Evening star., 1928-05-24
In the Grand Stand.

TMdA WILCOX had paid her
l. quarter and climbed into the
grandstand because she was too
IL tired to stand up another min
ute. She had come to the fair
solely for the sake of bringing the
children, not because she had any long
Ing for it herself. Fairs, like many other
things. had lost their pleasurable sig
'tlificance when her husband died, leav-
ing her with four boiSterous boys and
girls to bring up alone. The last time
she had been here Jake had brought
her, and she thought of that happy
day now as She sat on the hard seat
gazing down upon the crowd below and
trying To follow the doingS of the twins
and Merle and Arthur.
Emma was a small woman with
patiently smiling expression. lovely fair
hair which was always little untidy
and the blue eyes that seemed exactly
TO match the faded gingham of her
homemade frock, In her lap were her
purse, half bag of popcorn and a.
souawker which the twins had COM
manded her to keep for them until
wanted.
A fash as of mirror turning in the
sun caught her eye and she glanced
toward the entrance to the grounds,
where through the gates down the lit
tie hln came a great glittering car,
Honking for room it moved down the
track 10 the parking space which was
at one side of the grandstand.
THE Lulrs new carl" Emma thought.
''And Lucia is in it driving ii all alone
The sight of the large. superb figure
on the uncut mohair cushions had Civ
en- her a fresh sense Of the ineQual-
itv Of life. For she and Lucia Lull had
started even IL years back. Indeed, 1t
might be said that the prospects were
Slightly in Emma'S favor. for at that
time Jake Wilcox had seemed young
man OF mightier promise than George
Iull. But somehow the fortunes of the
LullS had risen while those of the Will
coxes had declined. George Lull had
invested in something that had made
him rich, over night. while Jake Wilcox
died. leaving his family with about half
as much as was needed to support them.
AS consequence Lucia Lull drove
$4,000 car with the inexpert grace of a
timid woman. while Emma Wilcox
walked in shabby shoes which she had
to earn for herself. and in the hardest
way. too, for with four children to- do
for, taking boarders was no joke. Lucia,
doubtless had driven over to the fair
grounds because she had nothing else
10 do. but Emma was there because
her children found in the fair great
playground, and she was determined TO
deny. them no pleasure that was in
noceht and reasonable.
When Emma, after a glance at Lucia
Lull's car. looked back to the place
where her children had been she found
the twins missing from the little FAM
iliar group of four. Anxiously her gaze
scanned the scene before her in every
direction. then with intense relief she
saw them approaching the grandstand,
trotting along. clinging hand TO hand
in spite of their 8 years. Bob and Bah!
Dressed as near alike as boy and girl
may be. She smiled at the dear. quaint,
little figures They were coming to the
grandstand to find her, wanting an
other nickel apiece. maybe. She began
to tumble in her purse and had sue
ceeded III locating the coins by the
time they Joined her.
"Well2" she said. Strengthening Bob's
hat and Bab's hair ribbon.
ITS going to rain" Bob said.
"It'S going TO rain hard!" Bah
strengthened her brothers assertion.
Emma, assured By the blue sky be-
fore her, merely said:
Then you better stay here with me.
dears. Are Merle and Arthur coming.
too?"
They're watching the man with the