Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-26
CHAPTER vi.

CHAPTER VI.
Poor Maggie paid for her good nature.
| On Sunday morning she was so decidedly
! worse that William King. to the disgust
| of his Martha, was summoned from his
breakfast table.
Women who can't look after simple
| sore throat without bothering their doc
| tors, are pretty inefficient creatures" she
said. coldly.
William thought of women who were so
| efficient that they did not hesitate to ad-
wise their doctors; but he only agreed with
| proper seriousness to Martha's declara-
| tion that 1t was too bad. for he would be
| late for church-"unless you hurry, Will
| liam!" she called after him.
Perhaps he hurried when he was with
Maggie. but, certainly he displayed nc
Richie. nor even later when just as he
was about to drive of, Mr.. Pryor hailed
him from the garden.
"How's your patient. doctor?'
ter's orders and keep in bed yesterday.
So, of course, she's worse today"
Mr.. Pryor leaned a comfortable elbow
on the green gate. That's nice pros
pect! What am going to have to eat?'
he said. spontaneously.
Yet behind the good humor there was
annoyance. 1t came into William King 8
mind that this fellow would not spare his
sister his irritation. and with sudden
impulse of concern for her. he said.
and Mrs. Richie come in this evening and
take tea with US? 1 don't know what
you'll get, but come and take pot-luck"
THANK you." Lloyd Pryor said.
Out
"Oh, come now" interrupted the doc
tor. gathering up his reins: you good
people are not neighborly enough. VIC II
expect you both at g.
You are very kind, but think"
But William would not listen. He was
my wife will be delighted" then, his
voice dragged-"I hope you'll come" he
said. uncertainty.
Mr.. Pryor began to protest. but ended
with laugh. We'll, we'll come! Thank
That's good" the doctor said. little
less cordially. Indeed. as he drove away
he looked distinctly less cordial, and once
he sighed. Now. how should he put
it? "oh. Martha, by the way. Mar. Pryor
not do. :. i. Martha. it occurred to me
it would be neighborly-" No. Con
found it," William King muttered to nim-
self, what did I do it for, anyhow?
Martha. my dear. I know you like to do
kindness, so asked Mrs Richie and
her brother that was better. But
hate circumbendibusi" William said ir-
ritably, to himself. Then he drew a long
breath, and set his lips as man may
who is about to face the domestic can
mons mouth.
After he had driven on. screwing up his
courage, 1t appeared that Mr.. Pryor also
had a cannon to face.
Helena Richie came out into the gar
den. and found him sitting on a bench
built round great silver poplar. Her
face was worried. II ought not to have
made poor Maggie get up yesterday" she
said; but 1 was so distressed not to
have good dinner for you"
We'll. at least you need have no anx-
ieties about supper: we've had an invi-
tation"
IAN invitation! From Dr. King? Well,
that's very nice in him. But, of
81 told him we would come"
You told him we would GOMEZ
II couldn't help 1t, Nelly. People who
| invite you face to face are perfect nuis-
| ances. But. really. it's no great matter
for once. And knew 1t would be con-
good supper"
well. we must make some excuse
There isn't any excuse to make" he
explained, good-naturedly. Il tried to
find one and couldn't. We've got to CO."
Il shan't co. 81
He looked at her from under his heavy
eyelids; then blew two smoke wreaths
slowly. You're a queer creature"
She turned on him holly. Queer? Be-
cause won't go out to supper with you?
fed with myself. Lloyd; consider that I
have perfect right to be happy in my
own way. You know don't care cop
per for what you call morality! It's moth
won't go out to supper with you.''
PLEASE don't let US have a TRADE" he
said. II thought 1t would be more con-
venient for you. That's always the way
with your sex, Helena. you do a thing to
help them out and they bust into tears -
| sullenly. 'but won't co.
Come. now! don't be goose. 1
wouldn't make a practice of accepting
their invitations. but for once. Wat does
it matter?'
Cant you understand she said, pas
sionately: they are kind to metz
She turned quickly and ran into the gar
den. leaving him to call after her: well,
you've got to go tonight, because I've ac-
cepted."
II won't go tonight!' she flung back,
her voice breaking.
Lloyd Pryor shook his head And she
wonders don't come oftener." he said to
himself.
So the sleepy Sunday morning passed.
Mr.. Pryor roamed about the garden, look
ing furtively over his shoulder now and
then-but Helena had disappeared. "Sulk-
ing in her room, 1 suppose" he thought
He had come at some Inconvenience to
spend Sunday and talk over this project
Of the child;' for I'd like to see her hap
pier" he told himself; and now, instead
OF sitting down, sensibly. to discuss
things, she fared out over this invitation
to supper. Her intensity fatigued him.
II must be getting DID, he ruminated,
land Helena will always be the age she
was ten years ago. Ten? It's thirteen!
How time flies; she was twenty How in
terested 1 was in Frederick's health in
those days!'
He stretched himself out on the bench
under the poplar and lit another cigar.
IF I'm willing to go, why is she so ex-
| ercised? Women are all alike - except
Alice" He smiled as he thought of his
girl. and instantly the hardness in his
face lifted, as a cloud shadow lifts and
leaves sunshine behind 1t. Then some OBJ
scure sense of fitness made him pull him
self together, and put his mind on affairs
that had nothing in common with Helena;
affairs in which hescould include his girl
without offending his taste. -
After a while he got up and wandered
about between the borders, where the
clean, bitter scent of daffodils mingled
with the box. Once he stood still, look
| ing down over the orchard on the hill
| side below him, at the bright sheen of the
river edged with leafless naples; on its
| farther side were the meadows, and then
| the hills. smoky in their warm haze. Over
| all was the pale April sky with skeins of
gray cloud in the west. He wondered
uhat Alice WAS doing at this nomept opd