Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-01
1ax.~-NN.

contents of the basket would have been
disposed of had he been aware of 1t, for
he concentrated on them all the interest
he might have felt in the affairs OF the
world al large had he been himself.
Perhaps you would not have wondered
at this had you ever tasted a certain con-
serve that Sally made of rosehips and
honey. or her sweet and fiery cherry cor
dial, had you drenched corner or your
tire in the cologne Of her compromising.
And none of these things did Sally ever re-
fuse Humphrey; although she could not
help crying when she came home one day
and found the whole house as II a storm
had blown through it, and discovered that
he had brought in the schoolboys and had
made away with everything she had pre-
pared and from the sale OF which she had
expected to satisfy their simple wants for
half the year.
Humphrey saw her cry. He knew 1t was
on account of his misdeed. He could not
understand that Sally should deny him any
thing. but the sight Of her tears wrought
him to fury. He rushed to the little still
in the pantry to destroy it. partly in tenn
per- partly perhaps that its products~should
never again tempt him to hurt her, partly
with irresponsible outbreak. "Oh, Hum
phrey. Humphrey! Don't. don't touch 1t!
Oh, the STILL the still!'' cried Sally. throw
ing herself before him, for there was not
another still to be found, and If anything
happened to this the want that would befall
them appalled, her in swift fancy. The es-
sence Of roses that dripped through 1t. the
poor, weak cordial spirit that she distilled
there-it was the only thing between them
and the almshouse For the conserves, the
candies, the carved trifles signied nothing
beside those dainty phials Of perfume and
Of tonic that made her welcome to young
girl and housewife and made the children
feel II the gales Of Araby the best
blew about her as he walked.
Humphrey turned to look at her and
and Sally gently loosened his fingers TIL
they dropped It, and then she put his arm
about her shoulder and led him away, her
lips still trembling, her face white. And
keeper of the miserable little affair, and
although with none to modest him, COM
passed in one all the watchfulness of the
three heads of Cerberus.
Il like TO treat the boys" he said half
whimperingly TO Sally that night waking
her from sleep to say 1T.
We'll, dear she answered dreamily, al
though she meant to hide her future store
They're good boys, Sally. They thought
the jam was fine. So did 1. They put the
rosewater on their hair, an slicked up.
They like the cherry bounce. Tm-Pm a
httle-warn't just the thing to treat boys
to. was 1t, Sally? Il sometimes makes me
feel myself as if-as IT, you know, the
world was going round the other way.
thought = afterward | thought = 'twould
maybe strike them silly. You listening,
Sally? l like to treat the boys. They're
just the age our Polly was, Sally! What's
become Of Polly?'
And then Sally could endure no more,
and broke into bitter weeping, and Hum
phrey, sitting up in bed, took her in his
arms and rocked to and fro, his eyes blaz-
ing in the moonlight that streamed over
them, and looking like wild man Of the
woods, with a white. thin. helpless creature
in his arms.
BY and by. in pause Of her sobs, Sally
found that. still holding her, Humphrey
was asleep She freed herself and pulled
the pillows round to support him till he
should sink among them, and, pitiful as
her distress was. she felt that this condi-
ton of Humphreys was better than the
old days of frenzy or than those aftertimes
of dumb silence. when for long spaces he
uttered no syllable. but glared with eyes
the more terrible that once they had been
tender. At any rate, now she could hear
cock crow in the night and the far clar-
lon calls from farm to farm replying with
out starting in fright lest it woke Hum
phrey to ravtng again; she could hear tho
boatman blow his horn for the draw OF tho
bridge to be opened and the echo flute It
off to mere breathings Of music: she could
hear the meeting house clock make its SOL
emn and interminable toll. and she could
see the golden streak of dawn grow to red
ness and the white clouds flock up like a
troop Of angels winging across the blue as
she lay gazing at the window all without
the fear that had grown to be torture
That was great deal to be thankful for
Some time. perhaps, Humphrey would be
right again. And If that never came to
pass here, why there was all heaven and
II before that time her own mind might be
gone with the care. the worry. the sleep
less nights. the sorrow. Now, the moon
hung In the window. looking upon her like
gracious friendly spirit promising peace.
ana saiiy repeated to herself the texta