Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-05-13

" " him-bless his hearth" Tomor-
row they were going to take
him away from her Well, that was all right
she couldn't object-she had had him for
six weeks. But she was going to make the
most of today.
Little Joe was in the upper hail. pajamaed,
and barefooted. leaning dangerously over the
railing.
you've been gone nawful long time" he
Scolded her. I'm hungry. Listen to how empty
I am" And he gave his stomach terrific
Wallop that almost sent him over backward.
She answered him crisply but her eyes,
above the carefully balanced tray, were tender
You march right back to bed, young man.
II you don't watch out you'll get sick again.
and Grandma1l have you on her hands for
another six weeks. How'd you like that?"
I'D like It," Joe said, scampering on ahead
of her and exploding like a small bomb in the
middle of the bed.
How like John he was already! 1t had been
almost like having John small boy again
these last weeks with Johns And his ILL.,
ness had given her an excuse to coddle him to
her hearts content Yes, the shameful truth
was that Little Joe's measles had been pure
joy to her, although to Barbara, with young
baby in the nursery. they had been calamity
He had to be gotten out Of the apartment to
keep the contagion from the younger child,
and they had actually meant to send him to
. hospital. She had had to coax and coax to
get John and Barbara to consent to her tax
ing him to the country.
A FTER she had finished her morning chores,
she took her knitting out onto the balcony
just outside her bed room. Little Joe appeared
around a corner of the house dragging the
lawn hose after him. He wore one garment
which was nodded Imply to his body in several
spots where the hose had squrted him.
you don't feel dirty, do you. Grandma?" he
called I'D helDflllV "I could wash Won off with
this hose you want"
She shook her head. Go and wash Off the
nasturtiums They look as though they
need it."
He trotted obediently in the direction of the
flower bed and she picked up her knitting
again. The porch was pleasant and she felt
refreshed and contented. In an hour she would
have her family about her-her son. her two
pretty daughters, her sons wife. Six years ago.
when Fred had died, the world had seemed
empty and without meaning, but now it was
filling up again. And, as always, when her
life seemed rich and good to her, she thought
Of her sister Charlotte. She had not seen Char
Iotte for long time now.
Charlotte had never married Their parents
had left her enough to live on very comfortably
and yet she had never seemed to be happy
in one place for very long. Now at so, she
had settled in the old house in California and
there she lived luxuriously and alone Well,
perhaps that was what Charlotte wanted
John must have turned of the motor and
coasted into the driveway, because although
she was listening she didn't hear them arrive
and didn't see them until they all upon
her. They always seemed glad to see her and
greeted her lovingly, but today she sensed a
special excitement in the air. secret-she
was sure of it-they had some secret to tell her.
well. mother" John said, catching up his
son, you certainly did a grand job on joe He
looks twice life-size. She's a great old lady,
isn't she, Joe? How about it? Ready to come
homer"
mo-" Joe said clearly, 81 like it here"
Her heart turned over delightedly, but she
glanced at Joe's mother with little apprehen-
sion. What if Barbara should think she had
been purposely winning little Joe away? But
Barbara seemed not to have noticed
Elsa interrupted with her usual Lunch soon,
mother? I'm starved"
Right away" AS Mrs Holmes started for
the kitchen Hilda caught her arm. ''Now listen,
mother, If you must go through the dining
room, you march straight by the table without
peekirg PromiSe?"
Mrs. Holmes looked from one smiling face to
another. well, but children! What is all
this? never saw such mystery!"
Barbara answered her. "Tomorrow's your
birthday anniversary isn't 1t, Mother Holmes?"
FIFTEEN minutes later they were all seated
around the table. Mrs. Holmes only half
visible behind the pile of beribboned parcels.
She felt prickle of tears behind her eyelids
and th0U0ht ko