Evening star., 1928-04-07
The Silver Lining.

The disappointment had come 20
swiftly and Unexpectedly that Aunt
Jerry was still bit bewildered trying
to assure herself 1t was reality and not
horrid nightmare when Madge landed
for her Easter vacation. It would seem
almost providential to have the girl
come from college just at the time, but
Aunt Jerry was suffering too much
physical pain from her sprained ankle
and too much mental anguish over her
greater disappointment to feel thank
ful for anything.
"Oh, Aunt Jerry" Madge burst into
the sick room In her usual boyish man
ner, the manner her aunt had been
criticizing so forcibly to the family
doctor. "You poor dear, how are you
feelign now? II you only knew. DR..
Evans. how she has sacrificed TO give
Gordon his lessons, always looking for
ward to the day he would sing his first
solo in a big church. And now when
she was all packed to go and hear him
Easter Sunday she had to fall on those
horrid old basement stairs and sprain
her ankle. Isn't 1t too terrible?"
Madge put out an impulsive hand
and patted the thin fingers on the COW
erlet She wanted to throw her arms
around her aunt and give her a big
bear hug. but something about Aunt
Jerry had always seemed to hold the
girls outbursts of affection at arms
length and make her feel left out and
alone.
The postman's whistle sent her fly
ing from the room again and Aunt
Jerry turned to the old doctor with a
gratified look as much as to say,
There. what did tell you?"
She really is dear at heart. /
know" conceded Aunt Jerry. feeling
instinctively that the doctors opinion
OF the young girl he had doctored from
babyhood did not exactly coincide with
her own. But she's altogether too boy
ish I really feel all this gymnastic
stuff isn't just-just feminine. you
know. She's simply crazy about them
all, basket ball. tennis. skating, and
now her last fad Is radio. But ! drew
a sharp line there. Shed much better
be learning to darn and crochet the
way I did when a girl, instead of lis
tening to the crazy jazz they get
through the radio They're no good. /
tell you, no good at all" With a tre-
mendous little burst Of feeling Aunt
Jerry drew her handkerchief quickly
across her eyes.
"I suppose I'm foolish" she went on
after pause, but you know when
Sister Carrie died and left me with
the two children how happy was to
find Gordon had voice and how I've
done without to have Ii trained. II
did so want to hear him sing his first
solo in big city church. wanted to
hear the pipe organ and feel that my
boy was part of all the bigness and
was singing his song for me out OF a
grateful heart"
DR.. Evans finished bandaging the
foot and stood a moment looking down
at the sufferer, feeling for some words
to offer in consolation. But for the
first time in the many years he had
known her he felt there was nothing
he could do to allay her mental dis
tress. His work must deal only With
the physical discomfort. Maybe If We
try real hard" he fumbled. I'VE may
find q silver lining Who can tell?"
At the foot of the stairs the doctor
was confronted by tiny but deter
mined figure with sparkling eyes and
a secretive finger across her lips
Motioning him into the dining room
she closed the door and began at once:
Doctor. I've started something / can't
finish. I simply must have your help"
'Shoot ahead. young lady" he
laughed softly 1T certainly starts out
interesting enough"
After a few minutes whispered con-
versation the doctor tiptoed through
the hall toward the front door again
and stole out 70 his waiting car.
Easter morning rose clear and warm.
Even Aunt Jerrys tired eyes frightened
as Madge trundled a wheel chair to
her bedside. explaining that the doctor
had ordered by way OF tonic that she
be wheeled into the guest room, where