Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-13

There seemed to be conspiracy between
| the various people who depended upon
Vaughan to keep him from getting any
sleep. The night following his experience
with Barker was spent with sick child
over on N street. The next night Mike
Flynn came for him. Mary's time had ar
| rived and neither DR.. Elliott nor Dr. Add
son could be found.
TIL come,' said Vaughan, glancing rue
| fully at the bed which he had not occupied
| for two nights. Go right along Mike I'll
be there almost as soon as you are"
Sure. ye will that II We take yer
ord'nry gait" said Mike admiringly.
The parsons rate of speed had been the
| subject OF much comment In Eureka. Bets
had been made more than once on the
length of time II would take him to get
| from street to the Methodist church..
| Blu tonight he Jagged. The vim had gone
out OF him. Only the presence of suffering,
| the appeal Of need, could bring life out Of
| anything dead as he felt himself to be-.
Once In the midst of the struggle, how
ever, he found resources in himself which
| pleased with his nights work. He flung
himself on his bed. dressed as he was.
and slept heavily until noon.
When he awoke II was with no sense of
| refreshment. The fatigue, the heaviness
| which he had held off by sheer force of
will during his waking hours had returned
during sleep. He could not resist them.
He sat up and loosened his collar with an
he was trying to revive. The air was
sitting He pulled himself together and
went to the window. 1t was but little bet
ter there. He had eaten nothing since the
night before, but the thought of food sick
| ened him. His eyes fell on Barker's flask
left standing on his desk since the so
bering Off"
Il suppose swallow of that would give
mn n or rff hn GoiI h. L.
surdity of the thought-he taking drink
from Barkers flask! 1T is more than that
| crave, elixir vita. breath of the hills.
/ will go up to Galena."
He found his way around to the stable
and ordered them to saddle Black Birdie.
There's something wrong with her." said
the hostler. She's off her feed and kinder
| drocpy. She amt ben rode enough but II
you're goin fur wouldn't advise IT all to
oncet."
VERY WE'LL" said Clement
There was no train for Galena until night.
Where should he go? In his weakness and
disappointment, he was very near tears. He
did not want Jack. he did not want any
man. He wanted the atmosphere only a
woman can give. He wanted Mary Hen
| ley-or-Catherine Chisholm. She would
him, rest him. The family were back. He
had caught glimpse, of them. the day be-
fore. and they had called out to him and
toic him to come up and see them.
With rush of hopeful anticipation. he
| set out for Richmond Hill.
There another disappointment awaited
him. Every one except Miss Emmelne had
| gone driving. He found her sitting on the
veranda, with the inevitable novel. And
| because, just then, her heart was full of
tho hero of 1t, she welcomed him with
persive cordially. He almost fell into the
| chain opposite her. She started up in
alarm.
Mr. Vaughan. you are i'll, Yes, you are
YOU are mr. she cried. Come right into
the house and lie down and I'll bring you
something"
She insisted upon his entering the house
and herself shook up the pillows of the
couch.
Lie right down." she said authoritative
~. Il am going to bring you some egg
nog. No l won't put anything in 1t ex-
cept little, very little, sherry. Don't
say a word."
She hustled away and soon returned with
the draught. So comforting It was, so kind
her face as she bent above him. that
Vaughan, universal lover of the sex, sent
u up to her a glance like a prayer, and
to his lips. She smiled and blushed and
would have withdrawn 1t.
Don't co. he pleaded. "St here by
me-"
you ought to go to Sleep" she said in
diligently
Il will" he promised. but kept fast hold
of her hand.
So she sat down beside him. her hand
embarrassed, f1attered, touched by his de-
peEdence upon her, hoping with all her
heart that no one would come In and find
him there.
1t was the first time she had ever had a.
fair look at him. What beautiful white
brow he had but so lined by care and
thought, poor fellow! How heavy his lashes
werei How straight and clear-cut his
nose. She took note of his long. straight
body, his slender brown hands. his aristo-
cratic feet! There was family in him, Miss
Emmeline decided, whatever his present
status
She watched him until his breathing grew
deeper, more even. He was asleep She
tried to withdraw her hand but he clasped
1t more closely, and she resigned herself
to the position in which she found herself
half doing. too. as she leaned back in her
chair.
The door was flung open. Some one en-
tered the shaded roem-Katharine. of all
persons in the world Miss Emmeline pull
ed away her hand. Vaughan's dark eyes
opened. He gazed wonderingly up at Kath-
arine. She advanced, stood irresolute sur
prised. amused, not altogether pIeased at
what she saw.
Mr.. Vaughan asleep on the couch? Hold
ing Emmeline's hand? What did it mean?
Vaughan sat up, laughing.
Your good sister has wrought mir
acle.' he exclaimed. 81 was a dead man
when l came here an hour ago.
I m very glad you feel better" said Miss
Emmeline primly. II will ask you to ex-
tend to-" She retreated with awkward
abruptness.
Katharine laughed. She was quite re-
assured now, inclined to be exultant Even
Emmeline precise, critical uncompromis-
ing Emmeline, could not resist him! Who,
indeed, could?
Vaughan stood up and combed his tan
gled locks with his fingers. 1T was very
dreadful of me, wasn't itr' he exclaimed
penlteEtly. ITO take advantage of her
kind-heartedness! But 1 was quite tagged
out"
You are yet she returned. Come into
my sitting room. The children will be here
presently You are not At to have them
pulling you about. Mabel had only two
or three errands to dol left them with
her-they viii be here directly"
She led the way across the hall to the
little sitting room. He followed contented-
ly In every vein she felt his need of her
Sit here, she commanded turning the
back of the big lounging chair to the light
He obeyed. only too glad to be told what
to do. But as he sat there watching her
move about. push chair into place adj
just curtain. the melancholy of the mood
In which he had awakened at noon returned
to him.
She saw the shadow cross his face
What is 1T" she asked drawing a low