Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-18


"Most OF US Is happy when were having every.
| thing our own way.
There was another silence between them.
| "but, mother suppose was willing TO marry
| don't know OF any body who'd have me.
MI. Grant threw her sharp eyes on the face
mnan Vas Sa lUoSins az ner.
eyes opened wide.
"The saying is that there's none so blind as they
em O purpose what Selma Pollard did here in the
spring ana Ior ever inviting you over see her Is
| what! Cousin Zena 90 Won mean. Oh mother
you're mistaken. No. no."
All right only II I'm mistook so is she, too, and
Will he In ~ Sou undeceive her the more manly IL
soB k s1n thing never entered into my head
| All the more pity, then, that she should have
| sno"h lking Tor you; not that ever imagined
tsr an instant after all your talk about her that's
ueau anu gone, that IL was likely you'd burst into
| a olaze Ike bush o. broom but plenty OF mar
nages turn out well where there's been precious
Hllle love 10 start with"
| "she never seemed to make much account of the
ooy while she was here, /" said Peter renectively.
vel, perhaps youIl tell me when she'd the
opportunity. I'm his grandmother, and 'ceptin'
| us % meals when Jenny brings him In, many s
! the day that goes by with me never so much as
| ciapplng eyes On him. OF course I've had my say
ABOUT old Jenreys and his granddaughter too so
| there's no need 10 have that over again: but II
I'm asked whether a evil-looking old poacher and
girl whose bringing into the world don't make
her nj company Tor ybody, Is the right people TO
bring up my grandchild with, my answer Is, no."
4
been terribly preJudiced against poor Jenny whom
| II was the habit on the farm to make the scape-
mother any one she could Law claim To- the giri
hStd grown up doing the stern bidding OF her
grandfather. and so much OF his WORK that those
| around, unmindful thai 1t was from necessity,
1sered and haunted her for being more of a boy
''Cousin selma thinks she has found place for
Ler, doesn't she!" Peter said.
| Yes, IL youl let her 60 Talk about not send
ing the Old man TO the union; should call It a
1 Charity"
Peter remembered the outburst of sorrow there
mad been when he only made mention OF it to
/ day more feeble and what, then, could he do? 1t
was Kind OF Selma TO remember the g1ri-perhaps-
yeS-under all circumstances.
'-Mother," he said, Jenny shall 60; tell Cousin
| Selma that we will send her."
'weil think you'd best tell her yourself said
upon letter; more particularly II you amt got no
serious thoughts oil her, the sooner It's put an end
| to the better"
"But can't think for moment that she would
Mot without asking she won't most certainly
| Peter drummed on The table. Catching sight OF
his face. Mrs. Grant decided to strike the blow.
| u don't want In any way TO force you TO marry
cause have made up my mind that must 60.
somebody, II seems, must make sacrifice; why
| me more than yOu?"
"Oh, mother, i couldn't hardly expect that
you'd stay here forever; ths place is very lonely,
! land for that reason tisn't every woman who'd
cere 10 take up her home here and settle down so
quietly; but Selma is one o. the busting ones who
| nnds plenty 10 do everywhere, and does It well,
| Too. Twas Ike listening to man to hear her
talking o. the land and what 1t might be turned TO-
/ With her money thrown In and the care she'd pay
thered be a handsome property for little Peter
Peters fingers drummed on the table more slowly
ana more softly. Then they stopped, and he sat
with eyes thai locked into vacancy.
| "Could walk there?" he asked suddenly.
| YES you could; but there amt no necessity.
You get the train at Blyfield, and that puts you
1 hen
| house is about . mile further ON 1 should say"
Peter pushed back his chair and got up YEARLY;
/ ne went over TO the mantepece and stood leaning
his head against II, looking into the empty fire.
place.
~. Perhaps might manage 1t on Monday. mother.
