Evening star., 1936-04-29

" ton ton whispered. vii Not to
see my boy again-my little boy, who
didn't want me to marry-who was
80 puzzled and so hurt that I'd put
another man in his fathers place!
Tam" she said, the face turned away
from Tam wet with tears, these ter
rible years-18 of them-couldn't be
tust a bad dream!"
lone year of my life is beginning
to seem more and more like just a
bad dream" Tam said.
Where is hep"
"Well, I think" Tam said, glancing
toward the tree-shaded drive and the
green mellow sweetness of the garden,
IT think that's he walking across the
lawn with Mary there. l told her to
look out for him al half-past o'clock,
and l told him not to come until I
stood up-as l did just two minutes
ago"
Tears blinded her eyes as the other
woman turned to look in the direc-
ton of the drive. She saw the man
drop Marys guiding little hand and
begin to run, she saw mother and
son meet. and she saw the gray head
go down on his shoulder and heard the
one thick cry, Bunny! My little boy!'
Then she beckoned to the interested
Mary, and they went through the
green side gate together to the berry
bushes.
We'll fix some figs and raspberries
for supper" Tamara said. Gran
told me once he loved raspberries
Does Gran like ihm?" Mary de-
Inanded.
She loves him very dearly. He's
her little boy that was lost. Go get
your apron off the nail, Mary, you
mustn't get that dress all in a mess, ~
Tamara said.
But why are you crying, Aunt
Tam?"
Because I'm SO happy, darling
Because life can be so wonderful,
Tam said.
The day went into an unreal and
dreamlike beauty that made Tam
feel that she was f1oating-fying
rather than going about the old IA
miliar house and garden on her two
feet. She and Mary picked up black
figs and gathered fresh raspberrie:
and put a bowl filled with them or
the ice for supper. Hong helped them
clear the table on the old terrace
brought out fringed napkins and greer
glasses. The sun was descending II
glory and sending spikes of light
across the garden and the lawns be-
fore the two who were talking in the
grape arbor moved.
Then they came up to the house
frankly wet of eyes and still shaker
in manner, and Mary Hutton quite
simply kissed Tam.
This is the Lords doing, and il
Is wonderful in mine eyes" she said
And then. in her usual manner
"You're having supper out here:
That's wonderful. Mary, will you
take Uncle George up to the spare
room and show him where to put his
things?"
Presently they sat down to supper
on the terrace. The sun was gone
now. but there was still light, and
through it the first silver glow OF the
great rising moon was shining.
After dinner, when little Mary had
been long in bed, Tam and George
wandered up the lane to the orchard
and on toward the red-rounded out
lines of the trees under the streaming
brilliance of the Summer moon. They
sat on low fence of piled stones,
Georges arm about her, and talked OF
their marriage.
How soon, Tam?"
"Well-when the Elliot case Is fin
ished?"
When the Elliot case is finished.
Well be married the day after and
60 off to Huntington Lake the next
day"
Into the big, high, clean noun
tains," the girl unused.
And then three weeks of heaven!"
Mountains and pines and the river
and fishing and riding. I've not been
on horse since was at school. I'm
going to ride every day while you're
finishing with Hatty Elliot, so that
I'll be ready"
Poor Hatty, she's gotten herself
In kind Of deep!"
1T would be wonderful, George, II
you could get that girl off," Tam said.
at would be a good omen"
well, I'm going to do my best.
only took the thing yesterday, but it
doesn't look to me that they've got a
case against her. Old man Martell