Evening star., 1927-10-03
The Made. Over Mother.

YESSY Balm clipped her eye
glasses 10 her nose and read the
letter slowly, twice. Color rose
~ to her full, fair cheeks and she
caught her breath sharply.
Mrs. Darrin had invited them all to
spend the following day with her a..
the Rexmere, where she was stopping
for the summer. She would send the
car after them ut noon. That meant
lunch, a delightful afternoon. dinner,
an evening on the porch while the
young folks were dancing. The girls.
Of course, would he wild to so. AS
for herself-but she must see what
they said.
The came in presently. tennis rack
cts in their hands. Is and II, respec-
lively. slim, French bobbed. their
charming faces touched up a bit with
rouge. clad in delightful sport togs.
Jessy's two daughters were attractive
and popular. They were also expen.
sive. In order to feed, clothe, educate
them as they demanded Jessy found it
necessary to econOmiZe strictly In
other ways. The income which had
seemed abundant when the girls We're
small shrank now with every succeed.
ing year Sometimes Jessy wondered
if it would not he better to sell her
pretty home and go to live In an apart
ment. With the girls constantly at
school or visiting and likely to be mar
ried soon she would not need so much
room.
They read the letter. Peggy hang
ing upon Betty's shoulder.
Great" they both cried. That 3
fine in Mrs. Darrin. Must be shes
asked us on Halls account. huh. Bet?''
Peg asked.
That's it. Of course-but, mother,
I see she's asked you. too
II have known Mrs. Darrin for a
long time. dears. When your father
and Mr.. Darrin were both living they
used to be intimate friends" Jessy
said. with little quiver of the lips.
We'll, Shall we go, Betty"
Sure. I wouldn't miss it for any
| thing" returned Betty. Call up the
| Rexmere at once. mother"
NO" .JeSsy said with unusual firm.
ness for her. LAS she has written
prefer to reply i'm the same manner
| She went to her desk and sat down.
! The girls left the room. She heard
| the orch.hammock squeak. They
were there-just outside the window
| To Jessy it promised more than
merely being a treat to spend the day
| with her old friend. What lot they
would have to talk over! The girls
would have good time. too. Per.
haps Hall Darrin might She smiled
! happily as she dipped her pen. Al
| that instant Peggy's voice came tC
her coldly. distinct.
Il wish mother wouldn't go. II she
wears that old made-over black char
meuse 1 shall die"
Betty answered: you'll have tc
I -f = ~
| tell her to stay at home when tbs
invitation is really hers. We're just
| thrown in on Halls account. But that
old black charmeuse is the limit. She's
| getting so fat. too. But we must be
| careful not to hurt the old dear's
! feelings"
I'D rather stay home" grumbled
| Peggy. Cant we hack out at the last
minute? Think now. Isn't there
| some way we won't have to appear al
that princely hotel chaperoned by that
old charmeuse?" They began to whis
per.
Jessy dropped her pale face in hel
hands. She had received a shock
For the first time she had heard her
daughters opinions of her expressed
i'm words She did not blame them
She was herself at fault. She had
brought them up 10 demand all, slN-
little. II they were selfish she hat
made them so. If they were ashamed
| of her and her made-over clothes she
deserved it. Her sacrifice. her immo
lation of self, had produced ungratify
i ing results but She should have
| seen that they would.
| Jessy. sitting there at her desk, haC
| a very bad 10 minutes-the worst per
haps she had ever known, and she hat
known many-since Tom died. At th'
end of that time she lifted her head
| took up her pen and wrote with firm
purpose, although with slightly un