Evening star., 1908-01-22

:
brought at least one opportunity of man
/ hood--he would not have to wash behind
his ears. But he brooded over his help
! 1essness TO make mp for that other loss
He was so silent al breakfast in the sta
! tion that DR.. Lavendar thought he did not
/ like his food.
You can have something else. David.
! What do you want"
! lice cream" David said. instantly alert.
/ AT breakfast" David nodded and the
/ ice cream appeared. He ate II in silence.
and when he had scraped the saucer, he
said.
''Can you ever get back behind. sir?,'
Behind WHAT" DIR. Layendar asked.
He was looking at David and wondering
| what was different about the child: he
did not have quite his usual aspect. Il
must have left off some Of his clothes.
| DR.. Lavendar thought. anxiously. and
that question about getting back behind
suggested buttons. Are your braces
fastened?' he asked.
"And do it over again. David said. rs
there. any way you can get back behind
and do it over again?"
''Do what over again.? DIR. Lavendar
said. If they've come .unfastened--
Il don't like sleeping" said David. If
/ could get behind again. wouldn't
DIR. -Lavendar gave II up. but he fum-
bled under David's little coat and dis
covered that the buttons were all right.
There seems TO be something different
about you, David" he said. as they
pushed their chairs from the table. David
had no explanation to orrer. SO DR.. Law
| endar consulted the waitress: rs there
anything wrong about this little boys
clothing? He doesn't lnok just right"
Il guess he hasn't had his hair brushed
carried the child off to some lair of her
own. whence he emerged in his usual
order.
Thank you. my dear said DIR. Law
endar. He took Darid's hand and out
they stepped into the world, For mo-
pent they stood still on the sidewalk to
get their breatns in the rush and jostle of
the crowd that surged along the street:
simple. happy pair-an old man in
blue muffler and broad-brimmed felt hat.
a child in little surtout and visored
cap David gripped DIR. Iavendar.s hand
tight and looked up into his face; its
smile .beaming upon all these hurrying
people. reassured the child. and he paced
along beide the old gentleman in grave
content. They stopped at the first shop
window and gazed at row of fish bed
ded i'm ice-beautiful iridescent mackerel.
fat red pompoms. and in the middle. in
nest of seaUeed. green-black creatures,
with great claws that ended in pincers,
their heads. David stared. open mouthed;
then he put a hand into his pocket.
How much would one cost. sir?''
: II don't know said DR.. Lavendar-
and keep it in cage.
At which DIR. I4avendar said. gravely.
that he feared the creatures would not
be happy in a cage-"And besides. people
eat them. David
David was silent: then. in suppressed
voice. he said. Are they happy when
people eat them? l think they'd rather
be in cage: I would hang it In my
window.
But Dr. Lavendar only said. Dear
me, What have we iere?" and drew
him to the next shop, at the door of
which stood wooden Indian. .tOma
hawk in one hand and cigar bON In the
other. DIR. Lavendar bade David wait
outside while he went into this shop.
which the little boy was perfectly willing
to do for it isn't every day You get the
chance to examine a wooden Indian. even
to climbing up on his pedestal and feel
ing his tomahawk with respectful fingers.
When DR.. Lavendar came out. David
took his kind old hand and burst into
condolences.
when I'M big. I'm going to fight In
dians. Or else I'll drive fast horses. l
don't know which. It's hard to decide,
amt it, sir?'
Very hard. If you choose the horses.
I'll give you Goliath"
David was silent: then he sighed: Il
guess I'll fight Indians, sir he said
But a moment later he was cheerfully
contidential-he had 30 cents to spend!
Dear. DEAR said DIR. Lavendar. I'VE
mustn't do anything rash. Here. lets
look in this window
Oh. how many windows there were. and
all Of them full of beautiful things! DR..
Lavendar was willing to stop at every
one. and he Joined in David's game of
mine with the seriousness that all
thoughtful persons give to this diver
sion.
That's mine!'' David would cry. point
ing to a green china toad behind the
plate glass. and Dr. Lavendar would say,
gravely,
You may have it. David: you may
Now it's. your turn David would in
struct him.
Must I take something in this VIM
dow" Dr. Layendar would plead. And
David always said firmly that he must.
We'll then, that's mine, DR.. Lavendar
would say.
why. that's only teacup. We have
thousands of them at our house!" David
boasted. II should think you. would
rather have the toad. I'll-Il give you
the toad. sir?'
"Oh. dear me. no. DR.. Lavendar pro-
tested: II wouldn't rob you for the
world" And so they sauntered on. hand
in hand. When they came to book
ing in upon their game" I'm going to
play mine in here" he said.
David was quite content TO wait at the
door and watch the people. and the yell
low boxes 1ull OF WlllrOWS. ufaWn Dy
mules with bells jingling OIL their har-
ness. Sometimes he looked fearfully back
into the shop: but DIR. Lavendar was still
playing mine SO all was we'll At last.
however. he finished his game and came
to the door.
Come along. David: this is the most
dangerous place in town.
David looked at him with interest.
why did you skip with your eye when
you said that. sir?'' he demanded.
At which the clerk who walked beside
them laughed loudly, and David grew
very red and angry.
But when DR.. Lavendar said. David.
I've got a bone in my arm. won't you
carry a book for me?" he was consoled
and Immediately began TO ask questions
1t seemed to DIR. Lavendar that he in
| auired about everything in heaven and
earth and the waters under the EARTH
and at last the old gentleman was obliged.
| in self-defense, to resort to the formula
| which. according to the code of etiquette
| understood by these two friends, signified
| stop talking
What is David began. and his
, companion replied. glibly:
"Layovers for nleddlers land crutches
| for lame ducks.
And David subsided into giggles, for it
was understood that this remark was eX-
tremely humorous.
| After that they went to dinner with a
| gentleman who wore a long black coat
| and no shirt: at least. David could not see
any shirt. DIR. Layendar called him
| bishop. and they talked a great deal about
| uninteresting things. David only spoke
twice His host took occasion to remark
| that he did not finish all his mashed po-
| tato-''Some poor child would be glad of
what you waste" said the bishop To
til, s4I t~ v,-I,