Evening star., 1934-05-30

She was a middle-aged woman with
a long. pleasantly -homely face, look
ing not unlike a kindly old horse.
Rose watched her gratefully as her
practiced hand tied a napkin around
Kittens neck and gave the glass OF
milk into the child'S eagerly reaching
hands.
You must have children OF your
own"
Two. Both grown up now, of
course An 1 had to raise 'em my
self. too Their father died right
after Ellie-that'S the yOungest-was
born. She's married now-got q lit
tie girl about the same age as her.
Her nod indicated the engrossed Kit
ten, who had buried her small face in
the milk glass.
They were the first kindly words
Rose had received since her arrival in
Catherwood. She lowered her eyes
quickly lest Bertha Harris see the
sudden weak tears which filed them.
After the meal. she took Kitten to
the public square, which the waitress
had suggested, where grass and elms
and q playing fountain gave an lllu-
SION of coolnesS.
! They found a playground and
children's sand pit. which, brass
plate stated. had been presented to
the town of Catherwood by Katherine
Winship Therrold.
Rose read it with a hard little
twist of her lips. Well this
much. at least. the Therrolds were
doing for Harvey's child.
While Kitten dug happily with
beautiful red spade and pail bought
! in the local 15-cent store Rose took
up the burden OF her own thoughts.
For weeks she had placed this point
AS the one beyond which she would
not look. Her tired mind had re-
fused 10 make plans things
would be better something
would happen to guide her once she
reached CatherWOOd. Perhaps Size
was secretly hoping that Harvey
! family would relent. What a fool 10
count on the Therrolds!
/ Angry resentment flooded her as
/ she watched Kitten contentedly dig
ging This was what the child
/ needed-What she had a right to
/ have-a normal home life. healthy
out Of doors to play in. Her baby
must not have the gypsy existence
which had been her mothers in the
! young years. But how could she help
/ it, Rose asked herself despairingly, if
she went back to the stage? 1t cost
SO much TO live in city. 1t would
mean separation . . it would mean
u charity home for Kitten.
II the Therrolds had been kind
Kitten could have the home she was
entitled to have. The healthy out-of-
door life of a small town. Mix and
green food Well, why not
Something hotly defiant rising in her
thoughts. setting her cheeks to burn
ing. The TherroldS didn't own her!
/ They didn't own this town! Suppose
she found work right here; found a
/ good home for Kitten during the day?
| II didn't cost much to live in a little
| town. A hving-that was all
/ she wanted until Kitten grew stronger
Just normal. quiet living And they
/ could live Oh so little. Evenings, Sun
days, she would have Kitten to her
self. Surely. there was something she
| could do here she could work
in store she was adaptable.
she was desperate. She would work
| for 50 little!
| The thoughts. slipping into orderly
array, beginning to form a chain,
forged for her need and her will
For two hours she sat in the quiet
green square. in the playground which
Mrs. Therrold had given the town.
mentally fashioning a plan which was
to set the town buzzing with excited
gossip and burn the Therrolds with
angry humiliation.
! (Tomorrow-Hate at First Sight)