The Washington times., 1894-08-05

But he is bright. laughing, little fellow,
who fiutters into the rectory garden like u
butteriy-such winsome. happy rite. So
easily pleased so loving. with none OF child
hoods unconscious seiiishness, that Philippa
falls in love with him at once, and he, becom-
ing her slave with equal rapidity, is nick
named her little sweetheart. He listens to
the widest legends OF iairyland with unques-
toning belief when they flow from her lips;
trot5 beside her when she gathers fruit or
flowers. delighted TO carry her basket or scis-
sors; finds her balls at tennis. and she de-
clares that II will end in her stealing him.
One dav she lad been distributing toys
among her cousins, and presents BERTHE with
IL wonderful picture book, over which he
hangs with flushed cheeks and dilated eyes
then looks up gravely to ask Ii he may lend
this to Jim?"
'.who is Jim?" Philippa asks. and the ex-
PLANTATION is lucid.
"Oh. he cant walk like us; he has n
cwutch. but ais mamma can't buy books or
pwutty things for him. May let him wea
my book frst?'
The desired permission IL given: and who
is Jim?" Phillippa asks. 4 trine wildly. OF her
uncle; she feels tnat little sweetheart" is
leading her into strange lands. bur the rector
is able 10 throw some light upon the subject.
JIM Ah!-thc child must mean that
crippled boy OF the Coisons. His father
breaks ston q and his mother washes. So this
is real charity. Phllippa- Well done, your
little sweetheart
Il think he never saw anv one with crutches
before says Philippa. II wonder II his IN
sehshn.ss is hereditary
Somehow she is not inclined to think so.
Mr. De la Poer remains unapproachable even
through his cdild, and she does not see why
he should keep the kindly rector az arms
length with the rest of th" world. there might
surely be an exception made here.
He is a strange unsociable creature"
says one of the Mrs. Candours of the neigh
borhood, an excellent woman, who 10 always
finding son cthing or some one against whom
some one else should be warned. by these
means keeping aspecies of fiery cross in active
circulation among her acquaintanCes- Il I'm
the last person in the world to speak i'll of au-
other. but at times really do think that Mr..
De u Poer is an escaped convict. Dear Mr..
Darradale is so confi6i2g, so upsuspicious. so
broad and wide" she says, signing; the ad-
jectives. OF course, referring 10 the good rec
tors mind. not TO his personal appearance.
An escaped convict There scarcely could
be q more ridiculous theory. Philippa thinks,
deciding that this lady has probably been
chief builder of the wall of mystery. But
whatsoever may be said of Mr.. De la Poer in
other respects. no one can find fault with his
treatment of his boy or question his affection.
Tho sad, grave face lights up at the sight of
Bert:e. aud is transiigured. He seems con-
tent with this companionship. and seeks no
other; and often they are seen wandering
away together TO the woods or the common,
BenIe carried shoulder Eigh. laughing and
triumphant.
A breath Of excitement passes through
Waterdale: Lord Willard is coming home, and
the chimneys OF the great house are beginning
10 send up smoke-signals; people wonder if
he will ''entertnin," if he will bring down
shooting-party, and tradesfolk rub expectant
hands; for his lordship maintains his estab-
lishment un n liberal scale. and there is no
"cheese-paring" in his household.
''What has became of my little sweetheart"
wonders Philippa, one memorable day, when
two or three days have slipped away without
bringing BERTHE 10 the rectory 'Perhaps Mr.
De ia Poer thinks he is being spoiled among
usr'
She has just come in from awalk and meets
her uncle at the gate, to be struck by his un-
usual gravity.
''This Is sad news" he says; "poor little De
la Poer is down with diphtheria.
"Oh. uncle. But how did it reach him?"
"Why. that boy Colson has it badly. and
that stupid mother OF his allowed BERTHE in to
see him, with this result. The child ran across
from his fathers to ask for Jim-missing him,
] suppose-and she must needs take the child
into the very roem. told her what thought
of her! No wonder the sickness is spread
SIS BERTHE very il?'' she falters.
ing!"
II fear so. shall 20 back later on, though,
I assure you. I feel very helpless in this case.
/ hope the child may be spared" And the
rector's kind eyes rest on his own darlings,
healthful, and numerous, and grow dim as he
thinks OF the tiny, pain-blanched face he has
just seen. What if the one sunbeam on
dark and lonely way be quenched? What
will follow such loss? Yet what is Christi
anity worth If we cannot submit without
question to supreme wisdom and omniscient
guidance? He has several duty calls to pay,
several sick beds to visit, before he can go to
the cottage where the De la Poers live. Half
way down the deep green lane leading to 1t
he sees the well-known figure dilating through
the twilight more and more, until they are
face to face, and the question falls eagerly
from his lips: "How is BERTHE? Is he bet
ter?''
'sYes. He is better"
Something In the tone and no less in the
manner strikes strangely on the clergyman's
senses. and hot flush Of anxiety rises to his
temples; De la Poer looks at him with Light
less. languid eyes