Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20
BEAUTIFUL SILVER GOBLET.

Mrs. Aliens face grew thin and worn
but her smile was always sweet that
Godfrey did not see the sadness in her
eyes Winnie, too, grew spiritless and lam
guild; the roundness of her little limbs be-
gan to waste, her eyes had dark shadows
round them; she cried and fretted inces-
sanity. Poor Godfrey could not understand
why his little playmate should be cross.
us she HIP he asked one day, when he
found her crying in her mothers arms, and
noted the tears upon the mothers face
I'm afraid she is, Geoff.''
Cant the doctor give her something to
make her better?"
II don't think so. I haven't had the doc
tor"
Hes very nice man." said Godfrey,
with serious face. "He made me better
when, I had scarlet fever. Mayn't L go
round to his house and tell him to come
and see Winnie?'
mo, Godfrey. no. He would do her no
good. He would only advise Impossible
things; it is no use. l brought her into the
country, away from that cruel London to
save her little. life, but it is useless to do
that if 1 can't do other things for her. You
don't understand"
Il don't understand; but I could under
stand If you would 'splain 1t to me-" said
Godfrey, decidedly.
II can't explain; you wouldn't know-be-
sides, 1 could not tell you, my dear little
boy. You, you will never know what it is
to be poor, thank God!'
",
Go, Godfrey. I cannot explain to you.
Go away-you can come another time. Some
day you will understand"
1t was with a pale face and a swelling
heart that Godfrey made his way out of
Mrs Aliens room down the stairs and out
into the f1rwood, where he had first made
Winnie's acquaintance
He sat down on fallen tree, and looked
straight before him. seeing nothing because
OF the tears in his eyes. He was startled
therefore, when voice beside him sudden
ly made itself heard
Hope there's nothing wrong, sir"
1t was Jameson, the keeper. who spoke
Godfrey started and colored a little. but
looked UP frankly.
Il was thinking about Winnie and her
motner, Jameson. Winnie does look SO i'll. -
'Ay," said Jameson, systematically.
What is the matter with her. do Won
think. JAMESON
I've only my opinion, sir, and that's inst
worth nothing at all. But what think is
that It's starvation, neither more nor less. y
What! Jamieson?' Geohrey's face was
full of horror. DO you-do you mean that
they haven't enough to eat?'
Wen, Sir, I've thought for some time
that that's what 1t looks like" said the
keeper, with a sort of half-suIlen unwiIIinp-
ness. She's as proud as proud: she won't
take a penny she hasn't earned, nor a meal
from nay mtssis without paying for It: and
We know as well as any one can know. what
comes into the house for her and what She
for the child; but it's more than milk the
little lady wants."
But he was sorry that he had spoken so
plainly. for Godfrey burst. without warn
ing, into passion Of sobs and tears and
fled through the wood SO swiftly that
Jameson had not time to soften his com
munication by any qualifying words
H.
The squire sat alone In his study. He sat
IN his armchair at the writing table. in a
strangely rigid attitude: one clenched hand
resting on the table. the other grasping the
arm of his chair; his eyes fixed upon a let
ter outstretched before him. The color had
faded from his usually forid countenance,
and his mouth was grimly set beneath the
white mustache. He did not present the
appearance Of a man with whom it would
be particularly easy to deal.
The letter before him was from firm of
lawyers in London. They were not his ordi-
nary men Of business, but solicitors whom
he had employed for one special pieca Of
w0rk-werk Of which he was perhaps a lit
tie bit ashamed. For he knew that he had
once at least. done cruel thing.
The letter ran as follows:
Strive beg to notify you that, in ac-
cordance with your instructions, we have
stopped payment to Mrs. Geonrey Tempest
Of the income previously allowed her on ac-
count OF the fact that Mrs. GeofYrey Tem-
pest has broken the terms Of the arreenant
made with you by leaving London. for the
country without your permission. We have
acquainted Mrs. Tempest with your refusal