Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-19

could not move swiftly cnousht to make
a part of it.
Paula says we're to beg your pardon
for what we said.'' they cried, as he came
into the breakfast room. She says it's
no wonder you were mad when Johnny
upset the frame. She says Johnny'd be
q deader if it wasn't for you"
There were ups and downs in DR.
Lloyd's sensations the following weeks
but the ups predominated and the ups
were very ND indeed on the days that
Paula came over as far as the barrier he
had placed and talked with the children
at a safe distance. He himself was out
of sight, although not beyond seeing, al
these moments. and the thoughts thai
swept through him were past his Owl
reading.
But when at last it was safe for the
children to return to Old Place a certain
CONSERVATION seized him. No glad or sorry
calling and crying. no singing. no patterine
of storming feet. no forgiving or contidins
caresses-the house dreary as tomb, the
grounds deserted-and the grassy spo
across the stream full of gayety and life
and sweetness. And more than all, nc
Paula! No slender, white-gowned figure
moving down the lawn, no voice like q
melody saluting the children crowdins
joyously as near the barrier as they
might, no swift, gracious smile fol-
himseIf-nothing, nothing but CHASTITY
loneliness. Fancy his delight, his
fright, too, when Marina. having brought
them out to Paula, and Johnny with
Nanny Rose was standing at the other
end Of the bridge to welcome them-littie
Mary shrank back and, turning to him.
exclaimed. in sudden tears, "Oh, please.
please. we'd rather stay"
Mary" cried Paula. And the little
wretch fled and hid her face in her aunt 8
gown.
You can come back every day and all
day long," said DR.. Lloyd.
"And look in the symmetriscope?"
You can take it with you"
That glorious possibility dissipated their
grief. There was a race back to the
house, and for leaf and a torn bit OF
flower Now, look, Paula" they cried.
You will see orchids? You will see but
terfiies. and stars and angels wings and
everything!" AS for DR.. Lloyd, with tina;
dark head bent over the toy, in the curve
Of that long, fair neck. in the rose that
dyed the half-hidden cheek, he saw some
thing more than angels wings. Paula
he heard them saying, as she led them
away. perhaps he wouldn't like to have
Nanny Rose-she killed the tree. you
know, and see, it's quite, quite dead! But
all the rest of us might stay II you come.
too?" And just then they began to run
and, crossing the bridge, fell on Johnny
like bees upon comb.
What a blank it was for DR.. Lloyd
after that morning. Books, frames, lab
oratory work, nothing contented him. He
was listening for the hubbub of the chill
dren, seeing the face OF Paula, with its
dark beauty, the grace of her slow move
ment. the tall slim figure. He stayed
so. till she came with the children to
take him home with them.
Science was badly neglected in this
long summer. DR.. Lloyd, a sort of tutor
Of the children, took them on his tramps,
Paula usually along. But when the last
leaf was wondered over, he found him.
self looking into the face Of winter with
something like horror. Tiff they were
only one family! A thought came as if
an angel had stopped into the room and
irradiated it with cleaning gold. Then
all was dark again. That preposterous
vanity, for one second. made it seem
possible that a perfect young creature like
Paula-he old. already grizzled! He was
really very old-not yet forty-the gray
in the blonde curls close to the head pos
sibly suspicion. And even were she
willing, for the sake Of the children, to
make such sacrifice. 1t would be criminal
to accept it. He felt a flush of guilt.
There had been gay doings at Thanks
giving; he had gone over to Old Pla &c
and brought Old Place back bodily with
him; and there had been pudding in blue
flames; and he had taken out his collection
of gems, among them ring of wonderful
workmanship, 1.-The marriage ring of some
old princess gone to dust" he said.
1T could have been Paula's marriage
ring, If we had let her marry YOU" said
MILFORD. Married people wear rings.
But married people so away from their
own folks, and we couldn't spare Paula.
Nanny Rose asked us how we would like
it. And We said not at all. And that
settled it," Just then the tray of jewels
slipped, and in the scramble after the run
away treasures no one but the doctor saw
Paula's face grow like ivory no one but
Paula saw the Doctors purple. and, the
jewels being recovered. the children were
hustled homeward out of hand.
Paula was mad with u.s. Monty told
the doctor next day; land we asked her
why. We asked her if she wanted you
to marry her. We told her that married
people loved each other, and we asked her
if she loved you. OF course, We knew
that you loved Paula, because every one
loves Paula. But she grew SO angry she
ran right out of the room. We love you;
but that's different. You can't marry all
of us. And you knew We couldn't lose
Paula. We couldn't do without her.
The doctor was helping Benson fit their
skates just then; he was teaching them to
skate, a stretch of cold weather without
snow having made the river broadening
below, a sheet Of ice. By Christmas time
they were too absorbed in the joy of
their winged feet to care even for Christ
mas tree. Nanny Rose and Paula, how
ever, had their own plans.