Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-01

THERE was never time when the old
woman permitted Crystal to feel that she
did not accept, in toto, her granddaughter
statements regarding her inviolability. When
Crystal put on a chic, expensive hat, wrapped
herself in furs that her alleged position in the
local cafeteria could not possibly have yielded, !
and started forth about o'clock in the 6irec-
ton that led unmiStakably toward the fiat Of
Addie Wigend, the grandmother never batted
an eye. only reiterating more and more, as the
months marched on, her confd- nee in her
granddaughter, and her hope for the future.
There came a time inevitably when matters
began to shape themselves for Crystal so that
it looked as If her happiest hunting ground In
her work no longer lay in her home town. There
was plan afoot between her and Addie Wigend
to move to Montreal The greatest difficulty, of
course which presented itself to Crystal was the
old grandmother, and yet the time had come
when the responsibility of the role she played
was becoming irksome, and more than that, 1t
was out Of question to transfer the abode of the
grandmother to the Canadian city.
One night Crystal explained to her as easily
as such a difficult explanation could be made
that the opportunity Of position in first-claSS
restaurant in Montreal had presented itself.
without a flicker the old woman accepted the
news; without flicker the old woman aided
and abetted concealing her sense of terror at
the impending separation, and instead of dis
her fam1liaS exhortation along the lines Of
sweetness and light" the cardinal virtues, and
the omniscience of Savior who would show the
way.
The time came when Addie Wigend broke up
her fiat and the hour of departure of the girls
had arrived. It was not an easy departure, at
least so far as Crystal was concerned. The news
had spread in the neighborhood, and with as
much straight-faced demeanor as they could
muster, the neighbors among whom Crystal had
grown up came in more to condone the old
woman who was being left than to wish fare
well to Crystal.
There was sympathy in the community Hue
the grandmother of Crystal; amazement at her
credulitieS and pity for the mental shortcomings
which made that credulity possible.
It was pathetic to think of the old woman
being left there alone in the lean, narrow house.
even though Crystal was to see to it that money
for her upkeep came regularly. At least the
neighbors knew that possible because the
trade which Crystal piled was remunerative
one.
Even up to the evening of the departure Of
her granddaughter the calm, evangeliStic man
mer Of the old woman never relaxed. She
believed, she trusted her granddaughter, she was
confident OF her future, and she was ready to
be proud of her achievement
How it all came about that in the end Crystal
did not accompany Addie Wigend is long in
volved and minute, but in the end she did not
board the train for Montreal with her friend.
THE next time Crystal set out for her alleged
position at the local cafeteria she set out
literally for that destination.
The seven-day wonder had taken place in
the neighborhood. A girl, mysteriously had
been redeemed. No one knew how; certainly
the evangelistic grandmother with no weapons
except her alleged faith in her grandchild made
no pretentions. In fact she was never to admit
q hiatt ofo
had ever known that her granddaughter had
needed to be redeemed
To all intents and purposes, so far as the
grandmother was concerned, all her grand
daughter had done was to justify her faith In
her.
No, Crystal, the floorwoman of the Manhattan
Cafeteria, charmingly efficient, had not always
been that.