Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-12-24

gretted that they could not help him,
that the young rector felt sure that it
was not the will that was wanting,
and thanked them for their ready
sympathy as warmly as though it had
been practical help.
But in the midst of the volley of ex-
cuses bright thought struck one of
the fair defaulters, and she exclaimed
"Why don't you ask Evelyn to
take your place, Mr.. Dayton? You
would, wouldn't you, Eva, dearG"
The rector hesitated, then said, in
formal tones, and without meeting
Ewes eye:
az am afraid that it would not be
much in Miss Gwynn's line"
Evelyn drew herself up proudly and
seemed about to reply, then half
amused, half hurt expression crossed
her face, as she turned carelessly
away, and sauntered over to a table
where two girls sat chatting busily as
they arrayed round faced, dimpled,
waxen beauty in the royal robes of
Queen Elizabeth.
Evelyn, why did Mr.. Dayton say
that visiting the sick was not in your
liner" queried May Lindsay, as she
adjusted the crown on the head of the
doll queen. "I am sure there is not
a girl in the guild who has done as
much visiting at the hospital and
Home for Incurables,' as you have.
I don't see why he should seem to re.
gard you as so frivolous lately, he
never used to. Doesn't he know that
for years yon have gone to your in
curables' every Sunday afternoon?
Why, we all regard you as the most
goody, goody girl in our set. l don't
see what has come over the rector"
at is not worth talking about"
said Evelyn, lightly. "Mr. Dayton
has never been asked to take an after
noon at the incurables' since he
came until now, so he probably does
not know that 1 am in the habit of
going there. May, you are getting
that ruff for her majesty too high"
And then they all plunged into the
mysteries of dolls dressmaking again.
When Edward Dayton first came to
st. Boniface he had been irresistibly
attracted by Evelyn Gwynn's pretty
face and saucy speeches, but lately his
had been much colder for he
had arrived at the conclusion that
Evelyn cared too little for serious
things to consent to become q clergy
mans wife, and he was too unaccus.
toned to women to divine that her
speeches were assumed, and
that her gay, careless manner con-
cealed warm, generous heart. The
fact was that Evelyn was so disguised
at the sudden mania for parish work,
which had seized the young ladies of
St. Boniface since Mr.. Dayton's ad-
vent, that she had taken particular
pains to appear Indifferent, and even
frivolous, and had on one or two oc-
casions evaded doing some church
work which Mr.. Dayton had asked her
to attend to personally; hence his re-
mark about the incurables" not be.
ing ain her line" Evelyn felt sore
and hurt at his opinion of her and
mentally resolved that for once she
would desert her invalids rather than
have Mr.. Dayton ina gine she was in
fluenced' by his wishes, but better
counsel came with the morning, and
she consoled herself with the thought
that Mr.. Dayton was out OF the city
and would probably never discover
that she had taken his place.
1t was Christmas afternoon and
Eva was descending the staircase of
the Home for Incurables" on her
way to the small ante-room where she
had left her coat and hat.
When she entered the house it had
been bright, clear day, and as she
had passed from room to room she
had seemed to the poor sufferers to
have brought something of the vivid
outside brightness with her; now the
situation was reversed, the frosty SUM-
shine had given way to the sudden
winter twilight, and, in sympathy
with the change, her heart was heavy
with vicarious sorrow. Like many
seemingly volatile natures hers was a
quickly sympathetic one, and she was
sad with the sight of many who were
doomed to spend the last years of
their life in suffering.
The little ante-room was dark when
she entered-so dark that she started,
when q tall, shadowy figure loomed
up before her, and a voice said
Good evening, Miss Gwynn," l think
he must have been waiting for her for
some time, for his eyes were evidently
to some extent used to the dim light
however that may be he could not see
we'll enough, however hard he tried, to
discern whether she looked pleased or
otherwise, as she said, naturally
enough: "Why, Mr.. Dayton, how
you startled me! I thought you were
miles away"
~ got back as early as / could!" he
replied, "and came around to see
how the home had Jared for its
Christmas. Let me help you into