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

ON the deal table in the window. where
q flood of pale November sunshine poured
into the white boarded, white shelved ROOM
sat Godfrey, watching the butler proceeo-
ings with never-failing interest Ii gave
him continual joy to see the display OF Sill
yer plate to examine the red poWoer OF
the white paste which Burton used, to try
the effect of the chamois leather on the
corner of some finely chased silver tray, or
the bowl of a Queen Anne spoon. But the
browning delight of all came when Burton
took into his hand a beautifully ornament
ed goblet with strange traceries upon the
surface and a twisted handle on either
side Then Godfrey always became excit-
ed; his bright head bobbed backward and
forward In the sunshine, and his voice ran
on in a stream of chatter which seemed as
If it would never stop.
THAT is my cup. isn't it, Burton?'
Yes. sir. l suppose it is-after a manner
of speaking.
grandfather gave 1t to me for my very
own said Geoff, rather puzzled by Bur
tons response. He SAL it was mine, ana
| must take care of 1t; that is why / like
to come and see il cleaned on Mondays,
you know. But it is too beautiful to be used
centrally, isn't 1t? So may only have II
out on my birthday and on Christmas day,
and that's why / call it the Christmas cup,
and because 1t was Christmas day when
grandfather told me it was mine.
often l reckon" said Burton. IT'S small
TO be sure, but it's the same shape as the
big wassail-bowl that they used TO make
punch in on Christmas eve. It's sort OF
loving cup. as they call 1t, Master Geoff;
you drink and pass it on to your next
neghbor don't you See
"A Loving cup?" repeated Godfrey, with
a thoughtful look upon his fair child-face
But that's much the same thing as
Christmas cup, isn't it. Burton? You know
Christmas is the time when everybody loves
everybody and"
Burton gave vent to strangled laugh
BEG pardon, Master Godfrey. as the boy
stopped short and gazed at him reproach-
fully-"but there wasn't much love lost over
this cup when 1t came into the family, SO
1 couldn't keep myself from smiling to hear
you talk of it. And 1t was Christmas, too,
though many a long year ago.
rs it a story?' said Godfrey. "Oh,do
tell me. do tell me- l do love stories so
much!'
prudently. See now, Master Geof. I've
done your cup. and it's nearly 3 o'clock.
Aren't you going out before the sun sets?
We shan't have many more bright days like
these, and Christmas will be here before we
can look around"
But you haven't told me the story of the
cup. Burton"
There's no story to tell, sir. Master got
the cup at a sale thirty years ago, and paid
a long price for it. A lot of people wanted
it. too
rs that all? Who else wanted it?"
ooh, gentlemen from London and other
parts. And Sir Roger Vansittart, most OF
ALL
II know Sir Roger Vansittart," said Geoff,
with deep interest. Hes tall, thin man,
with gray hair and very, very kind eyes.
Grandfather doesn't like him. But l do;
and he was awfully good to me when l lost
my way the other day. He brought me
home on his great big black horse, you
know, but he wouldn't come in, and grand
father looked quite angry when l told him
Sir Roger brought me home"
''Ah, no wonder" said Burton, shaking
his gray head. And they used to be bosom
friends-brothers, almost-when they were
young. But it was about that cup that they
quarreled-so. at least, people say-and
they've never spoken since"
Godfrey looked down at the silver goblet
which he was holding with two small hands
between his knees, with somewhat cloud
ed face.
II don't like to think that people have
quarreled about my Christmas cup" he
said half to himself and half to Burton.
Il expect if they hadn't quarreled over
that they would have quarreled over some
thing else" said Burton, philosophically.
"You see, that there cup had belonged, it
seems. to Sir. Rogers great-grandmother.
and he had set his heart on getting it when
the sale at Coldwell Manor House took
place, but the squire wanted 1t, too, and 1t
was the squire that got it after all
us it worth a great deal of money, Bur
TONI
YES. a great deal. sir
IF l asked grandfather to give it to Sir
Roger
The gray hairs on Burton's head almost
stood erect. Don't you say anything about
it to the master, if you please. sir he said,
earnestly. Nobody mentions Sir Roger
Vansittart to Mr.. Tempest now. You must
not say word about him or about the cup;
maybe 1 ought never to have told you
II won't say anything, Burton indeed /
won't-unless grandfather asks me, you
know. But I'm sorry he quarreled with
anybody about my Christmas cup. P'raps
that's the reason he doesn't care for it very
much and gave ii to me-.
He let Burton take the goblet from his
hands with less reluctance than usual. A
little of the pleasure had gone out of his
sense of ownership. 1t was with rather
sober face that he left the buffers pantry
and wandered out into the garden. He was
a lonely little fellow, although scarcely con-
scious of his loneliness. He lived at Grey
stones. the fine old house which belonged to
his grandfather, with no comprehensive
but that of Mr.. Tempest a daily governess
and the servants. He loved his grandfather
dearly. and was not in the least afraid of
him, although the squire was man whom
many persons dreaded and disliked-a
naughty. irascible old man, with white hair
and keen bright eyes, which were only too
apt TO throw out Hghtnings of wrath and
scorn, such blighted the happiness of
those who ought to have been dear to him.
His own children had suffered in many
ways from his arrogance and ill-temper-
One son had run away from home and been
drowned at sea. The second boy had mar
ried against his fathers wishes, and been
disinherited. This son was Geoffrey's faith
er. and he had died when Godfrey was only
two years old. And for some years past
Godfrey had been brought up In his grand
fathers house and treated as the heir.
The boy passed from the garden into the
plantation. and thence into little frwood.
He liked to walk on the carpet of fir nee
dies that lay beneath his feet, and was
treadng 1t with much enjoyment when an
unexpected sound fell upon his ear. 1t was
a chld's cry; low. subdued wall. which
attracted his attention at once. For the
wood was his grandfather's property. and
trespassers were not allowed to enter there.
He stopped and looked around doubtfully.
Then his eye distinguished between the red
trunks Of the fir trees a CLEAN OF some
thing white, the white frock of little girl
who was sitting on the ground and weeping
pitifully. Geoffrey turned back.
What's the matter, little girl?" he ask
ed, in a protecting tone. Have You hurt
yourself? Don't be frightened; I'll take
care of you"
The child was about Ave years DID, a DEL
icate-looking, pretty little creature, with
long fair hair and large blue eyes now
drowned in tears. She lifted her face to-
ward the speaker. then pointed with a tiny
forefinger to her foot. from which the shoe
had disappeared. little stain of red on
the white sock showed that the little foot
had traa