Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-10
THE EVENING STORY

Coffee! And out of your cup" she
ragged.
why. Ellen" Tom said in his quiet
way, you want to remember that
Junior is my child. too, and I love
the little fellow better than I do my
life. l wouldn't harm a hair of his
head for the world. or yours either"
he added. but 1 guess you don't care
about that any more" And as he
said it he slowly arose from the table.
! leaving his unfinished breakfast, and,
| going into the hall, took down his cap
and left the house, EARRING the air
with a well slammed door.
Ellen gazed after him in astonish-
ment. What could all Tom? Never
before had he acted so. But before
she had time to find a solution to the
question she was recalled by Junior,
who demanded "dink" and daddy"
and failing to get either began to cry
loudly. She sat down beside him and
tried to coax him TO eat his breakfast,
but he refused to be consoled and
finally in despair she had taken him
out on the porch and now sat rocking
him, hoping thus 10 quiet him.
He sobbed on coavulsively, digging
his chubby fists into his tear-wet eyes,
and Ellen vainly tried to soothe him
by all sorts of promises. She was at
her wits ends when old Mrs. Granger.
her neXt-door neighbor, came across
the yard and sat down on the steps.
well, Ellen" she said. what's the
matter with Junior? l heard him cry
ing and came right over. He amt
sick, is hep
NO" said Ellen firmly. HE is not
sick. But If his unfeeling father had
had his way he would have been sick
What do you think. Mrs. Granger?
Tom attempted TO give my baby a
drink of coffee out OF his cupv'
Well said old Mrs. Granger in her
calm way, 81 amt Il mite surprised.
Men-and fathers especially have
done such things since the beginning
of time and 1 expect they will con-
tinue to do so as long as there are ba-
bies and coffee. I am glad If Tom is
waking up to the fact that he has a
son and that Junior is taking notice
that he has got a father. was afraid
you had 'em both so set up against
the other that they would never get
acquainted. / was saying to Mrs.
Driscolm the other DAY. if Tom APP
pleby and Junior didn't find them
selves pretty soon and develop some
liking for something or other ana
find you out. Ellen. ! wouldn't give a
tack for any happiness you three
would get out of life
Find me out?" breathed the as.
tonished Ellen as she looked down
into the shrewd eyes Of the older
woman. Find me out? Why. what
do you mean? Haven't / tried to do
my best for my baby, and can you
point 10 one thing where I haven't
been the best kind of mother
Haven't / made every sacrifice for
my child?'
Eyes u--um,' said old Mrs. Granger
dryly. You have sacrificed every
thing for your baby-even your hus-
band. And that is what I've wanted
to tell you this long while. But /
guess Junior and his dad will get to-
gether and give you lesson that will
be better than anything / can say. I
guess they've got on your track all
right. Tom has been man in a thou
sand, Ellen, or he wouldn't have set
by so good and seen you trying to
make a sissy out Of his boy. And he
amt the only man by a long shot
that's had to dance second fiddle TO
his own son. But. If the boy has the
right stun in him he'll turn to his
dad. There is a comradeship between
a son and his father that no mother,
no matter how hard she tries. can
overcome. l say good for JUNIOR and
good for Tom and / hope from now
VII SOu ~ NC &lulIlS W .ItL iOHl HdNO d.
hand in the bringing up of. not your
baby. but of your son. lake him a
partnership affair. 80
Mrs. Granger, when she had said
her say, betook herself home.
Ellen had all day to think over
what the older woman had said, for
Tom telephoned that he would not be
home for lunch.
That night when her husband came
home Ellen met him at the door with
q kiss and smile as she placed Junior.
fresh in his new pink rompers, in his
fathers outstretched arms a thing,
may it be said, she had never done
before.
why, Ellen" Tom cried in az.
"What-what does this
this mean?"
This means. Tom" said Ellen
that this is our boy. Let's work to-
gether to make him the best boy that
ever lived, so that he can grow up to
be as big and unselfish man as his
father In"
THE END.
GcOpyriEht. is27A ---4E1