Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-28

on her arm, heapef with late roses
1t was Miss Sallie! But how did she get
there? He had heard her go upstairs her
high heels tapping the polished steps, and
she could not have come down without his
knowledge. She had changed her dress.
too. and wore faded blue cotton, simple
and clinging.
She came up the path and across the
porch He saw her eyes. But they were
not laughing eyes now-in them was weari-
ness unspeakable. and her face was very
pale. What lad happened to change her
in the few minutes since she left him?
She did not enter the hail. but following
the porch around the side Of the house she
disappeared
In another moment he heard her voice
on the stairs, and turned and faced-a girl
in a pink cotton gown. with eyes that
laughed and lips that curved happily.
Surely she had worn blue! Surely-his
head whirled.>
You can come and see father" she
said. Then she looked at him curtousy as
he stood and stared.
What's the matter?' she asked, her
bushes pinker than her dress.
Il saw you down there" Olmstead was
pointing toward the summer house, mot
more than two minutes ago. and l was
sure you wore blue, and now here you are
| in pink. Are you a lightning change artist
or are there two of your"
Miss Sallie'S head thrown back in
| irrepressible laughter. Then she dropped
him a little courtesy. please" she said,
there are two of me. This is Sallie and
the Other is Sopny.
"Sophy always wears blue" she explain
| ed, as they went upstairs together.
In the room that Olmstead entered an
| old man reclined in an invaid's chair. BY
his side was the girl in blue cotton She
too, was smiling now.
They are good girls" said the old man.
| "Sophy wanted to go to the dance. but she
stayed with her old father and let Sallie
CO.
AS he spoke there crept into the eyes Of
! the girl in blue shadow that was not in
! the eyes of the one in pink.
Did you sleep all right?'' asked Miss
Sallie, and Olmstead caught note of
] eager questioning in her voice.
'.All night, without break" and the old
| man nodded his head, like pleased child
But Olmstead was watching the girl in
| blue. There was more than a shadow now
| there was horror.
| Then the girls left them, and Olmstead
| talked books with an old man who in his
| leisurely life had read and pondered as the
men of a more turbulent generation cannot
| AT breakfast Miss Saliie sat at one end
] Of the table and poured coffee and Miss
| Sophy sat at the other end and served fried
| chicken, and Olmstead sat between them
| and loved Miss Salie because of her eyes
| and her bushes and watched Miss Sophy
| because of the shadow.
| Colonel Talliaferro would not hear of his
| leaving that day. So late that night Ohm
| stead laid himself down in bed and looked
out upon the same moon that had stared
at him in the sleeper.
| InrOuSn the open WINDOW came the sweet
| air of the mountains; the cool linen sheets
| smelt Of lavender. With one heave of his
| tired body Olmstead sank into the quiet
| sleep Of the strong. But the man who has
| slept on the plains keeps an ear open for
| sounds.
The sound that Weakened Olmead was the
| high sweet laughter of Miss Sallie. Then,
| all at once. came the subdued, deep tones
| of a man. Olmstead slipped into his
! clothes. In vain he assured himself that 1t
was not his business. Has not man in
| stinctS?
| He opened the door softly and stepped
| out The wide gallery that followed the
/ square of the house was just above the
| great hall of the first floor. Oimstead
| high up in the shadows, could not be seen
| by the two people who sat before the fire.
4 There was no light but the light of the
| flames. Miss Sallie. in a white, flowing
gown, leaned back In the great settee
| Opposite her was the man, young, hand
some. He wore riding boots and carried
| a crop.
Their conversation, though hushed was
| ineligible to the listener.
so, you weren't frightened tonight %
laughed the man.
Miss Sallie tossed her head. You're not
| so very dreadful. Don," she coquetted
Il scared you last night when you opened
the door
Last night! Oh, lin,pid eyes!
oh" remarked the self-contained Miss
Talliaferro, Il thought 1t was-my sister.