Evening star., 1928-12-18

:eiyed letter from ner rlcn rela'
tives, the Earls, but tonight there
>-as such a letter waiting for hel
Wlen she came in from the mill
It lay on the hall table among all the
other mail. If it had not been turned
face upward and so caught her eye as
she was going through the hall, she
might not have noticed it at all. She
took it with her upstairs and read 1t
as she sat on the bed. 1t may be said
in passing that she usually sat on the
bed. because it was much more COM
Portable than the one chair Mrs. Pulver
provided for her cheaper rooms.
eWhy. Winnifred's written quite a
long letter this tinSe!" Chally thought
as she glanced over the thick creamy
sheet. Winnifred Earl always used
beautiful paper. And she wants me
to make them a visit-over the week
end! Oh, joy!"
It was the first time she had ever
been invited to visit at her cousins,
and the prospect Of doing SO now
flooded her pretty face with the color
of happiness.
Indeed, will go. I'll write and
tell her and thank her." she said 70
herself.
The dinner bell was ringing, clang
1pon clang, through the house. Cally
arose and went downstairs to the din
ing room. There were soup, roast beef,
Spring vegetables and delicious pud-
ding. Mrs. Pulver was a good COOK.
Mr.. Nichols came and sat down beside
Cally. Mr. Nichols was the new board
er: he worked for the electric light
company and earned big pay. Already
Cally liked him, he was SO ooylsh, so
clean spirited, so friendly.
I'm going away for the week end"
she said, Ito visit my cousin at Sum-
merville."
''Summerville! I've been there" said
Mr.. Nichols. who is your cousin?"
"Winnifred Earl"
"You mean Elmer Earl's daughter
Winnifred?"
Eyes. Do you know them?"
"I've seen them. Why, they're rich
people, big bugs!"
"Why, Of course" Cally giggIed With
amusement. "You didn't think I'd be
related to just common folks. did you?"
Mr.. Nichols gave her long look out
Of his thoughtful eyes.
"N-no. But don't happen to have
any rich relatives" he said. with a
sigh.
The fact that Cally was going to visit
her wealthy cousin at Summerville
made a stir among Mrs. PIllverS
boarders.
IT should think you'd feel too stuck
up for anything" little Mrs. Beebee
said.
Cally laughed. She had never dream
ed that merely being related to the
Summeville EarlS could make her so
important.
Maybe you'll never come back once
you get out there" said old Miss Fletch-
er. "I shouldn't think they'd let nice
little girl like you work in a mill"
"I don't exactly work in the mill"
Cally corrected. "I work in the min
Office. But suppose it all amounts
to the same thing"
Mr.. Nichols parted with her regret
fully. He gave her bunch of daffodils
to remember him by. Considering the
fact that daffodils were dollar and a
half dozen and there were at least
two dozen of them, the gift was suf1-
GENTLY valuable. Cally loved daffodilS,
and when she held the bunch against
her little brown suit she looked. with
her glowing young beauty, like Spring
itself.
"Good-by," said Mr.. Nichols. He had
gone to the station with her, to help
her with her baggage. AS the train
moved away Cally looked back and saw
him gazing after with his hat in his
hand.
She enjoyed her journey very much.
Journeys were rare with her. When she
reached the Summerville station Win.
nifred was waiting for her in a smart
roadster. Winnifred was not as pretty
as Cally, and she was 10 years older,
but she was infinitely more sophisti-
Gated in appearance. They drove away
through the balrny twilight to the big
gray house set back among delightful
trees.
Uncle Elmer was casual. but kind.
@Glad you've come, he said. "I guess
Winnifred felt she needed bit of COM
pany."
II must try to be good company,
then" rejoined Cally.
II guess you win be, all right" said
Uncle Elmer, giving her an appraising
look with his keen old eyes.
Cally slept that night in room all
faded blue and pinks, and dreamed
of Mr.. Nichols. But next day she
scarcely thought Of him at all. There
was so much going on, even If It was
Sunday. A perfectly splendid young
man, Mr.. Culver, came to lunch.
Afterward he took Winnifred and her
guest for long ride in his beautiful
French car, but the occasion was spoil
ed, because he and Winnifred quarreled
all the way over things Cally could not
understand.
In the evening half q dozen people
came to dinner. Cally did not like auy
Of them except Mr.. Sanford, a middle
aged man, who wore spectacles. She
seemed to find something in common
with him, but the women stared her out
Of countenance when they we're not