Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-27
The Hopeless Chest.

to tune on her hpS-a love
tune, old fashioned perhaps,
4 Il but enohantingly coupled
with the words which ran
through her mind endlessly, although
she did not quite dare utter them.
Aunt Janavice scowled upon love,
scowled upon Jean, who was at that
moment loves very expression.
scowled upon the little chest into
which Jean had dropped bit of care
fully accomplished needlework. Hope
chest, indeed! Hopeless chest, I call
it." sneered Aunt Janavice.
Therefore, Jean had not dared tell
the old woman that Hugh Hartley
had said to her that morning over the
telephone:
oh, Jean! BY the way, Jean, are
you going to be home this evening?
If you are ia like to run over. I've
something 10 tell YOU"
Something to tell her! OF course,
she knew what that was. He was
going to ask her to marry him. AS
If she had not had Yes" all ready and
waiting. for him this long time, She
laughed at the idea. Dear Hugh!
Dear, wonderful Hugh
No wonder she was happy No
wonder her heart danced and her lips
sang no wonder her eyes were full
of tender dreams. A long, long day it
had been, though so joyful, but now
at least It was done and he would be
here In 20 minutes.
She had dressed In her prettiest
frock of gold -colored cotton, which
made her hair look like black satin
and her eyes like pools into which
June stars dipped. AS she stood be-
fore her mirror she thought with in
tense gratitude and humble hope Of
the future. To love and be loved,
she who had known no love in all
her life, for Aunt Janavice had only
taken her out of duty when her
parents left her alone and unprovided
for. and had no feeling for her other
than that duty engendered. 1t was
true she had tried to return every
kindness Aunt Janavice had given
her, and for several years now her
earnings had been shared with the old
woman. 1t was at the Office she had
met Hugh and she had begun to love
him at once. But 1t had taken a whole
year for him to love her, though that
did not matter now. To have her own
homeland Hugh. Suddenly she
swung away from the mirror and
dropping on her knees before the hope
| chest lifted the lid, All the little fine
things she had accumulated in that
year lay there breathing forth a scent
Of violet as of promise. She caught
up a knit dish cloth and pressed 1t to
her lips. Then she closed the lid
arose and ran downstairs and out
upon the yeranda.
There was moonlight and the ram
bier rose was a mass of scarlet bloom.
Roses and moonlight-and love! Per
lection, She sighed and sat down
upon the step to wait for her lover.
uftl a ot.xr
bright. She began to hum again that
| old love tune and then she saw him
| coming. Her heart turned and she
put her hand to her breast.
He was coming quickly with that
| brisk. sure step of his. She could
see him. tall in the moonlight When
he reached the lilac bush he cut across
the tiny grass plot and came to her.
"Ohl Here you are" he said.
yes. Here 1 am" she replied
He sat down beside her and, taking
off his hat, smoothed back his blond
hair.
Peach of a night" he murmured.
Then he looked at her isn't it,
Jean, huh?"
Wonderful" she murmured.
Hugh drew a long breath and they
sat in silence while the roses breathed
perfume and the moonlight and the
stiffness wove their charm.
What do you suppose I've come
to tell your" Hugh asked.
Why Then she said the most
ridiculous thing she could think of,
laughing a little as she spoke. you
are going away!'
That's it."
An Icy blast seemed to strike Jean.
She shivered, tried to speak and
failed.
I'm going away tomorrow" Hugh
went on. I'm not kicked out. I'm
just leaving. That's what came
over to tell you tonight. 1 thought
you'd take as much interest as any
body"
She was congealing into a motion
less. numb thing.
I'm going to New York" Hugh
said. II know Il fellow there. You
see, Jean, they don't pay a man in
this office and there is no chance to
rise. Seniority rights. you know.
Why, ia have to wait until l was the
age of old Culberson before II
Hugh paused, knotting his hands and
staring into the moonlit street.