The Washington times., 1934-08-08

mo, of course, he couldn't"
said Susan in an ordinary tone.
ct know he has some friends
out there - Judge Harmon's
family. He's known them for a
long time" She felt sick with
disappointment. He didn't want
to see her. He had gone away
because he didn't want to see
her. She was sure Of 1t.
At 10 o'clock, when George
got up and said, "You wanted
to leave at 10, didn't you,
Susie? I'll drive you home"
Allen had not arrived. AS
Georges roadster reached the
corner Of the street a trolley
car came along and stopped.
Susan held her breath, leaning
forward in her seat, to see who
got off. But it was only
young woman with a sleeping
child in her arms.
IF there was any doubt in
my mind about Allen, it ought
to be all gone now," she told
her reflection in the cracked
mirror Of her dressing table
that night as she got ready for
bed.
CHAPTER XII
Monday, the 18th day Of
June. the day of Sara Cullen's
wedding, was just the sort OF
day that every bride ought to
have. It was like a good omen.
The sky was a lake Of Chinese
enamel blue with Swanlike white
clouds sailing around in it,
and in the Cullen'S side yard
the grass was like green velvet
and all of the rose bushes and
bridal wreath around the fence
were in bloom. A red and white
striped tent had been set up
there, and Aunt Nell had hired
two colored women to help her
serve the supper which she had
prepared for the 48 people who
were to be seated at IL little
tables inside the tent.
This was the great day OF
Sara's life, but it was also
great one for Aunt Nell, al
, though she had not mentioned
the fact to any one.
For more than twenty years
she had taught and trained
and prayed for Sara so that
some day she could hand her
over to a good man and a
happy married life with the
knowledge that she had done a
good job well-and this was
the day. She knew that Sara
could cook and sew and make
beds, and she had high ideals
and good taste in books and
music. She had brought her
up never to drink or smoke
cigarettes, and she had educa-
ted her so that if the worst
came to the worst she could
make 11ST living.
Moreover she liked George
Shumaker and thought that he
would make Sara a fine huS-
band, and there was a serene
look on her face under its crest
of fashionably waved hair as
she lowered about, Straighten-
ing a fold of the airy-looking
dress and pushing up the
orange. blossom coronet from
Sara's smooth young forehead.
II just hope that you and
Mary will make good mar.
riages, too, SUSIE" she re-
marked, opening the screen
and leaning out Of the window
to see if the daisies on the
outdoor altar were still fresh.
"I really think" she went on,
turning back into the room
with a dreamy look in her
usually bright, swapping eyes,
"that about the most beauti-
full thing on earth is a little
family just starting out-find-
ing their home and furnishing
it and having children and 60
ing out riding on Sunday aft.
ernS all crowded together into
a little car and having a ter
rible time trying to pay the
bills and"
"And you'd better stop paint
ing that sort of picture of
married life, mother, or you'll
have Sara deserting George at
the altar" interrupted Mary
with a laugh. WED better
get moving, Susie, you and I.
There are Allen and John
down in the yard already"
Allen!
Susan felt as if her heart
were stopping for a moment at
the sound of his name. She
knew suddenly that she had
been waiting for weeks for this
afternoon when she would see
him at last. Counting on meet
ing him, talking to him.