Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
The Strange Ad0entures Of a Single
Day-A Story Which Touches the Heart.
Another Especially Selected Story From
the 0. Henry Memorial Azvards Nil Be
Published in The Stars Magazine Next
Sunday

but hunger's a good sauce Let 'em hide their
butter II they want to-
Betty laughed too YES let 'eml My mother
told me she's havin' chicken dinner today,
with biscuits and dunno what ALL
"When'd she tell YEP" Janey stared in amaze
ment.
why, just yesterday she told me-"
Janey smiled indulgently. IT guess you must
be dreamin'''
Betty shook her head, but a vague look had
come into her eyes, though she stin smiled A
robin was hopping along the top of the fence
across the road. An automobile went by, leav-
ing cloud of dust behind. I'm always
skeered of them autymubbles," she said
$50 be IT, said Janey.
They munched their dry bread, fairly revel-
ing IN the sunshine, giving joyous little
chuckles and cookies now and again. They
could see white chickens over in a field.
MY mother keeps white chickens and cow"
said Betty. wen have real cream in our tea.
or would you rather have coffee, Janey?"
Coffee, with two Jumps Of sugar in it," Janey
decided.
MY mother makes her own butter too.
Wen have plenty of butter. She'll not hide
it like the matron does. I'll bet cooky the
matron has butter every meal"
"Of course she does" Janey agreed.
I'm hopin' the boys will be home" Betty
observed thoughtfully.
The boys?"
Eyes, my brothers-Hiram and John and An
drew and Josephine was always my playmate
only year youngern me. I could foller him
any place and climb anywhere he clumb"
do you think theyN be there now?" Janey
asked.
That's what I'm hop:n'"
Again Betty cast suspicious glance at her
companion, but the latter, smiling like the
crescent moon with a caved-in upper lip, was
following the antics Of a squirrel as it leaped
from branch to branch in tree across the road.
OTHER automobiles went by, and nearly
everybody i'll them nodded and smiled at
the funny old couple sitting close together on
the pile of rails beside the road.
Everybody seems good-natured today" Janey
remarked.
That's because the sun shines" Betty de-
clared II remember to this day just how
felt once, when was just little mite of a
girl and the sun popped out real bright one
mornin', after it had raned whole week. 1t
made me so happy most cried"
you must a-been thinkin' child" said
Janey, regarding Betty out of misty gray eyes,
all set round with little fine wrinkles.
IT 'spose likely was" smiled Betty
Nov I wonder if I break this here
cooky in two in the middle. I saved mine las
night and tucked it inside my dress There
I'll give you the biggest piece"
Presently man came by carrying scythe.
Hello, aunties! Havin' picnic?" he called.
Eyes, we be-" Janey replied
Were goin' on visit home to my grand
mothers" Betty volunteered, with cheerful as
Surance.
Janey's eyes widened in some surprise
Indeed" said the man. tits fine day for
trip Is it far to your grandmother's?"
NO." replied Betty. ut amt so very far.
It's just down the road piece, and around a
turn and down little hill-a little house that
needs paintin, but warm and cozy-and it's
home"
She beamed at him. Janey beamed too but
gave the man a sly wink that he seemed to
understand, and whispered, "Her mothers"
II guess home is where the heart is" he
said, and his eyes were suspiciously bright He
began to cut the tall weeds along the roadside
with the scythe swinging 1t with a great deal
of energy.
Wed better be movin' on, or we'll not get
to grandmother's by dinner time and we don't
want to keep 'em waitin'," Betty said
They climbed down, took their bundles, and,
hand in hand as before, started off again on
their journey.
"Good-by!" called the man after them ST
hope you find em all well at home"
Thank you'll Goodbye" they cackled mer-
rily, as they logged away, Betty with short,
mincing steps and Janey ponderous, f1at-footed.
The man stopped moving for a full minute,
gazing after them, his eyes still bright
They trudged along sturdily, though quite
unevenly, because they couldn't by any manner
OF means keep step together Still, neither felt
secure going 1t alone. a
What makes you step so often?" Janey al
most complained. .
a quick stopper. they used to say a high-step-
per, too" and she stepped faster. - Its more
= tiresome to walk slow than fast and II you'd
step quicker, Janey-"