Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-02

and wonder that such little things can
make q mortal 20 exceedingly rich. But
confess that the chiefeet Of all my
delights Is still the religious. Chico
dore Parker She read the words again.
then closed her eyes and let the
honey of some sacred memory to satisfy
her soul. And in those few minutes or
reverie Ruth Bayard revealed the keynote
| of her being. Wanderings from 1t, caused
| by the exigencies and duties of life, fire.
quently occurred but she quickly returned
to It's central and controlling harmony,
and her serenity and poise were thefefore
| as natural as was her niece's joyousness
and hope. Nor was her religious character
the result of temperament. or of q secluded
| life. Ruth Bayard was woman or
thought and culture. and wise In the ways
of the world, but not worldly. Her per-
sonaiity was very attractive. she had
good form, an agreeable face. speaking
gray eyes and brown hair. soft and nat
urally wavy. She was distant cousin OF
Eth,is mother, but had been brought up
with her in the same household. and al
ways regarded her as sister, and Ethel
never remembered that she was only ner
aunt by adoption Ten years older than her
niece. she had mothered her with wise and
loving patience, and her thoughts never
wandered long or far from the girl. Con
sequently, she soon found herself WONDER
ing what reason there could be for Dora
Dennings urgency.
In the meantime Ethel had reached her
friends residences new building of un-
usual size and very ornate architecture
IAyerted footmen and waiting women
bowed her with mute attention to MISS
Denning's suite an absolutely private ar
raRgement of five rooms, marvelousiy fur
nished for the young lady's comfort and
delight. The windows of her parlor over
looked the park and she was standing at
one of them as Ethel entered the room. In
a passion of welcoming gladness she turned
to her exclaiming: Il have been watch-
ing for you hours and hours, Ethel. l
| he no ancfy
1 SO happy! So happy. NO one was
ever happy as / am.
Then Ethel took both her hands, and, as
thev stood together she looked intently at
her friend Some new charm TRANSPORTED
her face, for her dark gazeHe eyes were
not more lambert than her cheeks, though
in a different way, while her black halr IN
its picturesquely arranged disorder seemed
instinct with life, and hardly to be re-
strained. She was constantly pushing IL
back, caressfng or arranging 1t; ana her
white, slender fingers, sparkling with Jew
els moved among the crimped and wavy
locks as if there was an intelligent SYM
pathy between them.
How beautiful you are today. Dora!
Who has worked wonders on you!
Basil Stanhope. He loves me! He loves
me! He told me so last night-in the sweet
est words that were ever uttered. snail
never forget one of them-never, as long as
1 live! Let us sit down. l want to tell you
everything.
L
$50 was mother, and father and Bryce.
No one suspected our affection. Motner
used to grumble about my going at all
hours to ST. Jude's church; but that was
because st. Jude's is so very High Church,
and mother Is Methodist Episcopal IL
was the morning and evening prayers she
objected to. No one had any suspicion OF
the clergyman. Oh, Ethel, he is so hand
some, So good! SO clever! I think every
woman In the church is in love with him.
Then If he is good man, he must be
very unhappy"
''Of course he is quite ignorant of their
| admiration and therefore quite innocent.
am the only woman he loves, and he never
even remembers me when he Is In the
sacred office. If you could see him come
out of the vestry In his white Surpllce,
with his rapt face and prophetic eyes. So
mysticali So beautiful You would not
wonder that | worship him..
But l do not understand-how did you
meet him socially?
II met him at Mrs. Taylor's first. Then
he spoke to me one morning as l came out
of church. and the next morning he walked
through the park with me. And after that
all was easy enough"
II see. What does your father and
mother think-or rather, what do they
say?'
Father always says what he thinks, and
mother thinks and says what l do. This
condition simphfied matters very much.
Basil wrote TO father. and yesterday after
dinner he rad an interview with him. i ex-
pected IL, ana was quite prepared Tor any
climax that might come. l wore my love-
lest white froclf and had lilies of the val
ley in my hair and on my breast; and
father called me his little angel and pious-
~ wondered how | could be his daugh-
ter After dinner time I sang Little Boy
Blue and some of the songs he loves and
l felt, when Basils card came in, that
had prepared the proper atmosphere for the
interview"
You are really very clever, Dora"
II tried to continue singing and playing,
but / could not; the notes all ran together,
the words were lost. / went TO mothers
side and put my hand In hers and she
said softly: I can hear your father Storm
ing a little, but he will settle down the