The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-06
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BY HENRY c. ROWLAND

| a hofling mob of derviShes with squirt
| gun than to encounter the party in that
especial sleeper.
As his eyes fell upon the appealing blue
ones raised to his, however, he felt him
| self imbued with a courage not his own.
Arising manfully he made his way to the
| rear, hoping to there encounter the
| brakeman but that gentleman was no
| where to be found without further
| hesitation he entered the Pullman, where
the first person whom he met was the
| lady who had urged his invitation to Mr..
Dudley Strongs country seat.
why, how do you do, Mr.. Pembroke?"
she exclaimed in a voice dulcety decep-
| tive. Il thought l saw you pass the win
| dow when we were In the depot We ali
thought that you were in Boston!"
! "Er-how dye do" stammered Mr..
Pembroke, nervously, mol had to come
on to see my publishers" Pride and grow
ing pique imbued him with reticenee of
his tragic situation.
| He called, the porter and secured the
| glass of water.
As he was about to return to his
| charges Mr.. Strong called to him from
| half way down the car
Hello PENNY Getting drink for the
| little ones?"
yes" replied Mr.. Pembroke smoothly.
"Pd offer you some only know that you
| don't use it,"
MT strong complexion SuDSldHlldllilB
this observation, he adro;tiy changed the
conversation. As he left the car Mr..
Pembroke observed that the stateroom
was unoccupied
Can you give me that stateroom as far
as Elmerton?' he inquired of the porter.
Yes, sah-de PATTY wot took it amt
showed up
, Very well, come up the car ahead and
help me move my party back here!'
He returned to Mrs. Lawton, whom he
found attempting to placate the thirsty
baby.
II have secured the stateroom right
through to Elmerton, Mrs. Lawton Have
you decided to take my advice and not
go to Boston? Please remember that L
! am only too willing to act as courier in
case you would rather stop over. and
that I am only considering you and the
childrenp'
The grateful glance which he received
more than rewarded Mr.. Pembroke for
the torture which he had endured.
I'VE are quite in your hands, Mr..
Pembroke. 1t would be an awful task
now to try to go on to Boston, and
the children would be utterly exhausted"
Very well; then we will consider 1t
bargain. / can telegraph at once"
The porter appearing, the party was
promptly transferred to the Pullman.
where their entry produced distinct
sensation. Mr. Pembroke himself car
rying the droWsy infant
''To look at him no one would ever
guess how Penny abominates children"
observed Mr.. Strong as his friend strobe
precariously down the aisle.
"Papa-wan' to do seepy-" murmured
the badly.
The party ensconsed in the stateroom,
Mr. Pembroke approached Mr.. Strong
with an air of aggressive determination.
Look here he remarked, az want
another BERTH One of you chaps is in the
smoking room all the time
You're welcome to mine, Penny, IL
you'll introduce me- remarked Mr..
Strong.
cor mine-or mine," came from two of
the others same condition, Pembroke"
Mrs. Lawton is a widow and wishes to
travel quietly" began Mr. Pembroke,
stiffly "of course if ="
Mrs. Lawtonr exclaimed one of the
men. ''Why, I thought her face was
very familiar. I've met her"
Go way back in the smoker and have
seat, Pemmy!" remarked Mr.. Strong.
| "You are relieved of all responsibility"
From a frail birch back canoe in the
middle of an Adirondack lake man and
! a woman were observing a soul-inspiring
sunset. The western end of the placid
stretch of opalescent water was already
shrouded in the shadows of the brooding
hemlocks; near the opposite shore, where
their buoyant scallop hung breathless on
the thin brm of the lake, the last golden
rays hovered loving on birch and beech,
shimmering lily pads and the wistful, up
turned face of the woman. Soul-stealing
perfumes of moss and fern waited out
ward with the first drowsy breathings of
the uuietng forest. and a callow moon
crept timidly up above the tree tops to
look shyly at it's silver image in the
lake.
A vicious trout broke the peace upon
| . Ia Nv orc n
fly The thin splash re-echoed, magnified
appallingly, and the spirit of calm was
broken.
Mr.. Pembroke dipped his flashing blade
and with a strong stroke sent the canoe
gliding through the lily pads.
where are you going?" murmured the
lady, resentful of the stir.
"There is a little bluff in here from
the top of which we can see the noun
tains to the westward. They are worth
| Watching on an evening like this"
The canoe grated against the sudden
pitch of the beach, and taking her hand
he steaded her as. she stepped ashore;
| still holding 1t, he led the way up the
short. winding path. breaking back the
/ opposing twgs.
On the moss-grown summit they seated
/ themselves on a PROSTATE hemlock.
Sect she cried in surprise. ''it is grow
| ing brighter!' 1t was the afterglow.
at has been growing brighter ever since
| you came" he replied in strange voice.
She stole a quick look at his face and
| her own glowed back at the sunset. Then
| she looked down at the lake and the
! color faded.
Must It grow dark AGAIN." he asked
| slowly. Something in his voice hurt her
| like the cry of a child.
| A faint chorus of childrens voices,
| laughter, and the geeful yelping of
| dog, quavered across to them in silvery,
| echoing overtones.
Mr.. Pembroke looked far beyond the
| lake to where the distant mountains were
| slowly turning from green to blue and
from blue to deepest purple.
81 have loved children all of my life"
he said slowly 'but / have only recently
| become aware of the fact Naturally the
emotion has gathered force from long
suppression. I was fool enough to think
| that knew myself through and through,
hence, when confronted with my utter
! ignorance I an. all at sea. OF fame 1
have all that want; the same of money.
vet it seems as if I always knew how
/ little ! valued these things. I love your
! children-almost as much as l love their
mother. but in a different way, of course"
Something soft and warm found its way
| into Mr. Pembrike's hand. resting idly
upon the moss: something very small. but
! Infinitely greater than the sunset. the
lake and all the breathing world around.
| There was another silence, but of a diff
| ferent sort, broken finally by a happy
little laugh the mellow notes of which
found fitting bass accompaniment in the
soothing melodies of nature round about.
"You will spoil the children utterly!'
| she murmured at length