Evening star., 1939-05-14
Moy H. 1889

Tor MIN tomorrow morning. came, IN
person, to ask your permission SO that
you would not have any hesltancy in
letting him 60"
The principal futtered. Il shall be
delighted Anytime you want the child
with you -'
81 shall want him tomorrow - and
possibly Sunday -o only because l
have reason to think that my mother
is seriously ill.," he said. "She has the
right to see her grandchild. The sight
of him will not cause her the pain it
causes me-"
The principal stopped fiuttering -
frozen by the cold regard of Mr..
Briggs blue eyes. She saw sudden
agony of remembrance in his face and
recalled that little Charles had come
into the world as his mother had left
it. She blamed herself for thinking
that Mr.. Briggs was hard, ruthless
man with no human feelings whatever
81 shall send for him about nine,'
Britt continued frigidly. PLEASE see
that he has had his breakfast"
Mrs. Briggs laughed over the tele-
gram. Even read it to Mrs, Pettigrew
over their mutual back fence. Got
room for a prodigal question mark?
Coming Saturday. Sally
''Now doesn't that sound like one of
my children?" she asked gaily. "lf |
haven't had much of anything else to
give them, thank Heaven gave them
a sense of humOr.
Wouldn't it be lovely if they all
dropped { and surprised you?'
her neighb suggested lnnocently.
"Oh. couldn't think of that.
Britt's so busy with the stock market.
and Of course Sidney is in new play.
But It will be wonderful to see Sally.
I'm going right down now and get the
biggest and tenderest chicken | can
find for tomorrow's dinner - and all
the things she likes best to 60 with it.
When she heard a car turn into the
drive, she took last glance at the
cookies in the oven and started for the
door, expecting Sally. The house, she
noticed as she went, was looking its
best. She had gathered all her late
asters and marigold and one OF the
neighborhood boys had brought her
few sumac leaves. The leaves stood IN
a squat yellow bowl, dropping their
reflections into the polished surface of
the old maple dining table. The mari
Colds llghtened the darkness Of the
piano. The asters were in Sally's bed
room upstairs. Thought, moving more
swiftly than her hurrying feet. flashed
the suggestion that though there was
nothing new or modern in this old
house. where Briggses had lived for
four generations. Sally could at least
find no dust and no disorder there.
The knocker fell with startling
thump just as she got to the front
door. Flinging the door and her arms
wide, she cried SALLY - and saw a
look of amazement and relief on the
face of her eldest son before he walked
into her outstretched arms.
But don't understand! she said.
after she had kissed him. What she
didn't understand was the hardness,
the new and rather bitter maturity Of
the face she remembered as young and
sensitive. But to him she said, 81 was
expecting Sally. l never dreamed you
were both coming. Did she drive over
with you?"
He hesitated. mo. l haven't had
any word from her Little Charles is
in the car. thought you might like to
see him"
She laughed. Like to see him! Why
didn't you bring him in?
He said, Hes asleep" But she was
already running down the steps, with
out a thought of her stiff left knee
that usually made the descent OF steps
slow and cautious matter.
i