Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

A. S he got up he remembered DR..
~ Lavender and the little boy, but
ID he was at loss how to intro
a duce the subject. In his per-
plexity he frowned and Mrs.
Richie said. quickly;
"Of course she shan't do any work
I'm not so bad tempered as you think;
only meant that 1 don't like discomfort
'You bad tempered" he said. No. in
deed! You're just the opposite. That's
why suggested you when L heard about
this boy"
what boy?''
"Why, little fellow of seven-David
his name is-that Dr. Lavendar is trying
to find home for. And'I thought per-
would take him?" cried Mrs. Richie
in establishment. and then she laughed
"Ir'
'sWhy, it occurred to me that perhaps
YOU might be lonely, and"
Helena Richie stopped laughing: she
pulled off her other glove and looked
down at her white hands. We'll. yes.
I'm lonely. Butt don't like children,
DR.. King.
You don't?" he said. blankly. and in
his surprise he sat down again. oh
I'm sure that's only because you don't
know them. If you had ever known a
child
voice was bleak; the gayety had dropped
out of. it; for an instant she looked old
William King understood.
1T died.
She nodded. She began to pull her
gloves on again. smoothing down each
finger carefully and not looking at him.
"A little girl?"
he saw her chin tremble. There was a
moments silence. then the doctor said.
Nth
We'll. anyhow, you know what it
means to have owned your own"
Better not have known
II can't feel that. But perhaps 1 don't
understand.
you don't understand" Her head
with its two soft braids wound around
it like wreath, was bent SO that he
could not see her face. DIR. King. his
father-hurtshi Yes. hurt little baby
eight months and twelve days old. He
died seven weeks later.
William drew in his breath; he found
no words.
That was twelve years ago. but 1 can't
seem toto get over it, she said, with a
sort of gasp.
But how DIR. King began.
"Oh, he was not himself. He was
happy. 1 believe you call it 'happy'?"
How did you bear it?'
II didn't bear it, suppose. 1 never
have borne it,
''Did he repent before he died?" Will
liam King said, passionately.
Before he-?" Her voice suddenly
shook she made elaborate pretense of
calmness, fastening her gloves and look
ing at Lem critically, then she said:
Eyes, DR.. King, he repented. He re-
pented,''
IF there ever was excuse for divorce,
you had itr'
You don't think there ever is?" she
asked, absently.
NO William said. 1T suppose you'll
think I'm very old-fashioned, but 1 don't
unless he stopped short; he could
not have put his qualifying thought into
words to any woman, especially not to
this woman. so like a girl in spite of her
thirty-odd years. You see," he said
awkwardly, its such an unusual thing.
1t never happened in Old Chester; why 1
don't believe l. ever saw IA divorced
person in my hfel''
We'll" she said. anyhow, didn't
get divorce.''(
Mrs RichieH he said, blushing to his
temples, you didn't think / thought of
such a thing?"
But it was plain that she regretted her
confidence; she rose with the evident pur-
pose of changing the subject. Il must
go and put in some more seeds. Why
-S3esn't DIR. Lave1dar keep this little boy?
kNfs~all, he's lo9ely himself