Evening star., 1927-04-19
THE EVENING STORY

IL
II was looking for my husband when
the light fell on your face. | am so
glad to meet YOU. My husband hasn't
come, after all He went to the city
on business and probably has been
detained. So YOU must let me take
YOU in my car. BY the way. whom
are YOU visiting ."
Ellen colored, Nobody. You see.
1-Ididn't let anybody know | was
coming. so I shall go TO the hotel.
II is very kind Of you. Mrs. Page
| am grateful. II is storming. isn't
it?'
II was indeed, beginning 10 storm
very hard. They hurried TO the great
/ in livery took charge of Ellens shah
by suitcase.
III you will just leave me at the
hotel" Ellen began
AT the hotei2" Mrs PAGE looked
at her guest under the dome light
IF that is the only place you have
in mind l am going to take you
home with me"
II was useless for Ellen 10 pro
test Mrs, Page simply would have
| her own way. So, instead of occupy
ing room at either the shabby old
hotel or the noisy new one. Ellen
slept in resplendent chamber on
cushions Of down. She was so worn
in body and soul that she slept. And
she awakened to a shining world and
a strange wonder at being where she
was.
Breakfast was a thing OF beauty
and delight, with Chinese lilies and
Lowestoft china. She was alone
with Mrs. Page at the table.
"Of course. now that | have got
you, shall keep you right here with
me Mrs. Page said.
Il couldn't think of making you so
much trouble
Trouble! Afy dear. my maids will
see to making your bed and provid-
/ ing you with a cover at table. And
! shall have your company. which
I need. Can't you see that I'm a
lonely woman"
You look very comfortable, Ell
len smiled
"Oh--yes. But there is a draw
back. You remember my son,
Archie?"
Il was just going to ask about
him"
HE died just as he came of age"
Then. hurrying over Ellens sympa-
thetic murmur: Il have often thought
that if your husband had been here
Archie would have lived. You recall
how successfully your husband
treated the Beals boy? Well,
Arches case was the same" She
paused. Then changing to a iivelier
tone, she said: Il shall telephone
few of your old acquaintance and
let them know you are here. Then
you will see"
Ellen did see. Those few magic
words from Mrs. Page brought i'm
mediate results. People came flock
ing TO see her, eager with welcome.
She had more invitations than she
could accept At night when she
crept into the mahogany four poster
she was limp as a rag with fatigue,
her head whirling with many pleas
ant impressions.
She knew it was all owing to Mrs
Pages influence. Now. as in the old
days, everybody followed whittier
Mrs. Page led. But never mind. she
was having good time. Sometimes
she was almost happy She found
herself laughing, talking quite girl
ishly.
Then came the last evening with
a party. small. intimate affair az
which the souls she knew best gath
cred AS they sat In the glow of Mrs.
Pages gold-shaded lights Ellen
found that the time had come for
her to speak what was in her heart
You folks have been so good to
me that | jus. must tell you how
grateful ] am" she said. why,
you've made me feel almost young
again--and almost happy. l wanted
to come, but / dreaded to come. on
account of the old associations. but
you have made il all so easy and so
pleasant for me. / am taking away
so much that l can't tell you about
things that shall be comfort TO me
all the rest of my life, like that
motor trip TO Canada Falls. That
was the place where Arthur and J
used TO steal away for our bits Of
outing. He loved things like that
And the last words he said 10 me
were Ell when l get mended vel
20 back to Canada Falls and renew
our honeymoon. Somehow feel he
knows I've been there. And maybe
he wasn't far away"
There was silence. And then Mrs,
Page began to speak very gently,
laying her hand upon that of Ellen,
who sat beside her.
II wish we had understood the
doctor and you better when you were
here among us But we were too
young and thoughtless. Life goes 50
fast when you are just entering the
3os. But past so you get true
perspectives. You've had your sor-
rows--yes. the older you get the
faster you cling to the tried. true
things. When you came down ths
steps OF that train in the dusk .
month ago II came to me like a flash
that I had been wanting TO see you
a long time. You gave me back the
things had lost-rny youth
Archie. I have been very happy
while you have been here. Ellen. and
never shall lose sight OF you again
They all said the same thing, and
Ellen could not but believe they
meant it.
Next morning Ellen went away
Her niche in the Pullman wat
crowded with farewell gifts--roses
books, bonbons. Her heart was warn
and glad. She was going away. bui
she was coming back. The fame
lived-that feeble little flame Of sac.
rifce and service which she and AR.
thur had lighted long. long ago.
THE Enid