Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-16
THE EVENING STORY

lie Hdu uIedOiul kOOu HOCh
But Elon had been Miles only
husband and she had been very grate-
full to him for marrying her and max
ing her as happy as she had been. She
had become his wife at IL when he had
rescued her from her position as drudge
In the overlooking household of her
aunt, Hat Hawkins. To be translated to
q home of her own with every comfort
in life and some opportunity for having
her own way had seemed little short Of
heaven to poor little Mile and she had
never outgroWn the surprise and thank
iulness. Nov with Elon gone she felt
that her future life was of no account
save as she spent IL in adoratiOn Of her
memory. The fact that he had been
20 yaars older than she and had suffered
terribly from rheumatism toward the
last made no difference in her feelings.
AS she sat there with her ewes fixed
in sad contemplation Of his ugly coun-
tenancs the door opened and woman
looked at ker from the threshold-a
tall woman in dark blue with a thick
suitcase in her hand
When you didn't hear the bell" the
woman said, II decided that the only
thing left for RE was to walk right
i'll"
why. Adelaide Draper!' Mile said
family and uncuriously. Then she
began to CRY. "Elon's gone-Elon's
gone"
"Oh. I know that" Miss Draper set
down her suit case and began to re-
move her coat GIG 60. -,.~g 49,
hunter wrote me. I've come to stay
with you spell, Mile. Aren't you
glad to see me?"
"Elon's gone Mile sobbed.
al act
sighed. Then she sat down and wait
ed for something mora. Nothing mort
came.
Mile was so absorbed By her grie
that she paid no heed to the guest
AS a matter of fact, Mrs Todhunter
Elon's sister, had written to Adelaide
a few days before.
DO come and see if you can do
ANYTHING with her 1 can't do thina
and I'm afraid unless she can be
aroused she will 60 into decline,
maybe lose her mind. You are one
of her Oldest friends. you knew her
when she was a little girl, and YOU
may be able to get her out Of this
dreadful state she IS in"
We'll, Mile" Adelaide said after a
half hours silence. 1T is getting tea
time and I'm hungry. 1t Is quite a
Journey from Wellsport. Will you get
supper or shall II"
Il don't cara-I don't care" sighed
Millie. Later when Adelaide came in
from the kitchen she said 4 don't
want a mouthful Of anything. Please
let me alone"
And Adelaide had to eat unaccom-
ranied the meal she hsrseI had pre-
pared.
Things were little batter next day
Mile ate little, said almos. nothing
and sat staring disconSolate.y az he1
/ beloveds crude countcnance. But an
/ nour after the midday meal she be-
/ came aware of sounds overhead. Draw
| ers opened and closed. doors creaked.
steus patted everywhere. Adelaide nowl
/ What was she doing upstairs?
1t sounds rs i she were IL my
/ room" Mile thought. Yes. that was
lit! Adelaide was IN her room. Ias
! idea! She arose and went upstairs
/ lust in time TO meet Adelaide IN the
/ upper hall.
/ Neither spoke. and Mile went into
her room and looked about. Nothing
was disturbed. but still she vas sur
| Adelaide had been there.
Now that she Was upstairs ST
/ thought she might as -ell lie COW
and taks little rest. She Ind sler
( so little last night.
/ She had not lain there long when
/ she heard Adelaids creep upstairs. She
/ did not go into her rooms but assembled
/ further. to the attic Mile lying there
could hear her prying and poSing for
/ full hour
I For years 11illie's house nad been her
! own. with no hands save hers TO disturb
/ certain parts of it, end to have a
woman. Who, however friendly, had no
business TO Go so, peeSing into her
/ precious belongings stirred her with
resentment.
At supper size asked Adelaide:
What ware you doing in the attic
/ this afternccn?"
| Adelaide lifted her strong brows.
/ "Attic Did you think you heard
| something's"
/ I heard YOU"
! 'My!" was all Adelaide commented.
| The following morning Adelaide sole
away down cellar Down cellar nowl
Glass tinGled as she rummagsd n the
/ fruit closet, Mile twisted Uncorliort-
ably in her chair and then trottsd down
c9llar. only 10 find Adelaide c0riag 10
inrocently with basket Of potatoes
Eat that aIt-TnCcu she vas 81 1t
again. this time in N-illiaS room again.
( Click went loo';, hl'rlp vent a drawer.
I This time Niilis f1irlv Esw I'D stairs,
/ and caught sight OF The ;ail Of Aclel-
aides tla~'; slit rs sAn whisked into
! her eva room.
/ II vas the very next day tina. .Tillic,
taking y ps.p through her bureau,
missed her pearl brooch II was gOne
from the pincushion where she always
pinned Ii wh.n she took 1t OF. Her
heart lluit2rcd - she searched [or 1t.
Her pearl bycoch tf2t sae had had
~ al t%Ny
Where could il BE-? At that moment
she made another discover. Her white
silk blouse was gonc--and q little bead
purse that she suddenly rem Nribered she
thought a great deal Of She turned
pale with apprehension. Could Adaisi5e
have taken the thingS9 But il not
Adelaide then who?
Brea hlcSSly she ran from Inc room
downstairs. calling Adelai6e's name.
But Adelaide did not answer, Adelaide
was gone! She had vanished from the
house rs II she had never been
And now Mile was wild. indeed
For the first time in two months she
forgot her Zion and his dsu!Ss she
was stirred 10 the depths BY the alb
Sconding Of her friend Yes a5S@Cud-
ing was the word Adelaide had rum
mayed, taken what she wanted and
gone! Adelaide. the upright. the
loyall What had come over her2
Mile began TO ponder, worry. try 20
find an excuse for her old friend She
wert for Adelaide. and then she re-
mem5ered that she was hungry she
prepared good meal and az jt
Then she did what she had NOT
Gone in Two months; she dressed and
started tor Mrs, ToGhunters Il was
mile thsrS--a good long walk. but
Ailhs Sped along. She had % have
counsel from one she could trust
As she opSned Mrs TodhunterS j,-
inc room door the first thing she saw
was Adelaide sitting quietly there sew
Ing
'Iclso, .Illl.el" she said unconcern-