Evening star., 1927-05-25

her hand. Round the corner q taxi
was just vanishing.
"Juliet had arrived! Olivia's hand
pressed her cheek, that little familiar
gesture Of CONSERVATION. Then she
went quickly down the steps.
'T am sure this is our sister Juliet"
she said in her sweetest voice.
Juliet looked at Olivia out OF dark
eyes that were at once hard and cold.
Her scornful lips moved. Then she
held out her hand.
81 am afraid / have taken you by
surprise" she said.
Not at all. We have been looking
for you ever since we got your let
ter" returned Olivia. pleasantly.
Yet she knew as she conducted
Juliet to her room that the problem
confronting her was going to be even
greater than she had feared
Within an hour Juliet was estah-
lished in the small bungalow. A vast
wardrobe trunk. for which there was
no room, had followed her. She had
bathed and was waiting for Lee and
her dinner, smartly clad in dusky red.
her shining arms and shoulders bare.
her short black hair, touched up at
the temples, smooth. with hrilliantine
rouge on her thin cheeks. A Turkish
cigarette between her jeweled fingers.
Same old Juliet" Lee followed
Olivia into the kitchen and put his
arms about her. We'll, we're in for
it. But why on earth did she leave
the Westmore TO come here" She
won't like it. She's lived high ever
since her marriage: Dudley was GO
getter. He made more money in one
day than l can make in a year-not
that | approve of making money by
some of the ways he employed. How
ever. he's gone"
"Her life must be pretty empty"
Olivia said gently. NO children. no
home" She turned away and be-
gan to dish up the potatoes.
For two days Juliet moved through
the bungalow in beautiful clothes Of
the latest mode. Her perfume. her
She read. iounged, reflected. but she
didn't offer to help with the house
| work. And she took no further notice
of Bobby from that first day. Bobby.
| the irresistible cherub, lived and
charmed under her very nose without
more than a passing glance from her.
| He tried his little best to be friends
| with Auntie Jewell, as he called her.
but Auntie jewell would have none
of him. Never had Olivia been so
sorely tried, yet she strove to be
| brave, reposeful. generous. Lee got
along very we'll, because he didn't see
| the worst Of 1t. But alone, Olivia
would clasp her hands and say to her
self:
She's hard. she's heartless. oh.
what can she be staying for? l wish
she would go away"
Olivia was making cake one morn
| ing while Juliet lounged at the win
dow, sometimes looking on Indifferent
| ly. sometimes putting at the cigarette
she held. On the lawn Bobby played
with his little red cart.
| THE child" Juliet spoke casually.
has strayed into the street. Shall
I bring him back. Your hands are
all -four"
"Yes. please" But Olivia, nervous
| ly wiping her hands. went to- the door
out of which Juliet had passed.
| Bobby was STOPPING TO fill his red
cart with dust when there came a
screech, roar, and a great truck
| thundered down upon him. He did
not hear his mothers scream.
With q leap and spring Juliet's lit
| tie form was in the street, she
clutched. whirled. The truck driver
wrenched on his emergency brake. but
not until the wheels had passed over
the spot. Underneath, was a little red
|
| in the arms of a white-faced woman
whose orchid frock showed how close
she had been to peril.
| Hush, Don't cry over the cart"
Juliet whispered into his hair. "You
shall have another"
Juliet. sister" Olivia could say
no more.
I'D have done more than that for
Bobby" Juliet breathed.
| The sat on the davenport. close,
with Bobby on Auntie Jewell's lap.
II have tried not to love him."
Juliet said. But it's no use" After
a moment she added. II had a little
boy. he lived two years-maybe Lee
told you? 1 wasn't the kind of moth
er to him that you are to Bobby
so maybe I deserved to lose him. 1t
was the same with Dudley-and now
1 am left with empty arms" Her
| voice broke.
| At this sound Bobby put his arms
about Juliet. snuggled close and
kissed her. Olivia, too, drew nearer
In tender. homely sympathy and sud-
den affection for this newly revealed
Juliet.
! 1t was thus Lee found them when
he came home from work.
(The End.b
| tCopyrght 1927