Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-27
CHAPTER VII.

But she would not go to the Kings to
tea.
A NO" she said, her eyes crinkling with
fun, I'm not going, but you've got to:
! you promised! And remember, I have a
very severe headache.
He laughed. with droll look, and then
explained that at home he was never al
lowed to tell tarradiddles. "Alice has A
perfect mania about truth" he said, rue
fully; at is sometimes very inconvenient.
. Yes, I'll enlarge upon your headache, my
, dear But why in thunder did I say yes
to that eonfounded doctor? I'd like to
wiring your cooks neck. Nelly!''
you'll have a good supper she con-
soled him, land that's what you want.
; They say Mrs. King is a great house
keeper And besides. II you stayed at
home you would probably have to enter
tain MIR. Sam Wright"
I'll be darned If 1 would" he assured
her. amiably, and started off.
He had the good supper although when
the doctor broke to his wife that company
that there was nothing in the house to
eat. And there's one thing about me. 1
may not be perfect, but am hosptable,
and
Just give them what we were going to
have ourselves
Now. william! I must say, fatty and
FRANKLY
) There's the office bell" murmured the
doctor. siding away and hearing the re-
proachful voice lessening in the distance
I-"how hard I try-nothing fit"
I The office door closed; the worst was
over. There would be a good supper
i William had no misgiving on that point
Mrs. Richie would talk to him, and he
would tease her and make her laugh, and
laugh himself. The doctor did not laugh
very much in his own house; domestic
virtue does not necessarily add to the
gayety of life. During the afternoon
llN frfa fhrao IL
and twice put cologne on his handker-
chief. Then appeared Mr.. Pryor to say
that Mrs. Richie had one of her head
aches! He was SO sorry. but Mrs. King
knew what bad headache was?
Indeed 1 do" Martha said "only too
well. But l can't give way to them.
That's what 1t is to be doctors wife;
the patients get all the prescriptions"
Martha said; and William. out OF the
corner of his eye, saw that she was smil-
ing! Well. we'll; evidently Mrs. Riches
detection did not trouble her; the doctor
was glad OF that. But 1 didn't bargain
on entert aiming the brother he said to
himself, Grossly; and after the manner of
husbands, he left the entertaining to
Martha.
Martha, however. did her duty. She
thought Mr.. Pryor very agreeaDle gen
tleman; far more agreeable than his
sister, she told William afterward u
don't know why" said Martha, but l
sort of distrust that woman. But the
| brother Is all right; you can see that-and
a very intelligent man, too. We discussed
a good many points, and 1 found we
agreed perfectly"
Mr.. Pryor also had an opinion on that
supper-table talk. He said to himself.
grimly that Nely's bread and jam would
have been better. But probably bread
and jam. followed by young Sam Wright,
would have seemed less desirable than
Mrs. Kings excellent supper.
/ 1t was about seven when the boy ap-
h. fc4I At.
Mr.. Pryor been at home Helena would,
! no doubt, have found some way of dis
missing him; as it was. she let him stay.
/ He was bareheaded: he had seen bird
Tapping painfully about in the road. and
catching it in gentle hands had discov-
cred that its wing was broken. SO put it
tenderly in his cap and brought it to Mrs.
| Riches door.
showed it to her. II wish Mr.. Pryor
would come back; he would tell us what
to do for it,
.Oh. is he here?'' Sam asked, blankly.
| well, not at this moment. He has
gone to take tea at DR.. Kings"
Sans face lightened with relief
You mustn't tell anybody you saw me
this evening" she charged him. gayly
II didn't go to Mrs. Kings BECAUSE
had such very bad headache,"
/ us it better?" he asked, so anxiously
that she blushed.
"Oh, yes. yes. But before tea I-didn't
want to 60
I'm glad you didn't" he said, and
forgot her in caring for the bird. He
ordered a box and some cotton batting
and give me your handkerchief" As
he spoke. he took it from her surprised
hand and tore it into strips: then lifting
ness, he bound it into place. She looked
at the bandages ruefully. but Sam was
perfectly matter-of-course. 1T would
have been better without lace" he said:
will dp hi,
sometimes? Just your touch will cure
| him, think
Mrs. Richie laughed.
We'll, you can laugh, but it's true
When I am near you L have no pain and
no worry; nothing but happiness He
| sat down beside her on the old claw
footed sofa near the fire, for it was cool
enough these spring evenings to have
little fire. He leaned forward, resting
his chin on his fist, and staring into the
| blaze. Once lie put his hand out and
| touched her dress softly, and smiled to
| himself. Then abruptly, he came out Of
his reverie and spoke with joyous ex-
| element:
why. l forgot what I came to tell
you about-something extraordinary has
| happened!'
| sweet eagerness that was as young as his
You could never guess he assured
her. Tonight. at supper. grandfather
| suddenly tOlQ me tndt ne wanted me to
| travel for while--he wanted me to 20
| away from Old Chester. l was perfectly
| amazed. Go hunt up a publisher for
your truck he said. He always calls the
drama my truck. Sam said, snickering;
but the main thing, evidently, was to
have me get away from home. To i'm
prove my mind, 1 suppose. He said all
gentlemen ought to travel. To live in one
place all the time was very narrowing he
said. told him hadn't any money, and
he said he'd give me some. He said,
| anything to get you away 1t wasn't
very fiattering, was it?
Helena's face flashed into suspicion.
why did he want to get you away" she
asked, coldly. There was an alarmed
aIertness in her voice that made the boy
look at her.
He said he wanted me to be able to
know cakes and ale when saw them"
Sam quoted isn't that just like grand
| father"
| Know cakes and ale!" she stammered.
and then looked at him furtively She
took one of the little hand screens from
the mantel. and held it SO that he could
not see her face. For a minute the
pleasant frelit silence fell between them
"Oh. listen.' Sam said. in a whisper,
do you hear the sap singing in the LOG?
He bent forward with parted lips, intent
upon the exquisite sound-a dream of
summer leaves rustling and blowing in
the wind. He turned his limpid stays
eyes to hers to feel her pleasure.
II think" Mrs. Richie said, with an eff
fort that made her voice hard that it
would be an excellent thing for you to go
away"