Evening star., 1928-06-18
THE EVENING STORY

Then mother went 10 the telegraph.
Office and sent q telegram to Marcia.
| telling her not TO be alarmed. but 70
come home at once with her family
That was the only way TO get Marcia.
for she had had the Martha soul of the
family. When there was hard work 10
be done Marcia did it. When some one
had to do without dress II was Marcia
who went without. She was never idle.
never still. Even fate had seen to ii
that Marcia's lines were not to be IN
easy places, for she married q farmer
IN Kansas and with two children her
life was hard.
Mother had always felt guilty abou;
Marcia, and when she came home
mother gave her and her husband
$4,000 IN bonds. practically all the
money mother had. but she was no,
going to need IL much longer. and the
other children had so much more than
Mercia
Mary Margaret brought her family
from New York TO see Marcia. and
Jordan left his chair in the University
of Pittsburgh long enough TO bring his
wife home when Marcia was there.
Mother told them the same VAGUE
story about going away for the Winter.
She gave Jordan his fathers books, and
the Joy in his eyes made her sorry she
had not given them 70 him long ago.
To Mary Margaret she gave her fGrni-
ture. How. often Mary Margaret mad
been ashamed of their things that hS6
belonged 70 her grandmother and
great grandmother. but now she was
overj, yed about having them. They
were genuine antiques
They all went TO their homes at tbs
same time. and mother started 70 the
IN b. Do u.
what dear, good childres, she had and
how glad they were in the thought ShN
might live with them when she re-
turned, Even the grandchildren had
squealed in delight at the thouSht.
And in T. ee months. perhaps toulor-
row. she would have TO leave them.
She felt she could not.
1t was late afternoon when shs
reached the beach. She chose q man
with an understanding face for her
wheel chair. He stopped SympAtheti-
cally when he saw she wanted TO LOOK
at a particularly beautiful spot, and
when the sun set In glory he waite,l
until the last crimson ray had faded
into gray.
Bef~.e going to the beach house shs
had sudden. demanding desire for
wafneS and ate two with two cups OF
coffee, This corruptible body, shs
Thought TO herself. and then renierl-
oered how little Il matsered nov
whether she took care Of her health cr
not.
A deep melancholy. not exactly un-
pleasant, descen .s;. upon her when Sh>
went up 70 her room, There she laid
out her garments 70. the next naornnns,
opened all the fve windows in the ctr
euiar tower room, then looked a while
at the spectral beauty Of the sea IN the
eerie light OF the fun moon.
Tired, she laid down. Her old hcna>.
her children, the room, al seemed far
removed. unreal not oelonging 70 her
at all. She closed her eyes wearily,
She thoukht Of her frst lover, NermN,
A flame. bright Searing hght ne hRa
seemed. II did not seem rlght or fair
Tn such vivid life had to be Ilt,s.~d
out SO soon. But her husband, John,
had been better for her Quiet, Arm.
sure, always there, ready To help her
Nerino and John seemed there nov.
more real than the ones Of her family
who Still u, d. Then John was there
With her alone, she VAS sure ne VA.
she was not afraid. sorry shs wAs 10
die now. she sept.
Ana she Mevsf AHokes
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