Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-29

behind them, Only Clara was with her
mother
Obviously Annahele's statement was
the thought struggling for expression
in the hearts of the remaining four.
Yes" confirmed Gideon mournfuliy.
TITS gonna be an awful Joke" con-
tributed the son, Twin in a dump like
this an havin' carpet like that on the
floor Smell it," he invited
How can we help tt?" Clara re-
torted Yet, in softer tones. she added
ITS sandalwood / think"
Whatever 1t is, it's great stuff t.
mix with liver and onions" His tone
implied that, however the family di-
vtded, having acquired this tapestry,
those who remained in the Adams
street tenement should conspire to dine
thereafter on choicer foods.
Why don't you shut the kitchen
door?" And Clara stepped quickly
! across and closed it..
Hadn't - we 49, better -~ roll 1t up
again?" Ma Bushnell faltered. She
blew her nose vehemently and looked
guilty of weakness.
Annabelle addressed her mother IT
spose you'll enjoy havin' it rolled I'D
an hidden away somewheres-like that
set o nice dishes pa bought you last
| Christmas. That's the trouble with us.
We hide pretty things away against tho
gay when we're gonna be rich-and
| then We never are--and we wonder
why life is so shallow and shoddy."
This was an epochal speech for Anna
belle. 1t was more than a speech. II
| slnacked of an indictment.
1T won't fly out O. the window while
were eatin'. guess Joe laughed ner-
| vously. Then to his mother: you and
Clara better stop and eat, before you
go wherever 1t is you're dressed
up and headed for"
They went toward the dining room.
Ma Bushnell and Clara sat down with
| their hats OIL. They left the witching
rug to steep the whole apartments
| though some momentous question con-
| corning 1t must be decided on later.
! But Gideon was troubled-troubled rs
| he had not been last night--troubled as
| he had not been in years.
He chewed the liver languidly and
| took note that 1t was tough, WHY
| should folks eat liver ANYHOW, when
a hundred viands more palatable were
as readily accessiblep They were liver
eaters on principle. 1T seemed, the Bush
nells. Yet they had suddenly come
INTO possession of a genuine Oriental.
Liver eaters!
He took note of other things. WHY
should the father of a modern Ameri-
can family trundle about in such mis-
shapen shoes? To say nothing of his
clothes!
And he owned an Oriental man
with shoes like his!
He did an unexplainable thing,
Midway of the meal he sprane to his
feet. He passed out by way of the
porch and headed down the hill.
Now. what ails him?" Clara de-
manded
Joe had a queer yelled look across
his eyes, Guess he's thinkin about
the same things I'm thinkin'."
What things?"
III you was half a woman. you'd
knowl"
THE feminine Bushnell contingent sat
staring toward the sitting room
door when Joe had followed his father
The son overlook the parent at the
foot OF the grade.
Funny what difference a thing like
that at home might make" Joseph NUT
tered finally. Ma was all het IN To
walk out when the expressman rang
the bell. When they decided to undo
the rug and look at H.. anyhow, 1t
knocked EN- for a goal"
1T forces me to think what mess
I've made of things. son. John Tearle.
my boss. is no Older than I am
Started In business with no more of a
stake, Yet now he is worth a lot
Had six children to raise, stead of three
like me. What's got into me. any
how?"
"Mebbe all of us have been so sure
O Aunt GATHERINGS wad we amt felt
~ necessary to do much sprawlin
Tearle prob1y never expected an aunt
to croak and leave him sittin jake"
The father cringed, though the son
could not see.
ark up the hill" The boy voiced the
thought that seemed to have been
heckling him for the past 40 minutes.
That's no sort o house to hold an
Oriental rug"
A long, long way they walked Neither
OF them appeared to have any specific
place to go, Finally Gideon said
Takes money to move. to get a new
house-all the furnishin's, son. that go
with such rug"
"Sposin' 1t does Pa, I've been
thinkin'. I've been thinkin'. I've been
thinkin' a darned sight longer'n YOU
think I have. Fact is. the will didn't
smash me like ma and the girls I'd
sort o prepared for tin case we got
stung."
"You-what?"
This Is free country, amt IL?
Nothin' to keep you and me from
maxim money, Is there? You amt so
old"
Gideon Bushnell felt hot emotion
coming mp behind his face 1t was
the first time since Joe had quit school
to make his own money that he had
Supuagte1 any alliance hptWRnn them
Not that Gideon hadn't dreamed about
It, now and then as any father might.
And Gideon was hungry for little
such camaraderte- starved for IT,
for. being naturally timid he wanted
the moral support OF those nearest him
to encourage him In any drastic de-
parture.
"You~~~mean- ~together~-,Ioe?"
I'D like TO know why not. Lots OF
fathers and sons hit II of swell-~in |
some sort o. business"
What bnsiness--could you and go
n~~that--~~-,"
"'Taint important, the kind o. bust
ness. But seem the look on Mas face |
tonight when she got the rug spread |
out, II come TO me- sudden like, that |
all that allied her was hopelessness She |
amt cranky cause she's mean. It's |
cause she's heart-broke. So she lams |
into you and me. Mehhe, Pa, every |
thing would be different, II all of our |
home was more like that rug"
Yes" said Gideon huskily.
Another half paced In silence |
Then. PA, I amt done all | might !
urnin money over to you and Ma
more board But I've had my schemes !
| saw your Ak and we'll. | wanted to |
get stake Pa know the auto line.
Wnta lgRar han IA ALL .taalkA