Evening star., 1927-04-13
THE EVENING STORY

NNE gave a last flourish with
n her broom and the front porch
"A was swept. Her lips, which
had been curving in a smile.
Strengthened suddenly as she
saw Franks figure on the porch next
door.
"Hey-Shoesr' yelled Frank.
But like a shot the dog was down
his steps and rushing toward Anne.
"Shoo. Get off my clean porch. you
~ Shoes said Anne, making a rush to.
~ wards the dog.
Shoes hesitated uncertainty and
then ran with clumsy feet through
the rose bushes.
"You ought to marry me, Anne.
and then you and / and Boots and
Shoes would all be one merry house
hold. The cat and the dog and the
two orphans-say, what do you say
Anne?
Anne tossed her head: Think Id
give your old dog house room she
laughed. Il just guess not. Boots
now-there's a cat for you. Smart,
intelligent and never brings bit OF
mud in the house." Anne turned
abruptly and hurried into the house.
4 She had seen Agnes in another new
j dress coming down the street. From
behind her front curtains she saw
Frank shrug. slam the front door
without letting Shoes in and then join
Agnes in the morning run Tor the
train.
Then Anne sat down heavily in the
old.fashioned morris chair and with
Boots arching her back on her lap
cried as If her heart were broken. In.
deed, Anne was definitely sure lhat
her heart was broken.
n Roots 70 think |
can't have enough money to buy q
decent rousseau-indeed, no trous-
seau at all.''
Boots made no reply. Instead she
sat down on Anne's lap and with
great care washed each foot and with
her pink tongue stroked the hair until
each root resen1bled a tall black boot.
Anne stared unseeingly at the cat.
4 her thoughts on that happy time
three years before when she and
Frank had gone together to every
party In the neighborhood. Anne's
father had been living then on the in
come from his great pottery works.
While they had never been wealthy
they had been very comfortable and
a new frock or coat or suit was IN the
ordinary course of events. Upon her
fathers death Anne had been duly
surprised that his insurance had
lapsed only the week before and as
for income from the pottery works
there was none.
Your father sold his interest three
months before he died and it was
agreed that he should be advisory
head Of the firm at $4,000 a year as
long as we needed him in that ca
pacity," the president Of the company
had told Anne.
"But the money-where is the
money!" she had asked. feeling over
burdened with the expenses that she
found herself unable to meet.
The president of the company had
shrugged. II happen TO know that
he took it from the bank in gold
that's all know" he had remarked.
And the gold had not been found.
SuTnising that 1t might be somewhere
about the house, Anne had searched
increasingly. 1t did not mean money
alone to Anne. 1t meant marriage.
She felt that unless she could be mar
ried with a well filed hope chest and
an extensive trousseau marriage
should not be thought of. Frank was
not well of, having only his house
and salary.
And instead of telling him why she
put on the marriage, Anne, like many
another foolish girl, cloaked her real
reason with a false one. She made
Franks dog the obstacle. Frank had
offered to give Shoes away, to send
him to the country to a relative. but
Anne would have none Of this.
You'd only want another dog-and
they track up the house,
Anne" he said at last. "I can't !
understand you at all. A year ago
we were planning a fireplace to-
gether for Boots and Shoes to enjoy
and now--now you've taken q sud
den dislike TO Shoes, poor oil pupr'
And hoping against hope that the
next days search would bring forth
the money her father had hidden
somewhere, Ann hesitated Now
Agnes had come upon the scene and
Agnes had always, Anne felt, liked
Frank more than casually. Agnes
worked in the public library at a
good salary, most Of which went for
clothes. And Anne's clothes were all
last years style, with their give-away
lines and jabots.
There was q scratching at the
door now and Anne rose. "H'lo
Shoes" she said, patting the dog
waiting there.
But Shoes. instead of coming in as
he usually did, bounded in joyously
Boots arched her back and let out a
little Snarl and hiss. Shoes Iunged
at her and then the race was started
Around and around the rooms they
went, Boots ieaping agilely ahead of
the dog, who followed in hot pursuit
Anne stared at the two in dismay.
This was a thing which had never
happened before, and she wondered
what the damage would be. Then her
eye fell on the weighted vase that her
father had made by hand just before
his death.
4 ''It'u probably be my last piece OF
I pottery work, Anne" he had said to