Evening star., 1927-05-16

"OR II years Louise Potter had
- lived on the same street in the
same house, the decorous, fru'
n gal helpmeet of Tom Potter,
She was healthy. pretty
woman, inordinately contented with
her home her husband and herself.
Economy was the game that absorbed
Louise Potter. Other women played
bridge, nah iong, even finch, but she
, played the game of money with neces-
sary expenditure as her opponent, No
matter what occurred, she always
won, and another bit Of Toms earn
ings and her savings went into the
bank.
Tom was a quiet, kindly man, who
loved his wife, his home, his work,
and desired no other interests in life.
He was noted for punctuality. tom
Potter's coming home to supper.
Time I went home" Mrs. White would
say when she had fingered too long
somewhere for a. neighborly chat.
Mrs. Holcomb said she always put her
potatoes over the instant she saw
Tom appear at the end of the street.
The Holcombs lunched at 1890. Hes
that punctuat he's better than a
clock = Mrs. Holcomb always said.
The Potters had no children. The
little son who would have been tall
youth now had died. Mrs. White said
that Louise Potter had started in to
save for the boy with the purpose of
providing for his education and his
future. and that she had contracted a
habit of economy that she could not
break.
"She will Just go on saving and
saving" Mrs. White sighed. Al
though they have comfortable means
and there's nobody to leave anything
to. She has got into a rut and the
rut has frozen. She will have TO. fol
low it to the end. There is no escape
70" her now"
Nobody could say that Mrs. White
had got into a rut, frozen or other
wise. She was an ample-souled
woman. whose presence was a benefit
to the whole neighborhood.
Suddenly the peaceful Rotters were
intruded upon by misfortune. 1t was
found that Tom had to go to the hos
pital, had to have an operation. Some
minor ailment, long neglected, had be-
come serious.
Although the Potters had lived so
long and so fully for themselves, peo
ple forgave them their selfishness and
tried to find something to do for
Louise that would help at least to con-
sole her. But she seemed impene-
trable, except once, when she said,
with something like a sob, to Mrs.
White:
I'm doing a lot of thinking"
Tom came back in three weeks a
little pale, a little weak, but able to
take up his work again. Soon he was
making punctual appearances on the
street, whistling. stepping briskly in
the old way. He had, in short, made
a complete recovery.
But Louise was changed. One day
she was seen driving new carl Mrs.
Holcomb rushed to tell Mrs. White.
Mrs. White could scarcely believe 1t
until she herself saw Louise Potter
learning to drive bright, new sedan. |
Louise's face was red, but she looked |
determined over her task.
Several days Of painful struggle |
followed for Louise. Mrs. White, who
had once tried to assist her husband |
in driving, knew what Louise Potter
was going through. There came an
evening when both Mrs. Holcomb and
Mrs White went across to speak to
Tom, who was moving the lawn.
Louise had not come home to supper.
They had watched. She had been
gone alone for hours. The worst
might have happened. Strange that
Tom did not seem more concerned.
All ne said was. IT guess Lou knows
what she's about"
At that moment she arrived. She
was pale, perspiring. but triumphant.
And the car was without a scratch.
''I got into had detour," Louise
said. But I learned to drive. You
needn't be afraid to go with me now"
Next day she filled the sedan with
1t was joyous party.
She gave an inspiring performance of
skill.
After that the Potters' sedan was a
source of delight to the whole neigh
borhood. Louise taught her husband
to drive it. 1t was their joke that she,
being the braver, had leanred first.
Meanwhile the house of the Potters
various repairs and i'm |
provements. New paint, new paper |
and new furniture made it quite an |
other place.
The Potters began to entertain. |
They invited people in for the evening |
and for dinner. They even gave a |
party and had everybody they knew. !
They were expanding in a way that |
surprised and mystified everybody. |
Tom, the repressed and silent, became |
genial and gay. Louise's generosity !