Evening star., 1927-05-21

4 old home. It was a stately
portal, this of The Glenn house
with a lilac now out of bloom standing
on either corner and a huge brass
knoclter that bore the hallmark OF
genuine antiquity. With her hand
upiiftcd. Rose still hesitated to send
that summoning rat-tat-tat soundins
within.
II was q hrcathleSs morning and
Rose looked "a bit wilted in spite oi
her excited flush, She had ridden
into town with the pratts who had
had a carful without her But Mrs.
Draft had insisted that she accompany
them instead of taking the bus. SO.
unable to refuse. she had held the
fourth Pratt baby on her lap all the
way. In consequence her skirt was
rumpled and Iollypop which the
third Pratt babF had been eating had
muSsed up the front of her crisp
blouse.
4 woman passing stared curiouSly
ri the girl who seemed afraid 10
announce herself and With sudden
determination Rose lifted the handle
of the Snocker Almost instantly.
quite as il She had been peeping from
The window. woman opened the
door Rose lifted her dark eyes 20
the sew blue ones oI her husband $
oldest sister. Ada Patchen.
"Oh. good morning. Ada said,
There WAS 10 enthusiasm III her voice.
She dId not offer to take the hand
Rose timidiv advanced
Behind the Wouau on the threshold
an nncr door cautiously opened, and a
fa.c similar 10 hers gave a quick look
ian the visitor. Rose recognized her
husbands second sister. Abigail who
lived at home with her mother. and
was unmarried.
"Comc ir." Ada Patchen held The
door open far enough TO admit Rose
slender shape come in" she ne
peated and opened the inner door
from which Abisails face had dis
appeared.
Rose found herself in The family
sitting room in the presence Of her
llusbapdS mother and Abigail. Ahi-
gail stood behind her mothers chair.
There was no welcome in her ICY hlNe
ewes But into Mother Gierns face
had sprung a look of interest. She
was most unlike her daughters. for
her eyes were dark and the cut Of
her nose spirited AS Rose shyly
advanced Mother Glenn held out her
hand. 1t was chill, the hand Of an
TOO good. Rose grasped the thin
fingers with her warm. pulsine ones
She would have kissed the Withered
cheek. bat she remembered III time
that Glenn's sisters scorned any dem
onstration Of affection, rating it as
weakness.
Mother Glenn pointed 20 a chair and
Rose sank into it. Very graceful and
with that little air of distinction which
makes even the plaiuest hat and
blouse charming. she awaited some
sign on the part Of this chilly interrog-
atiye trio of women. Meanwhile there
raced through her brain thoughts.
memories, intuitions These three
women had opposed Rose with all
their might when Hugh Glenn sought
to marry her IF she had not loved
him so deeply and been assured that
he loved her, Rose would never have
consented 10 be his wife. When after.
ward his mother and sisters had failed
TO accept her, Hugh had refused TO
so home without her. For more than
a year he had never set foot in his
old home. Then suddenly Mother
Glenn summoned the young wife into
her presence. do as you please
about going, Hugh had said She
had thought ii over carefully and had
decided to put her own feelings aside
and go for her husbands sake.
Rose" Mother Glenn began in a
slightly unsteady voice. Rose looked
at her attentively. Il sent for you
because / wanted to see YOU. I am
T6 years old and my heart is weak.
may go any time. Hugh is my
child-the youngest Of seven,
all gone but three"-some memory
interfered with her train of thought.
Il have d few articles which l want
10 give away now while am here to
see about it. Then there won't be
any quarreling about them when I am
gone. Abigail, bring pencil and paper
and write as I tell you"
Abigail with compressed lips obeved.
Mother Glenn, playing with the
fringe of her shawl stared into some
remote vista Of her own. At last she
began to speak slowly.
l" want YOU. Samantha as my