Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-21

Before he took jimmy out Of her stall
| he went into the harness room and hunted
about on a shelf until, behind a rusty
currycomb and two empty oil bottles, he
found a small mirror. It was misty and
f1ecked with clear spots where the quick
silver had dropped away, but when he
propped 1T against the cobwebbed win
dow he could see himself fairly well.
Staring into its dim depths he retied his
necktie; then he backed the buggy out of
the carriage house But after he had
put his mare between the shafts he hest
tated. - The buggy was very shabby;
1t sagged badly on the right side and
there was a rent in the faded cushion.
The doctor looked at his watch 80 .
Then, hurriedly led jimmy back to her
STALL got a bucket of water and sponge,
and washed off the dashboard and wheels.
After that he fumbled along dusty
beam to find a bottle of oil, with which
he touched up the harness. But when
all was done he shook his head. The
buggy was hopeless. Nevertheless, when
he climbed in and slapped Jfnny's flank
with the newly oiled rein he was careful
to sit in the middle of the seat to make
the springs truer and he avoided the mud
puddles on the road up to the Stuffed
Animal House. There were a good many
puddles. for 1t had rained the day before.
Today the clouds had gathered up behind
the hills into white domes, but the sky
was that faint April blue that dims easily
into warm mists. There was the smell
of earth. the fainter scent Of unopened
buds, and from the garden borders of the
Stuffed Animal House came the pungent
odor of box.
Helena Richie, standing by 4 bed of
crown imperials, bareheaded, trowel in
her gloved hand, her smooth cheek
flushed with. the. unwonted exertion Of
planting seeds, caught, the exquisite
breath of the box and sighed; them list
1essly, she turned to walk back toward
the house. Before she reached 1t the gate
clicked and DR.. King came up the path
She saw him and looked hurriedly about
as II seeking way of escape, but 1t was
too late.
''Gardening?"- he called to her.
YES" she said, and her smile. like re-
luctant sunshine, did not betray to the
doctor that he was not welcome.
Don't work too hard" he cautioned
her.. 1t seemed to William King. looking
at her with wondering admiration, that
she was too delicate creature to handle
a trowel. There was a certain soft indo-
lence in the way she moved that was a
that he would ask his Martha why she
didn't wear gardening gloves. Mrs
Richie wore them, and as she pulled one
off he saw how soft and white her hand
"How's the. patient?' he asked.
Poor Maggie? Oh, she's pretty I'M
comfortable, I'm afraid"
They had gone together to the front
porch, ana as she stood on the lower step, |
looking up at him, the sunshine suddenly
filled her eyes with limpid brown light |
maggie is in her room in the ell-the
first door on the left. Shall show you
the way?"
Il know the way" he said
Mrs. Richie sat down on the porch step |
to wait for him. She had nothing else to
do. She never had anything to do. |
She had tried to be interested in the
garden and bought a trowel and some
seeds and wandered out into the borders;
but manufactured interest has no stay