Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-16
RI Stories of the Year mM By Katharine Brush

WDI1amS was taking OIL OcEldHulHS t1StAAy
what had struck her. From the chair through
the hot, moist haze in her eyes. she glared at
him. Ioathing hi0. This was his fault. He
had come and brought Roger, and now because
he was here. she s,uldn't explain, she couldn't
defend herself, she had no chance.
Get out" she heard herself say to him tone
leSsly Get fout Of here. Get out"
Even after she had ceased saying it, it re-
peated itself again and again in her mind Get
out Get put" It was all she could think.
Dimly she knew that Williams stood up; vaguely,
without csrjbg, she heard the word he threw
at her. II didn't matter. Nothing mattered
at all except his going. Get out. Hurry.
Leave us alone"
Then she saw that Roger was going, too.
Rising from the divan, moving toward the foyer,
following Williamsburg.
"Wait!" she called sharply.
Both young men halted in the foyer door.
Turned inquiringly. Rogers face, strangers
face, white and set, leaped at her.
She out of her chair now. Standing
erect. Newly, desperately calm.
Mr.. Miller" she said, will not leave"
1t was horrible, 1t was not to be borne, that
grim young face Of her son.
Tim sorry" he said low. And he went.
For seconds the echo of the slammed front
door filled all her consciousness, crowding out
thought. Then she shrieked, "Eulie! Eulie"
The maid came running. Jenny Miller seized
her by the shoulders, pushed her toward the
door. "Quickl The other young man. the new
one-make him come back-tel him he must,
must see him."
The door slammed again. The echo subsidized,
and there stiffness Centuries of stiffness.
Jenny Miller waited. Listened Died little
She heard at last the sound of the elevator
in the corridor outside. The door of it opening.
changing shut.
Then Eulie returned Alone. Hes gone,
madame. He wouldn't listen at ALL"
THE house telephone was on the wall of the
kitchen. Jenny Miller reached it in four
seconds God" she prayed make them an
swer-make them hurry" Until the door
mans slew Hello" crept up 16 stories to her
ear.
She spoke rapidly, concisely John, this is
MRS. Montgomery. Listen, young man in
raccoon coat is on his way down in my
elevator, with another Just stopping
now?'" She took quick, deep breath Tell
him-the younger mamie has left some money
in my apartment A check for $40 O0O made
out in his name, tell him. Twenty thousand.
Yes, that's right I'm holding it for him.
Hurry"
She hooked up the receiver. She walked out
into the living room and sat in a chair. and
waited again.
She thought, 'TtTl take minute or two.
He'll have to tell Williams something or other.
And the elevator-slow--he couldn't possibly set
here yet"
She thought, IT might have made it TWENTY
two thousand. That's what the last balance
was. Twenty-Five thousand, four hundred
and He'll come. Don't worry He'll come.
It's lot Of money. He wants to go to Europe,
and he wants Special-built car
Her fingers pulled and shredded a little
handkerchief. Her red mouth trembled, and
she bit at 1t.
In minute. In just minute now Don't
worry-yet
I'm count to 1OO," she thought childishly.
Then he'll be here"
She counted as far nine; forgot to count
further. Maybe" she thought, Something's
wrong with the elevator"
Minutes More minutes How long had 1t
peen? Long enough, surely. Too long,
"Oh, Godl" she moaned aloud
Her ears strained for a sound There was
no sound She got up difHcutly and went to
the outer door and looked into the corridor.
No sound. Nothing
Maybe the doorman didn't catch him"
she teiephoned down again. The doorman's
voice sounded dazed. "I told him all right .
ne said. II told him just what you told me
out"
she left the receiver hanging by its cord
She walked like q sleepwalker through the
rooms, INTO her bed room. She shut the door
and locked 1t and lay down on her bed She
thought, He Is gone. He Is gone"
She did not cry. There was no tears for
this -
He is gone. I have lost him. I shall
never-see him-again"
Her life was over, then. Oh she would 90
on hVlng she would eat and Sleep move about
the world; but her life was over Roger was
gene, and she could not bring him back or
bride him back
Or bride him back. She thought about that.
Hours she lay there, thinking, staring Until
sne was very old and very wise. Until she
knew at last tn I, though her heart bled dry.
sne could be glad, she could say to herself,
We'll DONE"