Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-23

| dreaming youth awoke TO the passion oi
art. AS Benjamin Wright gradually be-
came aware of it delight struggled with
his customary anger at anything unex-
pected. He longed to share his pleasure
| with somebody: once he mentioned to DR..
Lavendar that that cub. Sam. really has
something to him. After that he took
the boys training seriously in hand. and
his artless pride concealed itself in Sc
| verify that knew no bounds of words.
When Sam confessed his wish to write a
drama in blank verse, his grandfather
swore at him eagerly, and demanded
every detail of what he called the fool
plot of the thing
What does that female at the Stuffed
Animal House say to the idea Of your
writing a drama?" he asked, contemptu-
ously.
"She says may read it to her.
| knows as much about dramatic poetry
as you do. l suppose? When you finish
the first act bring Il to me. I'll tell you
how bad it is
His eager scoff1ng betrayed him, and
| every Sunday night. in spite of slaughter
ing criticism the boy took courage to talk
of his poem. He had no criticism from
| Mrs. Richie.
When he first began to call at the
Stuffed Animal House she had been coldly
impatient. then uneasy. then snubbing.
But nothing can be so obtuse as boy; 1t
never occurs to him that he is not wanted.
Sam continued to call and to tell her of
his playi and to look at her with beauti-
| full, tragic eyes. that by and by openly
adored. Inevitably the GOODNESS to which
he was so calmly impervious wore off: a
boys innocent devotion must touch any
woman, no matter how self-absorbed she
may be: Mrs. Richie began to be glad
to see him. AS for his drama, it was
beautiful. she said.
No Sam told her, "it isn't-yet. You
don't know. But like to read 1t to you.
even if you don't" His candor made her
laugh, and before she knew it, in spite of
the difference in their years they were
friends. AS William King said. she was
lonely, and Sans devotion was at least
an interest. Besides. she really liked the
were so devoid OF amusement! II can't
read novels all the time" she COM
planned. In this very bread-and-butter
sort of interest she had no thought of
pleasant Incidence of mind made it easy
not to think of consequences at all. But
he had begun to love her-with that first
passion of youth so divnely tender and
ridiculous! After a while he talked less
Of his play and more of himself. He told
her of his difficulties at home. how he
hated the bank, and how stupid the girls
were.
Lydia is the incest, but she has ne
more imagination than turnip. They
are very uninteresting-my family" he
said. meditatively. Il don't like any Of
them-except mother. Mother hasn't any
sense. but she's good Sam ended,
earnestly.
/ "Oh, but you mustn't say things like
that.''
why not? They're true lie said. with
a surprised look
well. but we don't always tell the
/, truth right out she reminded him.
| II do, said SAM and then explained
| his generalization. Grandfather bully
you ought to hear him swear!"
"Oh. l don't want to!'' she said. hor-
rified
up Sam went on And he said good
radiance to bad rubbish That was just
like grandfather. OF course he did say
that 1 was a d. mean a fool, to buy
them in the first place; and knew I was.
But having bought them, the only thing
Mrs. Riches eyes crinkled with mis-
chievous gayety. Poor Mr., Wright
Sam dropped his clasped hands be-
| tween his knees ITS queer how I al
never seems wrong to me. You know
father would not let me go to college. for
fear I'd go to the devil?'' he laughed
Joyously. But I might just as we'll. for
is wrong" Then he sighed. Sometimes
I get pretty tired of being disapproved OF
especially as / never can understand
why it is. The fact is people are not
reasonable he complained. Il can bear
anything but unreasonableness"
She nodded. II know. I never could
please my grandmother-she brought me
up. MY mother and father died when
was a baby. think grandmother hated
me; she thought everything l did wa:
| wrong. Oh, l was so miserable! AnG
when I was eighteen I got married-an6
that was a mistake.
Sam gazed up at her in silent sym
pathy.
older than t. she said. Then with ar
evident effort to change the subject she
added that one would think it would bt
simple enough to be happy; ''alL my life
1 only wanted to be happy" she said.
You're happy now, aren't your" hi
asked.
She looked down at him-he was sitting
on a stool before the fire near her feet
and laughed with catching of tn,
breath. .'Oh. yes, yes; I'm happy
And Sam caught his breath too, fol-
there were tears in her eyes.
But instantly she veered away from
personalities. What is that scar OIL
your wrist?"
about his knees, and blushed family
oh. nothing; 1 was very young wher
that happened"
How did it happen?" she asked. alb
sently. 1t was often possible to star
Sam talking and then think her owl
thoughts without interruption.
why, l was about twelve, 1 believe,
Sam said, and Miss Ellen Bailey-sh,
used to teach school here; then she go
married and went out west-she gave M
a little gold image of Pasht; at least
thought 1t was gold 1t was one of thos
things you ladies wear on your watcl
. chains, you know"
"Yes?' she said. indolently.
, "Well took tremendous fancy to 1t
But 1t seems 1t wasn't gold, it was brass
and somebody told me so: I think 1t WA
Miss Ellen herself. I was so disappointed
didn't want to rve-queer! / can re
member now just how felt; sort o
breast. 80 1 decided to throw mysel
out OF the window. I did; but unfortu
nately-"
you threw yourself out of the win
dow she interrupted, Mortified.
Sam laughed. "Oh. well, l wasn't sue
cessful; continued to live. Unfortunate
ly my trousers caught on the grapt
trellis under the window, and there
hung. 1t must have been pretty funny
though I didn't think so at the time
First place, I tore my wrist on a nail
that's the scar; and then father caught
me and sent me to bed for being a fool
so 1 didn't gain anything" His Liz
dropped. His feeling for his father was
a candid mixture of amusement and con.
tempt.
But do you always act on the spur OF
the moment?" she said. astonished.
Sam laughed and said he supposed So
IT am a good deal of a fool" he added
simply.