Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-05
The Little Brown Woman.

the time she reached Syracuse
- Grace Holden was worn out
with the performances of Don.
IL ny, her sI.year.otd son. II
seemed to her that he had done
everything that youngster can do
to make his mother miserable.
It was strange, too, for at home in
the quiet little village OF Deepdale
Donald was considered a model in.
FAINT. With disposition as sunny as
his hair and a smile that won all
hearts he was talked about as that
wonderful Holden kid" His dad, the
elder Donald. called him Some Kid
believe me-" and even Grace felt
proudly that she had a right TO re-
gard herself as the possesSor of a sli.
perb specimen of babyhood.
Not only was Denny gifted in the
way of correct parentage. but he had
been carefully and exclusively trained.
Grace had laughed when old Mrs,
Scohle showed doubts about Donny's
becoming success on such long
Journey as this: You never can tell
about children; they will be Just little
angels at home, but once YOU get
them out of their environment they
will cut up perfectly awful"
Now Grace knew that her kindly
old neighbor was right. With her
Journey but half completed she was
tired to exhaustion. Denny. so fresh
and sweet when he left home, was.
soiled and rumpled and overtiushed
and she was in a state Of dishevel-
ment that filled her with misery For
Denny had not only spilled glass of
water in her lap. sprinkled her with
crumbs from his cookie and left sticky
finger prints on her fresh blouse, but
had also torn her hair down and her
hat off in an excess of affection. AS
finishing touch he had fallen down
in the aisle and bumped his noseLand
1t had hled.
She bore him into the station, for
experience had taught her not to let
him run loose With a heavy suit case
weighing her down on the opposite
side. she felt sensitively that they
were both sights, and amusing sights
at that. Tears came into her eyes.
and she wondered what the folks at
home would think of the trim Mrs.
Holden and her better baby" now.
In despair she sought the ladies' room
and sank into a seat.
Two hours wait for the next train.
And then an afternoon journey to
the home Of her friend. She wished
she had not come. But Margaret had
been so eager and Donald had said
Go" She had wanted to go. for she
had not been away from home since
her marriage. and Margaret was her
dearest friend. Now she was sorry
that she had ever thought of such
thing.
OF course. the instant Grace sat
down Denny wanted to get off her
lap. He squirmed and twisted and at
last yelled
oh, Donny." Grace pleaded. "You
are driving me wild" She felt with
that that she had used her last ex-
postulation.
Let me look after the baby for YOU,
dear. till you rest a Bit" said a sweet
voice. and Grace looked into the face
of small. glowing. trim young WON.
an whose eyes. matched her accent,
which was Swedish without doubt
: 'Oh. thank you. but. but-you will
find him great bother" Grace pro-
tested.
Not at all. He will play with my
youngster, and / doubt not they'll get
along together fine
1t was then that Grace saw the
robust. handsome 2-year-old which was
fastened to his mothers wrist by a
long strap The child pranced about
fast and safe. And while he pranced
his mother obviously had been read.
ing a magazine undisturbed She had
laid the magazine aside TO be kind to
this other mother, who. travelling a
long way from home, was 50 In need
Of assistance.
The little brown woman-Grace
called her that mentally because she
wore brown from top to toe-took 1
command of Denny and soon had him
engaged and happy. For from a con.
venient basket she took a toy which
instantly captured his attention. The
rest was easy.
Grace. seeing that Denny was con.
tent. stole away to the dressing room
10 battle her face and arrange her dis
ordered hair. She thought as she
brushed the cookie crumbs fro--1 her
skirt how odd IL was that OF all the
women gathered in the great ladies'
room the only one who could take
time to be kind was another mother
like herself. Most Of the women
looked languid and bored, hut there
was neither languor nor weariness