Evening star., 1928-12-29

N simple black hat that Kate
NJ Collins, her longtime milliner,
i had fashioned for her and
peeped into the glass with a
| critical frown upon her gentle brow.
| Did she look nice enough? She patted
down her coat collar, brushed bit OF
| lint from her skirt and took up the
| small bag purchased a few days previous
at Johnson's store. From top to toe she
looked neat, quiet, ladylike. She loved
that word-ladylike. All her life she
had tried to conform to its suggestion
as her mother and grandmother had
! done before her. In that way, as in
| many others, she was as old-faShioned
| as they.
Her husband was waiting for her In
| the newest cara black, long-nOSed
brute built for climbing the mountain
between their village and the large
adjoining town where his business inter-
estS were located. He was q stout,
| elderly man with square chin, quick
gray eyes, the most forceful type of the
successful go-getter. As she climbed in
beside him Nelly looked back at her
home with its look of plain, practical
comfort. Against the Spring green of
grass and foliage 1t looked as white as
snow. She admired any white house;
she loved her own, and she sighed at
leaving 1t because she might be about
to leave 1t forever.
From windows and doorwayS her
neighbors waved her farewell. Mrs.
Eckert tapped her check apron, Mrs.
Cowan fiirted a dust-rag, Lefty Dimmick
Signaled with handkerchief crisp and
scented, as Nelly Ward knew, with rose
leaves. A little child shouted to her
and old Tim Green, limping toward the
grocery for news, swung his battered hat
at her. She responded cheerfully, but
her lips trembled.
The great car ate up the road. Hosea
did not talk much; he was reviewing
the speech he was to make at the big
dinner that was to follow; Nelly sat
holding the bag, thinking deep, grave
thoughts.
Over the mountain they went and
down the other side into the sparkling
town where Hosea's big factory belched
black smoke. Yet. In spite Of the smoke.
Weston was beautiful place with its
fine residences, smooth streets and gilt
ter1ng business section.
There was a flock of cars before the
Weston house, and Hosea maneuvered
the black brute into its place among
them. His manager was there and his
directors, the president of the bank.
prominent club men and women, repre-
sentatives OF all the big firms in town
all gathered to do Hosea honor-an
honor In which his wife was to share.
Nelly knew only two people besides
ner husband, and during the splendid
banquet that followed she felt lonely
and little shy. The food, too, puzzled
her. She liked simple home cooking,
ana these extravagances Of food aroused
CkV rck
was essentially healthy, she wondered If
such mixture as lobster, alligator pears
and strawberry ice could possibly set
well.
The banquet lasted for hours, and
Nelly was heartily glad when it was
over. HoSea'S speech had made her
more nervous than it had him. A good
man, Hosea, her husband for 35 years
ana the father of six children, who
We're all either married or away from
home with affairs of their own.
wen, Nelly" Hosea said as he helped
ner into the black car. That's that.
Now I'm going to show you the house
I've picked out for you.''
1t was splendid house, vast, tower
ing, set IN the midst of beautiful
grounds. A millionaire had built 1t and
only millionaire could live in 1t. It
Is.
rose pergola, fountain and a draw
ing room that could hold 70 people.
IF you want this house it's yours.
Nelly" Hosea said proudly "And YOU
can go the limit in buying stuff for
it."
IT'S grand, dear" Nelly said. "But
what's that building ON the right?"
That's the Weston Memorial library.
| A beauty, eh?"
owns it?"
Summer people. It's opened for orly
two or three months during the year"
She got into the black Car and they
returned homeward Hosea talking gayly
| all the way of his vast new plaus,
Nelly silent and self-abnegative.
A smell Of food greeted them as they
entered the house. Sarah, niddle-ag
and beaming, for many years more of a
housemate than a servant to Nelly
Ward, stuck her head in at the door.
""Supper's ready when you are" she
| said.
In the pretty dinning room lighted
with sunset gold they sat down to home
| made bread, green onions, thin slices Of
corned beef, sponge cake and tart plum
preserves in stemmed glass dish.
Tulips filled an old-fashioned blue bowl
that had belonged to Nellys mother.
II didn't think could eat anything"
Hosea remarked as they left the table.
II will say for Sarah that she knows
how to assemble food"
Nelly cleared her throat.
"If we move to Weston Sarah won't
go with U.s." she said.
"Why not?" Hosea struck match
on the heel of his shoe and Lit his after
supper cigar.
"She won't leave her daughter and
grandchildren. don't blame her. But
II wouldn't know how to keep house
| without Sarah"
They sat down on the porch. Hosea
smoked and Nelly crocheted. A cat
bird poured out his native limitations
from o nearby syringa."
"Say, you'll miss all this when we
get to Weston" Hosea said. He turned
and looked at his wife. Her face was
averted, but she put up her hand to
her cheek.