
have finished them. but Mrs. Kendall
came in and -" and she bit her lips
There. I'm sorry l said that" she
/ ended.
Never mind. Anything you tel
me is SAFE Mrs. Emmons said. 81
| think / understand. Louise Kendall
| was in a bad mood and she made you
uncomfortable. She did it on pur
| pose, too My dear, Louise has every