Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-09
CHAPTER XXI.
The Debate.

| way-the sensitive, protective instinct
which sits at the door Of the too generous
heart. prepared to avengs any slight put
upon ii.
/ Winslow had not aroused this instinct In
Ellen until his chagrin made him careless
/ From the time when he found her standing
| In the sunshine at the Macys gate, her
wide, innocent blue eyes gazing wonder
| ingiy at the strange new world In which
she found herself. his attitude toward her
| had been that Of the kind, older friend, the
teacher, the guide 1t was Eilen's own
faith In him, her belief that he was the
greatest as well as the most delightful of
men, which betrayed him into tenderer rela-
tons Her readiness to obey him, her
willingness to keep his visits secret from
her family. touched Winslow. He grew
really fond of the girl.
Katharine's GOODNESS gave him an excuse,
if he needed one. 1T Is all her fault, ne
told himself and kept on, buying trinkets
for the child, telling her stories, listening
to her shrewd, quaint comments on the
lives of those about her. There was not
week when he did not spend at least
| two evenings at the Macy cottage. Mother
Macy went to bed early. A pound of tea
now and then qufeted her scruples. Ellen
was free to do as she pleased.
All at once the visits stopped. Conyinceo
that he was watched, Winslow avoided the
cottage. He would not risk a message.
w 06n II SHOutQ US sdlc toE hin W SSS
Ellen again he would explain everything.
Meanwhile he trusted to her affection and
to her confidence In him to restrain what
ever Impotence she might feel. And Ellen
watched, night after night setting the lamp
In the window, her signal that the coast
was clear, and listening to every sound, her
pulse-beats quickening at the approach OF
footsteps then sinking TO the langour OF
despair as the steps went by.
Night after night she removed the lamp,
drew the curtain and erept away to bed,
to lie palpitating in the darkness, wonder
ing what she had done or said 70 offend,
wondering If he were hurt or Ill Then
she began to hear, from Jerry and the
rest of the club which Winslow had start
ed and which many OF the young Irishmen
In town had been asked to join.
'Tve no use for him., said Jerry. But
I'll tine If for no more than to watch him.
He'll bear watchin'. He's fox, that
wan"
Was Jerry right? She listened to what
ever was said of Winslow. and his name
was in every mouth nowadays. She put
this and that together. Mother Macy did
not help matters; she resented Elien's
moods and missed her pound of tea.
AZ last, one night. the truant appeared,
little flushed, q little embarrassed. yet
quite confident that he could explain away
any unpleasantness created by his absence.
The Ellen who met him was very differ
ent Ellen from the one he bade good-oy,
that chilly night In March. when he left
Haverford and ran back to take out the
Chisholms and Sinclairs.
There's one place In town where I'm well
come" he had said to himself IN go
there"
He had not been to see her since, and II
was now the beginning of May He had
not felt safe till now. But 1t had been
long time to wait, saying nothing, he DID
not blame her for being cold as Ice and
better for it. The colder she became, the
warmer he. and from carefully concocted
excuses foundered into something ap-
preaching truth. He told her of the scene
at the church. not as 1t was, but as she
could hear It, told of Vaughan's attack
upon him, and that he had been forced,
against his VIII. to stay away
She knit her pretty brows. Why. why al
this pother? Was It because she was
working girl and he a gentleman But In
America that did not matter. She had
been in the states long enough to learn
this.
Winslow was at his wits ends how TO
answer He clustered about Vaughan, ut
tered vague threats. She evidently did not
believe them. "Oh, 1 mean what I say"
he answered her. I've got things fixed for
tomorrow night. There's to be debate OF
the church. He's to take part England
against Ireland"
iEngland against Ireland7' she repeated
He felt that he had said too much. tn
tell you about 1t when ] come Saturday
night" he said hurriedly. D9 PIT say . a a
| What-not q single klssl III make the
parson pay for robbing me-
She watched him narrowly, encourasang
the distrust of him that she somehow feit
might cure the heartache which fingered In
| her yet. x,
''ri be back Saturday night" he prom
| ised, land I'll bring you something nice.
| Two months ago, six weeks, month,
this might have served. but not now. She
| went to bed and slept soundiy Inc next
afternoon she claimed her haI DAY out,
to Mother Mays astonishm ,1a ha %aS rns
| 70 tske-and went to see her sister, Mary
| Flynn Nora Flynn, Mikes sister, was
| there. from the big house on the hiil ana
| SO were one or TWO other gins ON" "A'"A'
M Mike F1ynn.s had come to be a
meeting place for the working girls
They brought thither tn men >, 1 MaIy
could not decide what should be DONE there
| was Mike to refer to, or Jerry
Mary was usually equal to the emergency.
| women who never flag or tire as fun OF
| the maternal instinct as hen-sparroW'
! and capable of exercising IT on the mutt
! tude who appealed to her without IN .Hs
| least stinting her own brood. she heio
| Tommy on her lap, now. Maggie was nest
| ling against her skirts, and Katie hung
| over the back of her chair, Whlle she toiq
/ Nora what to do for her cola anu ASSURE
| Bridget Conner there were plenty or places
/ as good as the one she had lost. She cried
| out in delight to see Ellen. and tumbled the
| children into each others laps as she
| sprang up to seize and embrace her.
| Jerry came in a few minutes later, ana
| there was a futter among those or the
| girls who were not related to him They
| asked him how he could spare time from
| his clubs to be calling around? And when
was he going to speak in public?
| Sure I may take hand tonight, re-
] turned Jerry "'Tis free-for-an go-as-
I your please IT'S to be at the Methody
/ church SO many are comm.
| What is it ye're speakin on, Jerry?' IN
| quired his sister-in-law
HAS England amy right to suppress
| revolutionists?" replied Jerry glibiy. An
/ God pity the man who says she has!
what would they do to him? inquired
! Ellen with frightened look.
"Shoot him. beiike." returned Jerry;
! who'd be such a fool?"
| but don't they have to take sidesfN
| asked Nora
what sides Is they to that7' retorted
Jerry. There's but one side to that ques-
| ton
Ellen crossed the kitchen and took seat
by Nora,s side. Were you goin' home,
| soon?" she whispered IF you are. I'll
walk along"
/ The two girls went out together. Whats
| troublir' We Eilen?' asked Nora as they
/ turned into the street.
'as your MIR. Vaughan English" asked