Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-06

"Oh promise me that you viii take my hand
The most unworthy In this lowly land"
She had written her family about Fred.
They had replied that they jubilant at
the news and would She could she possibly
have him at home for the holidays or part of
the holidays? The Skippings would hold
grand levee. and other precious nonsense Of
that sort.
"oh. promise me that some day you and
Will take our love together TO some sky" Is
The Skippings didn't know how grand .
levee they would hold when Dora came home.
Oh, no! Because Dora coming home this
Christmas with money in her bag Money TO
spend. Forty dollars! Punched OF the edge Of
her allowance and swelled with occasional hired
accompaniment Forty dollars which she was
going to spend recklessly the Aggrandize-
ment Of the Skipping home.
And let me sit beside you, in your eyes
Seeing the VISION"
small clock on the desk said 1890. Alb
ruptly, Dora disconnected the iron. uptilted
it, and ran TO the upper hall. She hung over
the stair rail-
"Yoo-hoo!" she called to dark head two
stories below and smiled seraphcally at a ia
miliar upturned face. 'Marge would you mind
seeing If there's mail for me?"
I'm on my way with It," said the one called
Marge. your daily speciali"
The letter which Dora presently carried back
to her steam laundry was brief
Sweetheart, IoUe you. See yoU tonight
can manage three days Of merit meek Yours
forever, Fred.
1t was on the train homewaTd bound that
Dora experienced her first twinge of uncertainty
about Fred and his visit. She was riding in
the day coach for economy. Fred had put
her on the train. He had wanted to buy her q
Pullman reservation, but she wouldn't allow it.
Some day" she coaxed. Il shall love for you
to, but not now-you understand"
And Fred had been nice-he was always
nice-but troubled. His eyes had strayed once
or twice from her to her surroundings. His
mouth had frightened.
Wait a year?" his expression had said. 1T
guess not! I'll take you out of this or know
why"
OF course, she had been perfectly honest all
the time that Fred was falling in love with
her. Yes honest but extremely at her best.
The leading incentive for fussing with frillS
and Sticking her wardrobe had been that glim-
mer in Freds eyes when he beheld her OF
course, without this incentive she would still
have been Dora Skipping and charming, but
not quite-so charming!
I'VE are fine people!" she said stoutly half
impatient with herself.
Still, she was worried. He-Fred-would be
getting q swift, sudden first impression. Her
worry was not that anything about her home
or family would jar Fred's love for her. If he
had been that kind Of man, his opinion about
anything would never have mattered to Dora.
And it would have been low for her to be
anxious about her family's pleasing her lover
Her worry was lest this precious family should
receive any little hurt in this first visit. For
the sake Of these splendid people who had been
her entire background and foreground until she
had met Fred, she didn't want one flicker OF
such . look as that young man had given the
day coach.
Fred was human. He had always lived in
abundance. When she had tried to explain
about her circumstances TO him, she couldn't
be sure he was hearing her words exactly.
why" she had said, "in our home we used
to have to keep careful record 30 that we'd
know whose turn 1t was TO get the next pair
of shoes 4" -.--.
And he had nodded and gone on looking
0reaHaily ct her hair. Oh, he was q deari She