Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-17

myself that this was not dream, and
| rubbed my hand across my chin.
viii we have time?" 1 asked, dubi-
ously.
Il Think so. sir"
He began to bring clothing from side
room.
Just as you left them, SIR he said,
with deep meaning.
There was a slight flush on his white,
clean face. Yet his hands, white, with
long, clean fingers and polished nails, did
not tremble.
| L hesitated: then moved to the chair he
indicated.
/ Tell me-" said, as 1 took my seat and
he began to tuck the immaculate shaving
towel under my. chin, did you-were you
the valet of-that is, my valet before
Yes SIR" he said, with rare under
standing. lifting my chin that he might set
| the towel better in place. After you dis
appeared l wished to remain with the fam
lily, and became under butler"
| The swift assurance of his answer was
| enough to make my brain whirl.
when did I-disappear?"
"A year ago last autumn, sir, near the
| close of the season. l remember 1t well,
| sir: and it seems a miracle to have you
| here. and me be getting ready TO shave
| you. Indeed it does, sir"
| 1 wanted to look him in the face again,
| to see If he were joking: but he was hold
| ing my head to one side, as he went on
with his preparations.
! II was supposed to be dead?' 1 STAN
mered.
Yes sir; just so, sir. They buried you"
Buried me?'
1T was not you, sir, of course, as we
know now; but they buried some one they
thought was you. l myself thought 1t was
you. And, sir, you could have knocked me
down with a feather when l heard that
you had returned and was not dead at all,
| and Does my hand shake, sir?'
This was overwhelming, and / lay still
| moment.
Have I changed any? In appearance, l
mean"
that is to be expected, sir
He stood off and looked at me; and, turn
ing my head, l now looked him full in the
face. He was apparently in sober earnest,
his manner softened by the trem andous
discovery that his old master. whom he had
seen dead and buried, still in the flesh,
and was there, in the old room. talking
with him and getting ready for dinner, as
in the old days
Just how have l changed?"
THAT is ALL" he said-"about all, sir:
you are thinner, your hair seems a bit
sitter and harsher-it has not had proper
attention, l fear; your face is not quite so
dark, because l. is not tanned. You
were a very tanned man, sir from the
wind. on the yachting trips. you know, and
from exposure to the weather while gofing
and autoing. But, really, sir, the change is
inconsderable. l should have known you
in an instant anywhere; even in" he hest
tated for word to express remoteness
then fell back on the old familiar-''in
China. sir"
What am l to call your 1 asked. when
l had digested this; and / wondered what
he would think of the question as put it.
jerome, sir-Jerome Barnard. Your
memory Is not very good, SIR
His tone acknowledged that while he had
expected nothing else, it hurt him to have
received no more.
1T was bad before-before l went away,
mo. sir: l think not, sir"
He had lathered my face and was strop-
ping the razor whacking it sharply against
the leather.
Tell me about it," 1 said. as he came
back to me and began to draw the keen
blade over my cheek.
Yes sir. We were in Maine, you know,