Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-24

nature like hers would grow to its best in
the environment that had developed it.
Grandfather Roslin looked angrily at tho
shovel In Grahams hands. do you want
to cut my feet off" he stioIded.
Graham looked ar him sternly. 'tAIr.
Rosiin," he said, that clay is half way up
to your knees. now. Unless you obey me
at once, can't answer for the conse-
quences-"
Grandfather Roslin looked frightened.
Pull me out pIll me OUT he cried.
TN try to dig away the clay little.
fret replied Graham, stepping out on the
door and falling to work at would wrench
you badly unless / did, and / even doubt II
1t would be possible
He worked rapidly, but the ooZiug clay
was all but unmanageabie.
You want me to die here" cried the old
man. looking at Elspeth. who was watch
ing with white, eager face. You know
you can't have my granddaughter with me
alive"
Your granddaughter? repeated Graham.
Grandfather Roslin closed his lips firmly
while Elspeth looked in puzzled way at
the two men. Graham called to Elspeth
without looking around or ceasing to dig.
"Elspeth, run for the clothes liner
Eispeth bounded UP the bank and was
back before the two men had time to ex-
change a word, Now Graham went on,
toss one end over that branch of the tree
pointing to one that the old man faced,
and throw both ends out to Mr.. Rosliu
Now, Mr. Roslin,' as the old man eagerly
grasped the dangling rope ends, you must
pull on the rope with ali your might while
l try to lift you on the door, Elspeth
you'd better come out and help"
A few moments Of silent struggling, and
Grandfather Roslin lay under the willow
tree, white and shaken. but unframed
Elspeth chafed his hands eagerly.
Are you hurt, grandfather" she cried.
The old man did not answer for a little
while, then he opened his eyes and looked
at Graham.
why do you want to take my grand
child away from me- he said, IAN old man
like me?"
The puzzled look returned to Elspeth's
face. Graham glanced down at the old
man why do you want to keep her." he
asked. when you have no right tor"
Mr. Graham he's my grandfather"
cried Elspeth, Indignantly.
'Oh, no. he's not your grandfather re-
piled Graham. steadily. II knew your
grandfather very well. He was an artist.
education, and what has he done with tit"
''But-but-" stammered Eispeth, drop
ping Grandfather Roslin's hand and rising,
my mother-and why
Your mother broke your grandfathers
heart" Graham went Your father is
dead. Your grandfather wanted you brought
up away from every influence that could
harm you. Mr.. Roslin was a friend of his
boyheod."
Grandfather Rosin sat up excitedly.
And amt I give her a good homer" he
cried
Yes" replied Graham. land. incidental
ly, you've given her chance to work like
a galley slave taking care of you. I could
not interfere till Elspeth came of age, but
she is twenty-one today"
And now you want her, I suppose"
snarled the old man.
I've wanted her and waited for her for
five years" answered Graham.
Silence fell upon the group. Grandfather
Roslin lay with closed eyes and compressed
lips. Graham watched him with little
scowl between his eyes. Elspeth stood with
flushed, troubled face. Yet already the rev.
citation seemed an old story, so completely
had 1t answered her lifelong questionings.
She looked at the familiar scene-the quiet
river, the old shack, gray and silent in the
noontide sun, the sloping garden. with the
days of toll that she had spent in house and
garden, of the years of thwarted ambition
She turned toward Graham.
You never told me that you wanted me-"
she said.
Graham looked down at her The troubled
face seemed very lovely to him.
know"
oh you must have known that ] did,
she cried, and how glad" Then she
stopped as If some thought of the old man
detained her. She went over and kneIt
beside him. Grandfather" she pleaded,
grandfather, tell me that you want me to
be happy"
Grandfather Roslin opened his eyes Then.
as the night before. the fractions gaze gave
way slowly to softer one. Grandfather"
she cried, Il can't leave you alone, after all
these years.
Grandfather Roslin sat erect. i've been
pretty cussed in my day, Elspeth" he
said, but you've been good daughter to
mt, and l amt mean enough to keep you
from the man you want. Cousin Emily'll
come and take care of me. I'm goin' to
change my shoes" The old man rose, and
waving back their proffered hands, hobbled
I'D the bank.
Graham looked after him. pityingly "I
never thought that he had 1t in him." he
said. Then, taking Elspeth's hand in his
Within he looked at the beauty of the
sandstone carvings for a few silent mo-
ments, then:
"Elspeth,' he said. will you give me the
right to help you, TO make 1t possible for
you to put these things in lasting form?"
Elspeth looked at him with wonder in her
eyes. You want me? she asked lust
plain, ignorant me?''
His answer was another question. FL
speth, are you sure you care? Have you
cared long enough?'
Espeth turned to the table and slowly
drew the cloth from another figure. 1t was
Grahams face that looked up at them from
the clay, modelled with a faithful memory
that only love could have bestowed. With
out q word Graham gathered her close to
him. There was a long silence. Out of
doors the river tapped the shore tenderly,
the sweet, damp smell of the thawing earth
foated in to them, and a robin alighted
in the doorway and watched the two with
inquiring chirp.