Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-11

What detained you?" she asked, looking up
at him adoringly.
He had not meant to tell her SO Soon-but
he wanted to share his happiness. Mother
I've found her!"
She stiffened, drew little away Found
who?"
The girl I've always wanted. The grill
stayed over an hour to put her and her aunt
on their train. Mother, she's the lOveliest
creature, and the finest, and the dearest--"
LIE raved on. Now that there was an outlet
for his pent-up joy, he could say every
thing Her name Her family. Her aunt.
Her singing. Her charm. Her beauty. And
so on And so on. He jumbled it all to-
gether. He had held forth for some 10 solid
minutes, when his mother stabbed In a quick
question.
Are you engaged-has she accepted you?"
So that started him off all over again on
his hopes, his almost certainty Il want you
TO write and ask her here; want you to
know her, mother. Her own mother is dead,
she'll adore being with you. Why-what's the
matter?" Her face was crnklng into tears.
Its the shock-oh, Shelby-my own boy
1--we lost you!'
The tears came now IN a flood She COL
lapsed in his arms. Help me upstairs to nv
ROOM" she said family. Il must lie down"
In panic he called Rose His eager assur-
ances did not serve to stop his mothers CRYING
nor console her. He cursed himself for nine
different sorts Of fool to have blabbed out
his secret when his mother was all tired and
upset from waiting for him. Rose alarmed
and reproschful, spoke disagreeably. What in
the world have you done? What's happened?"
He shrugged his shoulders helpessly Rose
thin and querulous, and always ready to find
fault with her brothers, and Shelby in par
ticular, would be sure to distil some yenomouS
acid into any report he might make of Leila
She was bustling about now with salts and
hot-Water bottles and extra handkerchiefs and
restorative draughts Don't mother don't!"
she kept repeating. you'll bring on one of
your headaches"
Presently Mrs. Wayne checked her tears and
lay limp and dSconsolate on her pillows
Dear boy, she murmured family its so
selfish OF me- But simply couldn't help it.
II want you to be happy, Of course I
wouldn't stand in your way for a moment oh
oh, I wish I could die and be out of YOUR
way out OF every ones way past all chance
of heartache"
She began to cry again Rose shook her
head at Shelby, and he tiptoed out of the
room, feeling like criminal. His poor mother!
He ought to have known that she'd find it
hard to see another woman first in his heart
He went over into his own room and took out
OF his baggage the presents he had brought
her There was crystal and diamond vanity
case an old French fan, dozen pairs of her
1avorite suede gloves, tiny sheer handkerchiefs
with her monogram and an old tortose-shel
box As he arranged these offerings he blamed
himself all over again.
II he had not blurted it out in such blunt
way as though he had never before had a
moments happiness until he met Leila! No
wonder his mother was wounded to the uuicki
But it would all be changed when she saw
Leila-then shed understand Why she'd be
crazy about her. Shed never quite liked any
OF ms brothers wives she'd always been a
little sensitive with them, she'd always MAIN
tanned that they didn't really love her-but
Leila would love her. Leila would win her as
the other three girls had never been able to do
There was no use sticking about, so he took
himself into town to his Office, and, in catching
step with his affairs. hearing reports arranging
the rreNminaries Of the business he had