Evening star., 1928-11-25

TT was 10 o'clock and a July morn
ing. Miss Thinner sat with her
sewins-basket bv the window of her
own room upstairs, and, looking
down on the back lawn, she could
GEE her niece. ThurSa, drying her heauu-
f,ll hair Thursa sat Just where the
edge of the cottages shadow clvlded
the lawn into two parts, one sGlow with
the hot sunlight and the ether dark IN
the intense shade.
Thursa had placed her chair at the
exact edge of the shadow, 50 that her
hair might hang in the sun Whlle hef
face and no less perfect HANDS might os
In the shade. Her complexion vas TOO
rare a thing to be put in Jeopardy need
lessly.
The beautiful niece Of Miss Emma
Thinner had book In her lap. but
when Miss Thinner glanced out Of tle
window. Thursa was talking With big
Ben Judd. He leaned on the fence that
divided his farm from Miss Trimmer
small place, and on one arm held the
handle of a hoe or rake in its crook.
Under his wide straw hat, Miss Thinner
could see his pleasant grin. Thursa
was smiling. Ben was grlnnlng, ana
Miss Thinner felt a pleased satlstac-
ton. because this agreed with her
desires.
On Miss Timnler's tiny. old-fashioned
desk was a small black book, in which
for wears she had kept her accounts.
Miss Thinner had been making cofnpu-
tations the night before. The matter
nf money was not simple one, for she
had another niece, and both had gradu-
ated from high school in June, only a
week or so ago Until almost midnight
Miss Emma had been at her fSureS.
irving to make them say she could SEND
both niAces to college. but the stubborn
5irits had refused. "One niece only!
they had said, and Miss Thinner had
sighed. ,,
"Verv well!" she had said. Then
must give the other the next best thlne.
If can give only one a college career
I must give the other husband.
She said this to herself with deep re-
rret. because she felt that the nlece shs
must sacrifice was Thursa. end Thursa
Was her favorite. Thursa. Miss Thinner
had always told herself was almost
second self and It was true that Thursa
TODAY was much like the Emma TIM
mer of a good many years ago. MISS
Thinner had herself been great beauty
and she was Still a remarkably hand
some woman. Peggy, Miss Timmer's
other niece, unfortunately resembled
Peggy's father. "She is not quite Miss
Thinner thought, "a Thinner"
Miss THINNER had missed college
4EA career herself. Her father had
heen onnosed to the idea but she had
always considered college the finest
level the world could offer q woman
as perhaps it is-and she felt almost
wicked in deciding that it was impos-
sible to give Thursa that jewel.
She felt wicked because Thursa had
not shown the least desire to go to col
lege. but had, on the other hand, always
been keenly eager for the attentions OF
the boys and young men OF the village.
She knew that Thursa, If given little
push by a hidden hand. would accept
matrimony eagerly and happily, think
ing she was finding the greatest happi-
ness the world could give; 1t was for
this reason that Miss Thinner felt
wicked. She had been spinster so long
that she had convinced herself that
spinsterhood- particularly if it could be
given a college background-was Worn..
ans happiest estate, and that married
life was apt to be an awful fraud.
She was afraid, but she could not
bear to send one of the girls to college
without giving the other something in
its place, and there was nothlng Sne
could give but husband. Girls just
out of high school, she had observed,
considered two things equal triumphs-
college and an engagement ring.
She chose Thursa for the lesser tri-
umph Of the engagement ring, because
marrying Peggy would be problem.
Thursa was so beautiful that men
almost gasped when they saw her, but
Peggy, although dear, sweet girl, GER
tainly had flaws. She came into Miss
Timmer's room as Miss Thinner was
looking out of the window.
May came in, Aunt Emp" she ask
ed. She wore huge towel as bib.
and her bobbed hair was mussed and
trousled; in one hand she held a small
mirror and in the other bottle. Aunt
EN-, Just want to ask you'll" she cried.
Honest, I've been using this stuff for
days and days, and, ask you, as man
to man, can you see one less freckle?
Can you?"
She bent down. and Miss Thinner ad-
iusted her glasses and looked.
which one were you doing, dear?"
she asked.
"I knew I'll" Peggy declared. There's
not one gonel They're not even faded
Honestly, I think this stuff is fake!
T,vA v1,hhAd and r11hhed-"