Evening star., 1928-05-21
THE EVENING STORY

Gus mad not asked her: 1t was also true,
as she perceived, that he intended to do
so. There was no reason why she should
not marry him. It was a good chance
and she was getting on in life. But
she didn't look IS. She studied her
appearance in the glass. and found not
a line in her quiet, pretty face; not a
graying thread in her rich blond hair.
1t was true she wore glasses, but so did
many young girls. They we're rather
becoming than otherwise.
Suddenly emotion surged within her,
and she clasped her hands in an agony
Of despair Was this all life held for
her-to marry Gus Potter and settle
down as his housekeeper for the rest
OF her life: to play cards and sew at
the ladies' aid society and dabble in the
small affairs Of small town? The
was hunger within her for something
bigger and more dangerous than this
She cried aloud.
II can'tl can'tl"
The next day she handed IN her
resignation TO Mr.. Osgood. He looked
at her kindly.
"All right, Aura. But II you eve.
want to some back your place is waitin,
for you
Aura laughed confidently.
Il shan't come back, Mr.. Osgood." she
assured him
Two days later Aura arrived in the
city where Helen Parker met her. Helen
was a schoolgirl friend Of Auza. They
had written with some regularity -.
they had not seen each other - FR-rF.
and Aura realized that Helen bah
changed consiasf&ttt
She went home with Helen to the tiny
three-room- -and-bath apartment, where
Helen lived with a co-Worker. Eleano-
Hobbs Aura did not ike her, and shf
felt instinctiVely that Eleanor reSente~
her. She was the third wheel on q two
wheel cart.
Aura had been saving money fo,
years, with the half-formulated hoD
that some time she would be able
study art. She had always had a knac.
for decorating Christmas cards. burea
covers and pincushions. 1t was art sh
was after now. and next day she apple
at an institution where art in its hig1
est forms was supposed to be taught
the meantime she would live in II
apartment with Helen and Eleanor ar
pay one-third of all expenses
Before month had passed Aura b
| gan to realize that lot Of reality haf
got mixed up with her dreams. H
| fingers that looked SO slender and supp
were peculiarly awkward when 1t CAR
| to handling a camels hair brush an
| drawing pencil, and all her experiment
| Ing with cards and pincushions stor
| her In no stead. She found that 81
had to serve a long apprenticeship br
/ fore she could even begin to make pa.
lures. She had no genius Of the XII
| the shaggy-haired little boy who sat
| the next easel had. He could acccr-
/ plish with q single stroke what 81
| failed at after terrible toll. Then, r.
/ she was not happy in the a1artms~
She missed her wide, comfortable .
| and well lighted. warm room and T.
/ excellent food wilich Mrs. Downs pT
| vided her broaders with. She came
/ hate the sight of delicatessen bag. a
on the days when she provided meals
| for each girl took turn at housekeeT
| ing-she found that nothing she iIk-
suited either Helen or Eleanor. Elean~
was particularly disagreeaole. She v-
| foreladJ in box factory and she looi:e
down on AZura's humble Beginnings !.
art.
Aura hung on desperatel7 yes, de-
| perately. there is no other weird for !
| Then one day after her money began
get low anl she had had an attack
| Indigestion occasicned By eating sale
that was a mere accumulation CisgUiK-
with a bott>ed dressing. and h-r art III
| structor h3 lost his terlD7r over IL
| ineptitude, she gave UP. pa1,I-3 her t~
| longings and hastensd back II FreevI
/ Mrs. Downs threw up h Nands
! sight Of the delinquent, t. .ook b.
| TO her friendly bosom.
| You poor thing! You --~.. feedir
IN" she said.
Azura ley in bed most Of three dsy.
/ She was utterly worn out and dtscogT
/ aged. But presently Mrs. Downs Won
/ derful soup and fried chicken and hoIlls
made bread and puddings began TO tel
And every day Gus Potter sent ne
, flowers. she hadn't seen flower q.
he time she was in the city.
Mr.. Osgcod received her back In til
store without comment Azuras frs
paw envelope looked mighty good TO her
That night Gus walked home with
her
Aura" he said, II missed you terri
20 times, then tore up the letters. And
once started as far as Freeport--that
20 miles from the city~-t9 see you.
turned around and came back, because
/ I was afraid"
Aura looked at him earnestly.
"Oh. Gus. what made you?"
We'll. couldn't help IT, missso
YOU so all-fred much" He hung his
head. Aura put her hand on his arm.
II mean, what made you turn around
and go back? Why didn't you come
straight onq You could have got my
address from Mrs. Downs"
II did" he said. Then. dizzily'
"Azura. would you have been glad to
see me9"
Ay1,ra drew a little closer.