Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05

least when he began to smoke Dr. Cor
don filed a pipe mechanically. His face
preston which it had assumed at table.
He was a handsome man in a rough,
sketehy fashion. His face was blurred
with a gray grizzle OF beard. He wore his
hair rather long. and he had a fashion of
running his fingers through it, which made
1t look like thick brush. He dressed
rather carelessly, still like a gentleman.
His clothes were slouchy, and needed brush
ing, but his linen was immaculate.
DR.. Gordon smoked in silence, which
his young assistant was too shy to break.
The elder man finished his pipe, then he
rose with an impatient gesture and shook
himself like great shaggy dog Come,
young man., said he, I'VE don't want to
spend the evening like this. Get your hat
and coat"
James obeyed. and the two men left the
the stable. AS they came around by the
front of the house Clemency stood in the
doorway
Are you going out, you and Dr. FL
Yes. dear; why?"
"Patients?'
NO; we are going down to George ks
Tell your mother to go to bed at once"
When the two men were out In the street,
walking briskly in the keen frosty air
James ventured a question. Mrs Ewing
is not well, is she?" ne said. He fairly
started at the way in which his question
was received. Dr. Godon tuned upon
him even fiercely.
''she is perfectly well, perfectly well,
he replied.
She does not look began James
When you are as old as I am you can
ventue to diagnose on a womans looks
said Gordon. Clara is perfectly we'll
James said no more. They walked in
silence under pale sky. Above a low
mountain range on their right was a faint
light which indicated the coming of the
moon. The ground was frozen in hard
ridges. James walked behind the doctor on
the narrow blue stone walk which served
as sidewalk.
This town has made no provision what
ever for counting couples said DR.. Gordon
suddenly, and, to James establishment his
whole manner and voice had changed. 1t
was far from gloomy. II was ocular even.
James laughed. Yes 1t would be diff
cult for two to walk arm In arm, however
loving" he returned.
Just so" said the doctor, land the funny
part Of it is that this narrow sidewalk was
Intentional
Not for such q purpose?"
Exactly so. 1t was given to the town
by rich splnster who died about twenty
years ago. 1t was given In her will on
condition that 1t should not be more than
two feet wide"
For that reason7"
Just that reason. She had been Tilted
in her youth and her heart had been
wrung by the sight of her rival passing her
very NlituOW WHSTS she Bdl watching lot
her lover arm IN arm with him. 1t was
In summer, and the dirt sidewalk was dry.
She made up her mind then and there that
that sort OF thing should be prevented"
They had just reached a handsome old
house standing close to the narrow side
walk. In fact Its windows opened directly
upon It.
This Is the house" the doctor said in
confederation. James laughed but he
wondered within himself II he were being
told fish tales. DR. Gordon made him feel
so very young that he resented It, He
resented Ii the more when he realized the
new glow of alteration In his heart for that
older woman whom they had left behind.
He began wondering about her; how much
older she was. He said 20 himself that
he did not care IL she were old enough to
be his mother. his grandmother even, there
was no one in the whole world Hike her
Then they came to the hotel, the Evarts
House It WAS rather pretentious, well
built, with great columns in front support
ing double yerandas. 1t was also well
lighted It was evidently far above the
entered, with James at his heels They
of the door, which was tlie har-room. Be-
hind the. bar stood an enormous man.
yellow haired and yellow bearded, dispens-
ing drinks The whole low interior was
dim with tobacco smoke and scented with
various liquors and spices. There was on
one side a great fireplace. IN which stood
earthen pitchers In which elder was being
mulied with retf-hot pokars, eager yinous
faces watching. Nobody was Intoxicated,
but there was general hum of hilarity
and gusto of life about the place, an animal