Evening star., 1927-10-31
THE EVENING STORY

"Why. Gareth Warren. What are
YOU doing?" she casped.
Packing my bag he replied brieny.
'But what for"
II told YOU several days ago. m
going to spend the week end with
Aunt Sally
lie had. then. not given up at all!
Charlotte stared in amazement. trying
To understand this new phase in his
nature.
oh Gareth. You won't leave me-"
she walled.
lie SIN led upou her.
NO. Ill take YOU with me IL you
want To GO
SO she went What else could she
do? But she went unwillinsly. pro-
testincly. with n grievance AGAINST
her hiS hnss and with her heart dis
tillng hatred for Aunt Sally.
After 2 four hours journey they
alightcd at small station. Gareth
took her arm and the bag and they
walked through the cool afternoon vii
lage streets till they came TO A small
gray house with trumpet vine beside
the dor. Gareth went in without
Knocking
Aunt salleyl Aunt salley:" he
shouted.
They found hcr i'm the kitchen-a
tiny. whitc-haired old woman with
wistful blue eyes behind spfctaCies.
The spectacles had to come off on &C
count OF tears as Gareth EMBODIED her
and kissed her.
And this. Aunt Salley, is Char
| lotte," he said.
You dear child Aunt Salley ex.
pected to he kissed and Charlotte had
/ fn IL flYrilI
how when those blue eyes turned upon
/ her.
| They had supper Immediately. cold
sliced meat and thimble biscuit and
fruit cake and fresh apple sauce-af
| very plain and delicious. Afterward
Gareth wiped the dishes with one of
/ Aunt Sallys aprons tied around his
| waist. They had great fun over II and
/ Charlotte went out and found cat
I to play with and left them together.
AS the moon rose they sat on the
. porch and Gareth and Aunt Sally
| talked. Charlotte smelIed the white
| Jasmine in the garden and watched
/ the moon and was silent.
| At an early hour they went upstairs
| to the best chamber. But before they
| entered it Gareth led Charlotte to an
| other room-a small room with many
boyish belongings. SnowshOes and
| fishing rods on the wall. school ban.
ncrS over the bureau. old books. shells,
| stores.
This" he said. "was my room. and
| Aunt Salley has kept it just As it was"
| 1t was a crowded. ugly little room.
| Charlotte thought. and it did not con.
| Struct for her that other Gareth, the
, boy who had lived there.
at smells musty" she said with
laugh and went to the well aired guest
chamber.
They went to church next morning,
a drOwsy proceeding. only enlivened
for Charlotte by the curiosity her en-.
trance occasioned. She had worn her
orchid organdy and looked charmirgly
brdelike.
Dinner was dull affair There was
chicken-for it seemed Aunt Salley
had been expecting them-chicken and
biscuit and mashed potatoes. After.
ward GarCth begged leave OF Aunt
Sally to go to look up an old boy
friend.
For the first time Charlotte and
Aunt Salley were alone together. 1t
was an awkward situation. Charlotte
could see that Aunt Sally felt 1t as
much as She
Wouldn't you like to come upstairs
with me? I want to show you some
things" Aunt Sally said
They west upstairs to Aunt Sally's
plain white room. Aunt Sally knelt
down before the Old-fashioned chest OF
drawers. opened drawer and beTan
to take out things which filled Char.
lotfe with amaZement and wonder A
little yellow shirt. worn baby shoe.
rattle, a tiny pair of knit mittens.
you see. Gareth's mother died
when he was born. and he came right
to me-" Aunt Sally was saying. ct
was net married md there was no.
body else to- look after him. / NAV
say mothered him from the very
start"
She sat there, the little silver
haired old maid, with Gareth's baby
things in her lap, dwelling upon them
fondly.
Suddenly Charlotte could see him.
sturdy, rosy. toddling in the little
shoes. She took one OF them in her
hand. Her eyes overf1owed. She
kissed it.
Then all at once she was on the
floor beside Aunt Sally and was kiss.
ing her. too.
You dear little woman, What .
lot owe to you--my Aunt Sally" she
cried.
THE END.