Evening star., 1937-12-19
THIS WEEK

his bedroom WINDOW, remembering
that kiss. 1t awoke the old dreams in
his heart again, and the old hopes, and
he was frightened, and said to them,
BE stillr' He couldn't face the old
bitter disappointment any more. He
leaned from the window and looked
out. Lit windows. all down the street.
The Gardullas had people staying.
There was the sound of music and
Laughter in the big house. At Number
20 all was dark, save one upper win
dow, the children's room. He was sur
prised at that. The Passmores we're
usually gay people. And even as he
watched, he saw Mrs. PASSWORDS
shadow on the blind. before the light
flicked out. Number /, where Miss
Grey lived, was in darkness. Miss
Grey would be at the Gardulla's 8 party.
She went everywhere. But he didn't
want anything but his own home and
a little happiness there and Mile
loving him.
He shivered. 1t was bitterly cold.
For moment he fought the tempta-
ton to 60 in to Mile and kneel down
and put his head against her. and say,
Il am lonely, Mile. Be kind to your
boyr'
He didn't. Once he had tried it and
she had snubbed him. A man does not
forget that. The wound does not heal
He looked down the road again, at the
neighboring houses. Lit windows all
down the street. Other peoples houses
other peoples lives. And no one could
ever know the whole story.
Back into harness again. dears,'
said Aunt Marianne next morning.
rubbing her hands, incredibly pleased
because three other sisters. returning
from their rest, we're to pick her up in
a Limousine someone had lent. People
were SO kind.
1T has been the most wonderful
treat to me. dears," said Aunt Mari
anne Twill you think me foolish if
ask little favor?'
IF it's dark little pants -" began
L0rne.
''Oh. NO. my dear. Nothing like
that This is a really selfish request, all
for my own pleasure. wondered
whether you would just let me pull the
curtains, and turn on the lights, SO
that can see it again as it looks by
night, when We sit round the fire."
She hustled round, like child play
ing an enchanting game and somehow.
without meaning to be, Lorne and
MilGe suffered sort of enchantment
also. 1t was as if they saw their little
house now through Aunt Marianne's
eyes. They helped her. They pulled
up her chair in front of the fire.
Eyes, that's right. l sit here. And
you two sit over there On the sofa,"
said Aunt Marianne, kindly arranging
the cushions for them. "How nice it
is! shall remember this. l shall often
think: now they are sitting there.
close to the fire.!
Her guileless eyes took snapshots to
hang on memory's walls. Then she
darted upstairs. They heard the cur
tains sliding along their rods. When
they followed her up. they saw Aunt
Marianne sitting on the bedside, in
the full glare of the electric light,
strolling the old oounterpane with
loving hand. She had the prim sur
prised air of a child playing at being
visitor.
Over the room, Lorne looked at
Millie, and he saw there were tears in
her eyes. He went downstairs, and left
the two women together He stood by
the window looking out over his little
garden. 1t was frozen in, now. Tucked
asleep under its blanket of snow. But
presently the sun would shine. and
thaw all his loving care for it into
beauty. and a garden is like life.
And while he stood there, up to the