Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-17

IF you don't believe It, you can send
the girls to flnd out"
I'm likely to do tlatl"
Missile was Is when Lambert finally
severed his connections with his family.
There had been no fresh quarrel, so
morning and did not come back. Stella,
however. had herself well In hand
After all. she had had years to reccg-
nige her defeat. Her passion for Lam
bert had been, probably still was, the
strongest influence in her life. She had
been utterly his. What maternity abe
had was for his child, not for Ellen
But the fight had been hopeless.
She was almost apathetic then when
Lambert left. She stood on the stairs,
fully dressed ct that hour. q thing in
below her as he went through his
routine Of strengthening his tie before
the glass in the hat rack.
That's all, u it?"
well, I've told you about the rent"
he said.
Never mind about that. ri attend
TO It,"
He seemed to hesitate, put on his hat.
adjusted 1t carefully drew up the cor
ner Of his handkerchief. He did not
look ut her.
"I'll send an express wagon around"
for you. This afternoon would be
best"
IAN right"
Ellen was not there. Missile was
standing inside the kitchen door, with
her heart beating fast She had q.
sense OF drama rather than tragedy:
she felt that this was the end. and be-
cause she was afraid he might come
to say Hood-by to her she hurriedIv
wiped her hands on her kitchen apron.
But the next thing she heard was
the closing Of the front door. When
she went into the hall Stella was sit
ting quietly on the staircase.
I want to get your fathers clothes
Ia order, Missile" she said. I'VE have
to get his trunk ready by this after
noon" She rose somewhat heavily.
stead1ed herself by the banister. II
guess you and I can get it out of the
forgot it."
Together they carried it into the
'front.' room, Missile bearing the brunt
OF the weight, Stella painting. Not
once did her composure break. Missile,
counting collars and handkerchiefs,
hastily sewing on q button here and
there, was aware of a new admiration
for the woman sitting there in her rock
Ing chair. She felt a glow of love. a
surge of sympathy. Suddenly she bent
over and laid her young cheek against
her mothers raddled one.
Poor old mom," she said. We'll
get along fine. You'll see."
Stella continued to rock somberly
They're all alike" she said. You
cant trust them. They take every
Lhing and give nothing. That's men for
With the departure of the trunk n
strange quietneSS settled on the house.
Whatever his failings Lambert had
brought vitality with him; the heavy
Tread OF masculine feet, the smell az
tobacco and Peau d'Espagne, the clutter
OF newspapers, all had been q part Of
MIN. Even during that period OF in
termittent returns. there had been the
drama Of waiting for him. Days would
80 by, and then there would be the
SOUND OF his key in the lock, the open
ing and closing Of the front door. And
although Quarrels and chickering's would
follow, the vitality had been there.
Now II was gone.
With all her faults, Stella had n
certain stoical courage. What mem.
cries she had as she sat In that upper
room Missile never knew, but years
later she was to wonder how they com
PoASu Will tAlC uEdD pIcSCI1Gi II Time
had not covered with the glamour of all
lost things the struggles of her earlier
days. That she had been on the bur-
lesque stage was clear; when, two years
or so after Lambert left, the two girls
| opened the trunk in the back room, they
found photographs of her In the COS
TUNES Of Gaiety girl Of the late 7o's
and early sos.
Ellen was shocked and OUTRAGED,
There was very little forgiveness In FL
len. But Missile, remembering that
/ visit to Miss Beaumont. took one Of the
best Of them and kept 1t.
What do you want with IL? You
can't show that as your mothers pic
ture!"
II don't intend to show It,"
And you're never to tell about her
Do you hear that?"
Il suppose she had to get money
somehow"
There were decent ways to set
money"
But before she was married Missile
burned the picture. It was too hard to
explain.
Continued In Tonaorrow'g StaPN