''say good luck go With you,r and Mrs. Grant
went over and put her hard, bony hand down on
her sons shouder-as she Observation-Disclosures
"Ihe boys all I've got TO look 10, MOTHER" and
Peter swallowed down the lump that was rising.
There's nothing wouldn't do for him."
Mrs. Grant feigned to wipe tear from the cor
| ner OF her eye.
"Ahv she said, "you needn't tell me- "a lorn
widow woman lett In the world with four OF you.
Who should Know the feelings OF parent better
That night Peter took from out his box little
Prayer Book. Around IL was a coarse white hand
kerchlef, within q faded flower and some withered
| sprigs OF rosemary-she who used TO carry 1t each
sunday was lying In the grave far away. Peter
stood looking at IT, then bending his head down,
he said, "Oh, Milly, can't We help ne-taIn'r wife
want, but a mother for your boy"
ii.
Several things had happened by the time Mon
| day came round. Peter had made up his mind;
Jenny had got her dismissal, the two OF them
were starting from Winsco:t on the same day.
The hearts of both were heavy, and the lovely
morning seemed to mock them with its bright SUM-
shine and clear blue sky.
hour ago; she was to walk 10 the station. Peter
riding, was unnecessarily ndgety about being
early. .valor will come and CO." and like Bob
Acres Peter felt his beginning to ooZe out rapidly.
He ran upstairs TO bid goodbye to his little son,
who, ready dressed, was standing on uptoe at the
window shouting vigorously.
''Take me, take me!' he cried; ''Peter wants to
| go, wants to go with Jenny" The girl who had
dressed him, in her endeavors to keep him quiet
| shook him roughly. "Jennys going away" she
| said "where you won't see her never no more, nor
father neither, IL you Amt good boy; so therer'
thought saw In the childs eyes the dead mother
looking so reproachfully that, with no time for
comforting him by saying, peter shall go. Father
| will take him."
| "And Jenny, too?"
AYES, Jenny has gone on, but we will soon get
| A certain amount Of tact had stood Mrs. Grant
in good stead all her lifetime, but certainly none
| OF IL was Forthcoming in the ensuing argument
Take the child. Carry the boy with him-to
see Seiinl! Ridiculous, impossible! What would
she think, what would any one think, at such a
| thing being done?"
4 'lHlnh that am very 1OnQ OF my cnlld, mother,
and that want TO see whether she can be the
| same"
| ''You know well enough that Sellna's never been
accustomed TO children, and 'tisn,t her habit to
| take much notice Of them"
| 40, Peter remembered; it had struck him before
but his mothers words put the seal On his re5o-
\ luton.
Had Mrs. Grant only used mild opposition or
/ been contented TO laugh at him for the Overin-
dulgent father he knew himself TO be, little Peter
| would have most surely been left at Winscott. As
it was with determination which those about
him had rarely witnessed, he called for the childS
hat and coat and ordered the girl to dress him.
4 "You amt going IN take him as he is" said Mrs
Grant furiously; "at least let him have his best
| things put on"
But no, Peter was contented that the boy should
be clean and tidy, and his manner was so decided
| That MIS-. Grant saw she had best give way.
| is Jenny gomez she whispered to the girl near
\ Not quarter OF an hour ago she wasn't cos /
see her loteiin about trying TO get sight % little
| Peter"
Mrs Grant hurried away in the Indicated direc
ton: there, Just preparing to start, she caught
! sight OF Jenny.
'rm going TO run most Of the way missis: I
! shall be ID time" the girl began, anticipating the
reproach she thought Mrs. Grant had come TO ming
! at ner.
'Here. stop bit, want 10 speak to We. Mas
ter's going TO take little Peter with him and I
want you 70 look after the child. Don't let him be
! Ia the way while masters there" and she frowned
| and nodded neanlngy. "You know"
/ Jenny heaved sigh-the news was like q re-
4 prteve TO her.
4 they'll soon ten you up ON the way"
Thus IL happened that at the CROSSROADS lust at
| the end Of the lane Peter and his son overlook
I Jenny.