Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-15
The
Evening Story

FRESH, joyous voice came up
the stairway.

slightly from haste. She did not naVe
time to look in the glass.
Look out! Don't catch your toe'
The warning snhote her as she was
descending the stairs. Warnings al
WAYS smote her and made her do the
very things she was warned not to do
In this instance she did catch her
toe, but Sara with a spring caught
her. II told you to be careful" said
Sara.
Are we going to walk?" Sally
asked. Sara shook her head.
''Too cold. You'd freeze. ordered
d cab"
Sally sighed. She had been in the
house for three days, nothing TO go
out for until today, and it seemed to
her that a little walk in the bracing
Spring would not hurt her.
Sara was leading the way to the
cab and Sally followed reluctantly.
She was popped in and the door shut
upon her.
Aren't you coming, too. Sara?" she
shouted to make herself heard above
the roaring engine,
Sara shook her head.
mo. I'm going to walk"
Sally looked wistfully after the
brilliant young figure. It did not seem
80 long since she was another Sara
and here she was shut up in a padded
box which Smelled of stale perfume
and cigar smoke, while Sara, free and
blithe, enjoyed the fresh air and sun
shine.
She was old and yet the heart of
her was young. 1t must be, else the
sunshine would not have looked SO
golden, the sky so blue or the Spring
breeze sounded so like a carlton of
silver bells calling to joyful activity.
The sights of the streets charmed her,
although she could only peer at them
through dusty glass. And then there
was thu heart-stirring fact that she
was going downtown to shop-to get
herself an entire new Spring ward.
robe. Wasn't this enough to turn the
andante movement of old age into the
lively allegro vivace of youth?
The cab drew up before the motor
entrance OF Blandon's department
store and Sally, with the help of the
chauffeur, emerged. She went in and
sat down to wait for Sara. There was
q mirror opposite which gave back
the gentle, gray reflection of herself
in a gloomy little black hat and coat.
Once she had been a beauty in the
days when Sam RunnelS wooed her,
taking his chance with dozen others.
She became Sally Runnels with the
accent on the last syllable. Now her
namesake was Sara Runnells with the
accent on the last syllable and an
added letter. And Sara had no beaus
at all; perhaps there weren't SO many
were enough and to spare when she
was young.
Sara appeared slightly breathless,
but earnestly businesslike.
Now, grandmother, wen start In
with your dress and match everything
to it," she said. =.
In the softly carpeted, softly lighted
and many mirrored place of thou
sand gowns Sally waited with sinking
heart while Sara appraised and Sc
'lscted. sa
Something plain for grandmother
and quiet--and RICH" she said. And
soon Sally found herself trying on
such dress. which was so much like
her old one that she saw no differ
,ence. She longed for color with that
'springlike feeling in her heart. Why
must she wear black? Sam had been
gone 20 years. He wouldn't care.
THE very thing" Sara decided.
sEh, grandmother"
Sally murmured something.
Hats next" said the capable Sara,
glancing at her platinum wrist watch.
Hope wen get through with this
80 can join Betty Archer at the
Plaza for lunch. ''I'll send you home
In the cab, grandmother"
Before the leaved mirror Sally was
seated while Sara and deft sales
woman fitted her with a hat which
was new. but scarcely different other
wise from the old one.
IL am tired of Jet ornaments"
she tried to say.
/ Nothing better for you with your
dark eyes and white hair" declared
Sara. A.<
So the hat was purchased. And after
that came coat rich and soft and
somber. Sally paid the bill. That was
the one privilege left to her when 1t
came to buying an outfit She. could
pay for the things herself. Sam had
left her quite independent of her sons
and daughters and we'll provided for
Toward the last Sara hurried a lit
tie. She kept glancing at her watch
impatiently.
I'll put you in your cab,, grand
mother" she said. then I'll race to
the Plaza. Your things will be sent
up right away. Hope you won't feel
too tired
A faint tinge of Indignation ap-
peared in Sally's cheeks.
81 am not tired at ALL" she said,
Sara helped her into the cab, smiled,
blew kiss and was gone to her
luncheon. And the cab started back
toward Washington avenue. Sally.
Ibobbing alone on the seat, thougNt
or the black hat and gown and coat
which would presently be delivered to
lAA
them at church, but aside from a
Alghtly uncomfortable feel about the
new things she would not know they
were new and neither would anybody
else.
The cab stopped suddenly. Th@
were in a pocket and traffic was at
standstill.
The car door opened and a boy
thrust BUNCH of blossoms from the
lbasketful upon his arms in upon the
little old lady.
'''Arbutus, LADY," he cried.
"Arbutus." Sally leaned forward to
take the flowers from him. The de.
licious fragrance and rosiness brought
2. smile to her lips, sparkle to her
eyes. She fumbled in her bag, found
bill and gave it to the boy, shaking
her head at his. Change, lady?" She
had given him two dolIars-but no
matter. The flowers were worth it.
Pressing the bouquet to her face she
breathed deeply of the entieing spirit
or springtime. She knew how the
flowers grew, she had hunted them in
her youth. Sam had given her a
basketful once when he was counting
her. Pink! She loved it. Oh, the hats
she had smothered with pink roses
The 1rocks she had like rosy clouds
Sam had loved pink and delighted ir
her wearing it. She had had none
since he died =
Take off that old dead crown She
fairly jumped as if he had spoken in
her ear. Yes. that was what he would
have called this hat she was wear
ing-and that other one which sh,
would have to wear.
Traffic was moving. the chauffAu