Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-12

been for the moment rorgetful of where she
| vas. IT afraid you'll think he's a little
fresh, ma'am," she murmured APOLOGIZE
| cally.
The boy may have heard this. for in
| silently waving the attractions Of the win
| dow, he strutted back and demanded with n
determined air. ''w'eres dat candy?"
| Ssh, Reuby, SSH whispered the moth
| er, reddening. But Mrs. Kernyss looked
| amused, AID said: Does he want candy 2
| Dear me! I'm afraid we've none in the
| house. But wait a moment"
She went TO the bell and pushed and i'm
| mediateIy the butler was at the door.
While she was speaking to him. the mother
! essayed 70 protest
oh, don't speak OF It, pray" Mrs.
kemyss interrupted her The man'n be
BACK In a jiffy. ! only hope he'll bring the
kind the little boy likes"
| The little boy discerned something here
germane TO his interests II likes sour balls :"
he said without hesitation, and looking at
me lady as IL challenging her TO produces
trat peculiar confection. Then doubtless
irferring from her amused perplexity that
she old not know ovcrmuch about il, he
edded, An / likes them wot's got red
I stripes onto them"
''oh. Reuby. Reubyr' That was all the
mother could say in her helpless shame
! But he's such a dear little fellow!" cried
Mrs. hemyss. STOPPING suddenly and gath
er1ng him 10 her arms before he could pro-
/
little fellowr
Breathless and indignant, the child strug-
gIed to free himself; but he was held fast.
With a sudden frantic outburst he mum
pied, Say, I'll smash YEP
The young woman could hardly believe
her ears. Burning with shame she gasped
started forward, and took him from Mrs.
kemyss' arms. Then falling 10 her Knee.
beside him, tearfully she bewailed his WICK
eonesf. But he preserved a stolid front
diversion was brought by the buffers
umeIy reappearance. Ii was found that
scUr-balls formed no part Of The boxrul he
/ had got; but what was there In place az
them seemed to excite sufficiently the In
facuie curiosity and liking. 1t was while
me boy was deeply delving that Mrs.
hemyss begin to talk earnestly TO the
neither; and as she talked. ner face warm
pleading case
she spoke of what a boy naturally bright
nlght expect TO become, what future there
was Tor him. She spoke of a supposititious
boy, yet even the young mother could not
Out see at last that IL was her boy the
great lady had in mind and, her bewilder-
nent swept away, she sat overcome with
gratitude and pride at the wondrous MIC
tires unfolded to her view. She had never
had any one talk 10 her like this before
she had never known any one to take in
terest In the child, and her mother heart
expanded and throbbed. and her eyes got
moist and her lips quivered. She could
hardly have believed II all-could hardly be-
glance and the tender ways-could she be
saying that TO her which was not sinceref
She could not believe that 1t must be true:
the little lad was all that the great lady
said-would be all that she forecast She
leaned forward. glowing and palpitatine,
and fondly stroked his hair.
But Mrs. kemyss had only presented the
beginning Of her argument. In a little
while she came to a conclusion with: And
the little fellow, Mrs. Burwell. would be all
THIS, might do all this. IL he-if he only had
the opportunity"
The mother looked up, not catching the
drift OF the emphasis. Mrs. Kemyss was
ward.
Il think. Mrs. Burwell." she went on-.T
think can put that In your way. You are
poor, and out Of employment, you say.
And, moreover, you are widow. / too am
a widow. But" she murmured softly, II
nave never had little boy. j was thinking
OF something this afternoon when that
strange accident occurred-let us call IL a
happy accident Ii seems to me in some
way providential-that it should happen at
that very moment you know. And-and
now / am going to ask you something"
She arose and went over TO the young wo-
man, laying hand gently on her shoulder.
Mrs. Burwell," she said. I'm going to ask
you to let me adopt your little boy"
The mother started. and looked I'D at her
quickly in CONSERVATION and IN supplica-
ton. All the color was gone out Of her face
now, and when she tried to speak her lips
merely moved
You do not seem 10 wish IT," resumed
Mrs. henyss after pause. her face falling
''Of course IL is a little sudden but shau't
press You 10 answer at once. You must
think over it. certainly. And you must not
forget that the little boy would not be OUT
OF your reach. You might see him con-
stanty. ] will make a place for YOU in my
household, II you wish. Ii would be only"
she stopped. for she saw that the young
woman was trembling violently. and that
her breath was coming in little gasps. She
would give her time TO compose herself. she
decided So she went on gently: You may
take as long as you wish to think il over,
Mrs. Burwell of course. ! can 20 to see
you-tomorrow-neXt day. I'd like YOU TO
give me your address, and-wait a mo-
ment," she interrupted herself and moved
toward the bell button. But suddenly be-
thinking herself, she PAUSED: delicacy sug-
sested that perhaps the woman would De
abashed before servant In her present
agitation. III get my address book" she
said. going to the doorway. Just wall
I'll be back in an instant"
AS she went up TIE stairs she could stin
see fronting her the Moman's white and ter
iified face; and when she passed before a
mirror in her boudoir. She wondered 10 dis
cover how flushed her own checks We're
The address book she found in a moment
upon the table; she Sraspei IT, made her
way into the entry and went down.
Now. she exclaimed. pushing the por-
there aside-"now IL you'll" she broke
off suddenly and stared about.
candy box was overturned. as II Il had been
relinquished hurriedly. and its contents
were scattered. she FASTENED into the front
room, thinking that they had wandered In
there, perhaps. But IL was empty also.
She crossed the room quickly and pushed
at the bell. Almost instantly the decorous
butter was before her.
stop her she cried-'stop herr
The man Strengthened, and surprise shone
through his habitual calm.
She Nas gazing at him. why don't you
stop hery' she demanded. why do you
stand there looking at me?'
stop her, madam
Instantly! Run out quicki She's In the
streetw
The butler made a hurried movement for
the front door, and she followed in her ex-
element. His hand was upon the knob
when she recalled herself.
Wait" she said coldly; you needn't
mind"
IF she has stolen anything, madam" he
began. and paused respectfully. Then. dis
cernihg that she was struggling with an
impulse. he suggested mildly. There would
be no time to lose, madam"
'Stolen anything? But there-never mind.
No. she hasn't stolen anything. You may
go, Price"
She turned, re-entered the front drawing
room and moved TO a window. ShrOuded in
its lace she looked out into the street No.
she hasn't stolen anything" she kept re-
peating to herself.