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

Miss Elsie's that contrary the day, l
dunno" said Norah Flynn to Mrs. Mat
thews, the cook It was half-past six. The
children had had their supper and were
playing about the yard. And Mary's sent
up word by Jerry that her little sister
Ellen has come out from home and she
wants me to come down. It's only one
sister she has. all the rest byes."
run along" said Mrs Matthews, kind
ly. It'll keep an eye on the young ones.
Their mothers'll be home by eight"
ooh. I'll be back long before eight" said
Nora. and took the back way out of the
house to escape notice
In this she failed ANONYMOUSLY. Before
she reached the street she heard Elsie
call. Where you going. Norar 49,,
"on an errand," she called back. I'll
not be long.
"She's gone down to Mary's." pronounce
ed Elsie. and she won't be back; she
never Is. What let's dor
They had done very nearly everything,
but Elsie's fertile brain would undoubtedly
have devised further mischief had she NOT
caught glimpse of a tall, dark figure en-
tering the yard.
and Jew down the path to meet HIM
It was very pleasant, after days spent
with saloon keepers and saloon patrons,
miners and cowboys and the ID. +. L.. TO
be met by two little girls with laughing
ewes and floating hair, to feel two small.
soft palms slide into his, to hear two child
ish voices pipe of what had happened since
he was last there.
vaughan's celtic ancestor stirred in him
with Joy over these representatives of the
little people. He gave himself up unre-
servedly into their hands. They led him
into the small sitting room-Katharine's Sit
ting room. They seated him on the eoueh
and climbed all over him. They took lib
critics with him, rifled his pockets, played
with his watch, and he leaned his mead
back among the cushions and closed MS
tired eyes, submitting utterly to the speii
Of their fairy fingers and the bird-Hke twit-
tering with which they commented on what
they found.
How long he slept he did not know.
When he awoke the room was dim with
shadows, and far away the bell of his
church rang for the nlid-week prayer meet
ing, quite forgotten until now. He sprang
up hastily, thrust the two children gently
aside and ran.
The bell gave Its last peremptory stroke
as he reached the church. He entered
without delay. One quick glance about
the room told him that 1t was fllled-
Every one turned he passed up the
aisle on his way to the platform. and an
expression Of surprise, OF amusement ap-
peared on every face. Some of the young
people present laughed outright. What
could be amiss?
He ran his fingers through his hair and
brought fhem out filled with bits of rib
bon, through his beard and found more
He touched hts forehead; 1t was set with
curls plastered down upon 1t In row.
'Tt was the children" ne said APOLOGIZE
cally, as he vigorously brushed away the
web of the little people 1--WE will sing
hymn forty-eight.
Ned wilkins, who had slipped In for a
few minutes on his way home, described
the scene to the Richmond Hill friends. If
he'd set out to make himself as ridiculous
as possible he couldn't have succeeded any
BETTER said Ned. IT wonder who the
children werer
Katharine at once started for the small
chamber opening out of her own, in which
Elsie slept. Her precocious daughter lay
on her little white bed, fast asleep In the
moonlight, one round arm flung over her
head 1t seemed cruel to awaken any one.
most of all a child, from such profound
and peaceful sleep, but Katharine was in
exorable.
ELSIE" she said, wake UP and tell me
who has been here"
Elsie half opened her sleepy eyes and i'm
mediately closed than.