Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-07

such music" he thought, gulping down his
II emors. and with more nerve than ease he
strobe to the door and opened it.
Elsie followed him into the sitting room,
where her father and mother and grand
father. Nathan Kirk, were sitting, just as
| she had expected they would. Mrs. Warren
was by the front window. where she had
sat to get the benefit of the last rays of
day while she piled her needle over home
knit socks. 1t was now dusk, and her work
| lay upon her lap while she rested pending
the coming of dark aess sufficient to justify
lighting lamp
At one side of the fireplace sat Mr.. War
| rem, taking that complete and contented
rest that only the farmer or woodsman can
find after a long day CT hard work in the
open air. His hands rested on the arms Of
his rocking chair. but he was motionless.
Complete inactivity became his present
temper. The chair was at the fireplace
habitually, for, though no log burned there
now, 1t gloWed during at least nine months
of the year, and even in midsummer it
was not unusual to resort to light fire of
an evening.
Gran'pa Kirk was crouched in a similar
chair, fast asleep on the other side of the
fireplace. 1t was all just as usual in the
hour or two after supper. save that Elsie
herself was not in her usual place or at her
usual occupation.
When she entered the room she left Wits
side and went to her mother, kneeling down
and burying her face in the good lady's
lap. The mother knew, and stroked her
warren looked
up with idle interest.
Mick" began Will, in a confident tone;
| then he stopped short. confused at having
fallen into this familiar address by which
everybody In Granite greeted Elsie's father.
Excuse me-" stammered the young man.
feeling worse than he had expected to, II
mean Mr.. Warren
"Eh?" remarked Mr.. Warren, without
grasp:ng the situation at all. What's the
matter?"
elsie and I want to get married"
That wasn't what VIII had meant to say
at all. He had supposed that he would say
how much he loved Elsie, how hard he
would work for her, what a prize she would
be to him, how his very soul was bound up
in her. and such other things as frame
themselves with burning eloquence in the
thoughts Mortified at his abrupt, informal
utterance. VIII blushed yet more deeply,
but he stood, like hero. ready for the
consequence.
Mr.. Warren glanced over toward his wife
with knowing smile. and replied slowly:
We'll. 1 amt bit surprised. Why don't
ye?"
You've no objection, them" asked WILL
eagerly.
Not mite. Ask mother"
Will turned, and Mrs. Warren held out
her hand.
He stepped forward and grasped it just
as the door opened without the warning of
a knock, and a stranger stepped hesitating-
ly into the room.
All turned inquiring eyes upon him. not in
resentment OF surprise at MS failure TO
knock; that ceremony was quite unknown
In Granite, but in simple wonder as to who
he might be and what he wanted.
The stranger removed his hat.
Il cant be mistaken" he said doubtfully,
''Martha-Nick.'
A loud scream from Mrs. Warren startled
the room, shocking everybody except Gram
pa Kirk, who slept undisturbed, and she
hastily drew her daughters head again to
her lap, and held it there to prevent her
from looking on the man in the doorway.
Mr.. Warren started to his feet, and lean
ing one hand heavily on the back of his
chair, stared with open mouth and bullying
eyes at the visitor.
Evidently disconnected, the stranger es-
sayed again to speak, his eyes wandering
from Mrs. Warren to her husband, but
though he opened his lips, no words issued
from them. For moment the tableau con-
tinued, Mrs. Warrens face drawn and
rigid, but her hand trembling, Mr.. Warren
growing deathly pale, Will looking on in
profound amaZement.
Then slowly Mr.. Warren stepped to the
fireplace, still with his eyes upon the WISH
tor, reached up to the wall above 1t and
took down a rifle. He aimed 1t full at the
man in the doorway.
Its loaded" he said huskily, you know
amt afraid to use it,"
The stranger raised his hand deprecating-
ly, a look of supreme sadness came over
his own face, he shook his head slowly,
turned and left the house.
''Nicholas!' whispered Mrs. Warren ap
pealingly; she could say no more, but her
husband knew what she meant, and his
own hands trembled violently as he re-
placed the weapon.
Gran'pa Kirk yawned and opened his
eyes.
II was jes' thinkin,'' he said in a voice
that creaked with age, "how 81 Potter
killed a bear right where this house stands
when 1 was boy. That was in twenty
five. There amt no such bear chasin' now,
as there was in them days.
CThe next installment will be printed in
tomorrow's Star, and the mystery will be-
gin to develop)