Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-04
The Evening Story
The Heather in Bloom.

ELLEN WALLACE fastened the
quaint old amethyst brooth care
fully and her husband regarded her
with satisfaction.
you look nice, Ellen" he remarked,
cycling the smooth black silk gown,
severely plain but Of the best quality,
and her soft bands Of silvery white hair,
chow wish could take you over to
Edinburgh; there are"-his voice held
note of pathos-"sone OF the old friends
left. I'd like to show you Edinburgh
Castle by moonlight. remember one
night I was in the hotel across the
street from the gardens that lie Just
below the hill that is topped by the pile
Of gray stones and"
Ellen pinkened. She glanced sharply
at the pile of gayly tinted travel folders
that the old man had been studying.
Eric, you are getting restless. Ever
since that $4,000 was left to me you
have wanted to squander 1t on foreign
travel. OF course"-her voice softened
as she regarded the lean, lined face Of
the old Scotchman-"thatQ queer place
with the steep hills paved with rough
cobble stones and the outlandish people
with their kits and bagpipes will always
seem like home to you, and I'd like to
see old Bruce who lives alone on the
heath with his collie dog for company,
but can't defraud my kin. Dick Is my
brothers son and want to leave that
81 900 to him intact"
Eric sighed as she talked. It was
true. Ever since the money had so I'M
expectedly arrived he had been thinking
of bonny Scotland. An almost uncon-
trollable inconsistencies for his birthplace
had seized him, and he longed to feel
the deck Of an ocean liner beneath his
feet and hear the watch boom out the
bells. 1T il, your money, Ellen, but do
you think that Dick really needs it?
We have only few years left at most
and he Is young. With youth one has
enthusiasm-a future-the old have
only their memories"
Dick will do better soon," defended
Ellen, although there was an odd
dubiousness in her mind even as she
spoke Sometimes I feel that Lucy
must be extravagant or possibly quarrel
some, for they"
Eric nodded comprehendingly as
Ellen's loyalty prevented further CRITIC
as he listened to her belief in the
in-law's culpability. Lucy was only a
niece by marriage, consequently she
must be at fault. Eric was convinced
that Dick, the in-law to him, was
worthless, lazy young fellow, who would
probably never amount to anything, but
he knew to voice his belief to Ellen
would bring down a storm Of angry
words and would really grteve her.
Therefore, he pulled away at his pipe
and resumed his study of the fascinat-
ing travel folders. Two thousands dol
lars would give them year abroad.
IF I could only earn some money,
thought the old captain restlessly, but
the empty sleeve precluded such am
billions.
Eren went on her way. but 50 per-
turbed was she from the thoughts
aroused by Eric's speech that she COM
pletely forgot to telephone, according to
hAr invariable custom. to Lucy an
nouncing her arrival. Lucy lived at the
! other end Of the town, and Ellen hated
to 60 into a drug store and spend the
necessary nickel Long habits OF thrift
remained with her, and a nickel drop
ped into an outside telephone seemed
Tasteful to her. She wanted to leave
Dick as much as possible. How they
will enjoy cur little cottage when We
are through with it." she reflected ten
DERBY. Every board and nail in the tiny
place was surrounded BY old memories
| Of their happy youth Eric had been
! the kindest Of husbands and had
worked and cherished her with all his
strength. Most of the cottage had been
I built by his own hands-before the loss
! of the left arm. Here her sparkling
blue eyes dimmed as she remembered
his grief at having to give UP active
work to depend solely on his pension.
| This with the cottage sufnced, for they
were accustomed to plain living, but
now doubts assaled her as she recalled
| the longing in his face when he spoke
Of Scotland and his kinsmen. After all.
| the money had been left them to use
| and he wanted to travel. She remem-
| bered a time when she had craved q
plush coat, although her dark cloth
! jacket was perfectly good. Eric had
surprise her with the plush garment.
and on her wedding anniversary she
! had worn the warm, silk-lined coat that
| enveloped her with fragrant warmth.
| She was torn with doubts as she went
10 the steps Of the rented house where
Dick lived. The place looked shabby
and uncared for, greatly in contrast
with Ellens neat cottage. II would love
to cross the ocean," she thought visit
! fully. Eric's wanderlust had seized her,
but duty looked grin1ly ahead.
ST tell you won't go and call on the
! Smiths baby. don't care II they do
get another doctor. The old woman
| can't last forever and that $4,000 will
| 60 a long way. Why should wear
myself out walking and working. The
| world owes me a living. I'm sorry ]
let her spend all that money to put me
through medical college. I hate the
work When she drops OF III buy O
racing car and"
Ellen's veined hand was pressed
! closely against her heart. Dicks voice,
rough and shrill with anger, floated out
| from the open window and her breath
came in little gasps. The pounding In
her ears dulled his voice, but her ex-
traordinarily sharp ears still heard
clearly above the sound Of her heart
beats.
at wish" cried Lucy forlornly. "that
you had no money coming to you;
then you might brace up and make a
living the same as other men do. Here
we are in this rundown house with no
prospects because you expect to step
into the dear little cottafe that your
uncle built himself
There was an ugly snar l.. IN DICKS IS
Knocked. DO you think you're ever
going to settle down in that? The in
heritance will be absolutely mine and
you'll never use that. I'll sell 1t the
minute get the place. Houses are at
a premium now. know sure thing
| that I'll bet that"
Ellen could not see the steps for the
binding tears that clouded her vision
Stumblingly she hurried down the
street and into the drug store at the
corner, where she went to the phone
booth.
eric, come down her and get me, u
she said when his pleasant voice
answered. "I-have had sort of a
shock-take care of those travel folders
| I,anansen Here q finv rirrlA of fnV