The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1900-12-13

among the men n 70 Wpo snVuso 49,
They had gotten over this dISiculty by
drawing straws and the man upon
whom the task had fallen had prom
Ised that he would drown the child, that
its death might be IN easy one. This
was the only crumb Of comfort the
poor lady got; think Of that, gentle
men, she could only hope that her sons
Death had been quick and painless. The
diving man refused TO tell who had un-
dertakcn the crime" The colonel
paused, stroking his gray Van Dyke
beard. "Is Il any wonder that her face
is sad and her hair whi,eT
"It Is reported in Charleston that
she has had many advantageous Of
fcrs Of marriage" put in Mr.. Hardy
as he emptied his wine glass.
Hundreds of them" enthused the
colonel. "why, Gen. Bcauclare foi-
lowed her about like slave and SO did
Senator Waugh; I couldn't count the
men who were in love with her, but
che turned 'em all down."
The promenadcrs had quilted the
vcranda, and there was light touch
on the piano i'm the drawing-room and
a sw-e; voice singing an old song.
THAT Is heri' cried the colonel,
whose enthusiasm was not often gov
erned by rules Of grammar.
This WIS the signal for leaving the
table. and the men went into the big,
ancient.looking parlor where the
lights burned low and the breeze from
/ the distant mountains famed the lace
curtains into the room. Evelyn sat in
q rocking -chair, her eyes on the sing
| er's face. Caroline was noiseiessiy
| placing C whist table and plsying
| cards rear the center OF the room.
| She, ier father, Mr.. Hardy and Capt.
Wrinkle were the only ones who were
fond of the game.
"But we shall interrupt the sing
ing" protested the colonel, when no
noticed the preparations.
"I shall stop II you don't 60 ON with
the game" declared The gentle OLD
lady, n smile crossing her sweet. sad
face; "and furthermore, I shall not
sing unless you all talk over your
game"
To this the jovinl host agreed un-
der protest, and the whist-players took
their places. Evelyn sat at the end
of the piano near enough to touch the
elbow of the singer. There was In
finite pathos in Mrs. Lancaster's voice
as she sang:
"Dey Amt 10 use fer 20 fret an pine,
| Steady on de way. believers.
It's de same ole worl' wen dc sun don't
| shine,
Steady on dc way. believers"
The colonel was dealing the cards,
but he made mistake in the count.
and with a low laugh he threw the
cards down. II must wait till that one
is over. anyway" he whispered. THAT
blamed thing always gets the best OF
me-"
IT'S DO same oil wor. In de sun an dc
Same on de hilltop an same on de plain.
SO keep up yo' shout!n' an keep on yo'
prayin-
Steady on de way, believers.
''Dey's a great big blossom on de water
| melon vine.
Steady or de way. believers:
Fur peace come long wen you done wid
So keep up yo' shoutin' an Keep on 20
prayin',
Steady on de way. believers"
There was just the faiptest quiver IN
Mrs. lancaster's voice, which Evelyn
alone noticed, and hint Of moisture
in her eyes as the melody died In the
still room. She turned towards ths
card players, who, with the exception
of the dapper captain, seemed deep
ly moved by her song.
~ knew would stop your game,
/ 4
enjoy life. Come, Evelyn, let's take
another stroll"
The view from the veranda wa'
beautiful, and Is the two walked bacI
ard forth across the wide floor arm "
arm they enjoyed IL silently. The mooi
had risen and hung like a great glob'
of yellow light just beneath q float
ing canopy Of filmy clouds. Tw'
rows OF wind. d.moved eIms stretched
out past the great iron-wrought gate
L md between CLEANED the white cher
drive. On a sloping lawn to the lef
: lay luxuriant parterrcs Of flowers dl
$ vcrsified by well-kept walks. IN,
J, smooth plots Of grass. Near the cen
s ter stood n fountain, Its sprays gleam
o ing like rain In an April Shove
9 against the dark background Of mag
u nolia trees. The air which faune
i their faces was laden with the pei
i fume Of byacinth and roses. Whe
n they had walked several minutes L
.. silence they paused at the windo,
Il from which they had reached the vel
]. anta. and looked in ON the playeri
D. Mr.. Hardy was dealing the cards an
Is Capt. Wrinkle was relating some soI
l. tf experience Of his own whic
ie seemed To have reused the interest q
le his host.
n "Of course" the captain was sayinj
ID 'thc fellows challenge was a greatsul
Is prise To me. confess that did driv
g against him out Of pure devilment, ft
ie had heard what an egotistical. pr,
Ih sumptisc ass he was, an I wanted I
s. pay him back for throwing my Il
ID IN the river us II he were the prime
re Of Wales, but heaven knows, / didn
Is think Id get a bloody duel on m
n hands. As you know, colonel, thei
~ was nothing for me to do but 10
M to make him zee the absurlity of Il
ct thing"
n. II suppose not" returned the colops
n in a noncomniiital tone. Whatev,
he may have been his secret opinion .
to Wrinkles 'alor lie knew his duty ,
n host too well TO impugn II, or to rend,
Id his guest uncomfortable by sharp cri
he icism. ''And what did you say to him
n, he ended.
re "Why, ! told him, of course, that h