Evening star., 1908-01-11
CHAPTER Xxx.

King project with very eoou grace. WI
Wright said. gruffly, that man with one
foot in the grave couldn't dance Jig, so
he preferred to stay at home. But the
rest of Old Chester said that although
she was so quiet and kept herself TO her-
self so much Mrs. Richie was iadyhke
person; little shy, perhaps-or perhaps
only properly hesitant to push her way
into society; at any rate IT was put kiho
to show her some attention.
Her modesty does her credit, MRS.
Barkley said, but 1t will be gratifylng
to her to be noticed. III come Ml,llaln
and bring cake. And Maria WelWood
shall tsp Ezra to take three oo'''es o.
|. A little before 8 the company pegan 10
assemble, full of such cordial courtesy
that Mrs Riches shrinking and aWk-
ward GOODNESS only lncitea .hem ~
heartier friendliness. DIR. King. master
of ceremonies was ably assisted by MS
Martha. Mrs. King may have been, as
she told all the guests. very tlrea' put
she could be depended upon to be emcieht.
| 1t was she who had engaged Uncle Davy
and his fiddle: she who put the cakes and
wine and fruit upon the dining-room
table. already somewhat measerly ar
ranged by Helenas reluctant hands, she
who hustled about to find card taples' anu
induced Tom DilWorth to sing
| .Thou-Thou reignest in this bosom!-"
and got Mr.. Ezra Barkley to ask statis-
| tical conundrums.
ITS well there is somebody to attend
to things she said. in dry ASIDE 10
William. Mrs. Richie just walks around
as If she didn't belong here. And she let's
| that child sit up until this hour! cant
understand how a sensible woman can
deliberately spoil a child. I'd like to know
what that perfume is that she uses, she
ended. frowning.
II was after supper while the husband
and wife, still oppressed with their reA
sponsibilities. were standing In the door
way looking in upon the cheerful party
now in full enjoyment of its own hosoi,
tality. that Eddy Minns came up behind
| them and touched William Kings arm.
.Dr. King" he said, breathlessly, "a
telegram, Sir. For Mrs. Richie. And
mother said it was bad news"
"Oh, William said Martha; bad
news. Do you know what it is. Eddy?'
Somebody is dead the boy SAID, I'M
portant and solemn.
.Her brother?" William King asked in
dismay.
his name is Lloyd. mother said. This is
somebody whose name begins with r
Perhaps another brother. Mother showed
| the dispatch to me: it just said: F. died
suddenly Yesterday in Paris. 1t was
signed IS. r.
Fit isn't from Pryor. them William
| commented
"Oh, William Martha whispered,
what shall we do? Must you give II 10
her now2oh, William
| DR.. King stood staring at the orange
colored envelope in silence.
.Shall l call DR.. Lavendar?' Martha
asked breathlessly.
| Wait" her husband said: "let me
| think: it may not be anybody very near
and dear; but whether it is or not, there
is nothing she can do about it tonight.
The telegraph office is closed don't
see why her evening need be spoiled. No,
I won't give 1t to her now When the
people GO
"Oh, dear! DIR. Lavendar says we must
end up with reel, But III get them off
| as soon as I can" Martha declared. in her
capable voice, land then I'll break it to
| her."
| Il will tell her." the doctor said. He
put tie envelope in his pocket, with a
| troubled frown.
| eff she is in affliction a woman will be
more comfort to her than man. Martha
instructed him. "Look at hsr now. poor
thing. She little thinks-No, indeed.
must stay with her. I'm very tired, and
she's not very friendly, but / won't shirk
my duty on that account. That's one
don't let personal feelings interfere
with duty"
ut isn't your duty" William said. i'm
patiently: you'd better arrange about
the reel. And with that he left her. But
he was SO uneasy at Withholding the tele-
| gram that he forgot to choose partner
and let Martha push him into place op-
posite Miss Maggie Jay. who was so stout
| that when the two large bodies went jig
| ging down the lane the clasping hands
4 arched above their heads had TO break
apart to give them room
/ "She may think ] ought to have told
/ her at once" William was saying TO him.
self. watching Mrs Richie with such
his partner, until Martha's sharp re-
| minder set him shuff1ng his feet, and
grinning in a sickly way at painting Miss
Maggie "Who is F.? viii 'F.'s
death be great grief? VIII she suffer-.
William Kings kind heart began to beat
thickly in his throat. If she should cry!
He bowed. with stiff1y swinging arms to
Miss Maggie. He thought of Helena-who
was moving through the dance as a flower
| sways on it's stalk-aS one thinks of
child in pain; with the impulse to hold
out his arms. In his absorption he stood
| stcckstill-but happily the reel was over,
| and the people were beginning to say
goodbye. He drew long breath of re-
| lief at getting rid of them and as he
| stood waiting. Martha plucked at his
sleeve. "Give me the dispatch; I'll break
| it to her"
He looked at her with absent eyes. NO,
| I'll see to it. Do start, Martha, and
maybe that will hurry them off!
| Mrs, King drew back, affronted. on.
| very WE'LL" she said, and made her cold
adieuX.
But Helena Richie was ODHVlouS Ol MIS-
Kings coldness; her anxiety and dismay
! had grown into an uncomfortable nervous
| ness, and when at last, thinking she was
| alone, she threw up her arms with
| gesture of relief. the sight of William
K King coming gravely toward her, made
/ her break into an angry exclamation. But
before she knew it he had taken her
hand and was holding 1T In his kind clasp.
Mrs. Richie. l am afraid | must give
| you bad news"
/ "Bad-ne VS.!
"a telegram has come" he began, TAX
| ing the envelope from his pocket; but she
interrupted him. seizing it with sort or
gasp and tearing it open. A moment
later she stood quite still. looking at the
dispatch. then with dilating eyes at the
doctor, and again at the dispatch. Sne
pressed her fingers hard against her nps
and he saw that she was trembling.
.You must sit down." he said, gently.
and put his big, quiet hand on her
shoulder She sank under his firm touch
into a chair.
TT is not-bad news"
IT am glad of that" William said. But
you are little pale, he added sE1lllng.
1T was shock"
II am glad it was nothing more.
She spread out the telegram and read
1t again She did not seem to hear him.
DR. King looked at her uneasily. There
was certainly no grief in her face. yet
her color did not come back.
"Some one is dead" she said. 'Not-a
friend William was silent. But it
startled me-"
yes" the doctor said.
"Oh, Dr. King!' she cried, violently,
and put her hands over her face. He
thought with relief that tears had come.
'He was-an enemy she said.