Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-31
CHAPTER x-Continued.


Helena was sitting on the porch with
her clumsy needlework when Sarah
brought her the letter. and after she had
read 1t she tore 1t up angrily. HE was
IN Mercer week ago:~I know he was,
because there is always that directors
meeting on the last Thursday in April.
so ne must have been there. And he
wouldn't GOMEZ. Down in the orchard
the apple trees were in blossom. and
when the wind stirred the petals fell in
sudden warm white showers: across the
sky. from west to east. was a path Of
mackerel clouds. 1t was a pastel of
clover and the rivers sheen Of gray
blue. All about her were the beginnings
Of summer-the first exquisite green Of
young leaves; oaks. still white and crum-
chestnuts.. each leaf dropping from its
stem like a hand bending at the wrist:
thin flicker Of elm buds. still distrustful
Of the sun. Later. this delicate dance Of
foliage would thicken SO that the house
would be in shadow, and the grass
under the locusts on either side Of the
front door fade into thin. messy growth.
But just now it was overfiowing with
May sunshine. ''Oh. he would enjoy 1t If
ne ev you'd or only d COME; she thought Well.
gan to fell her seam with pafnstaking
unaccustomed fingers.
The child was to come that day. Half
dozen times she dropped her work to
run to the gate, and shielding her eyes
with her hand looked down the road to
Old Chester. but there was no sign Of
the jogging hood of the buggy. Had
anything happened? Was he sick? Had
DR.. Lavendar changed his mind? Her
heart stood still at that. She debated
whether or not she. should go down to the
rectory and find out what the delay
meant? Then she called to one Of the
servants who was crossing the hall. that
she wondered why the little boy who was
cleared at. the reminder that the child
went to school in the morning
why. OF course! I suppose he will
have to go every morning." she added,
ruefully.
my" Maggie said, smiling, you're
wan that ought to have SIKH
Mrs. Richie smiled too Then she said
to herself that she wouldn't let him go
to school every. day: she was sure he
something like this to Dr.. Lavendas'
when. about o'clock. Goliath and the
buggy finally appeared.
Strong enough?'' said Dr. Lavender
He's strong enough to study a great
I'm afraid Rose Knight will spoil him;
she's almost as bad as Ellen Bailey. You
didn't know our Ellen, did We? No. she'd
married Spangler and gone out west be-
fore you came to US. All. a dear woman.
but wickedly unselfish. Rose knight took
the school when Spangler took Ellen"
Then he added one or two straight direc-
lions: Every school day David was to
come to the rectory for his dinner and
to collect class on Saturdays. You win
DR.. Lavender; ''he is weak on the. long
answers"
"Ohv' Helena said. rather startled.
you don't want me to teach him
things like that, do you?"
Things like what?"
THE catechism and-to pray. and
DR.. Lavendar smiled. you can teach
folk to say their prayers. my dear. but
nobody can teach them to pray. Only
life does that. But David's been taught
at your knee. that's ALL
David, dismissed to the garden while
his elders talked. had discovered the rab-
bit hutch, and could hardly tear himself
DIR. Lavendar called out that he was 60
ing, the little boys heart misgave him
He came and stood by the step Of the
buggy, and picked with nervous fingers
at the dry mud on the wheel-for DR..
Lavendar's buggy was not as clean as 1t
should have been.
well. David?" DR.. Lavender said.
cheerfully. The child, with his chin sunk
on his breast, said something. "What?"
said DR.. Lavendar.
David mumbled word or two in a
voice that seemed to come from his
stomach; it sounded like, Like you best
But DR.. Lavendar did not hear it, and
David ran swiftly back to the rabbits
There Helena found him, gazing through
two large tears at the opal-eyed pair be-
hind the wooden bars. Their white she'll
like ears wavered at her step and they
paused in their nibbling; then went on
again with timid, jewel-like glances in
her direction.
Helena at the sight of those two tears,
knelt down beside the little boy, eager to
be sympathetic. But he did not notice
her. and by and by the tears dried up.
After she had tried to make him talk-of
Dr. Lavendar, Of school, of his old home
without drawing anything more from
him than yes, ma'am," or mo, ma'am,"
she gave 1t up and waited until he should
be tired of the rabbits. The sun was
warm, the smell OF the crushed dock
leaves heavy in the sheltered corner be-
hind the barn; 1t was SO silent that they
could hear the nibbling of the two pris-
oners, who kept glancing at them with
red fires. David sighed with JOY.
What are their names?" he said at |
last in low voice.
They haven't any names; you can |
name them if you like
II shall call them Mr.. and Mrs. Smith," |
he said, with decision. And then. fell |
silent again.
You came to Old Chester in the stage |
with Mr.. Pryor" she said, after while; |
The told me you were a very nice little |
boy"
How did he know" demanded David
He Is very nice himself" Helena said