Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-03
CHAPTER xII-Continued.


But the result of the call was that at
the end of the week DR. King went up to
the Stuffed Animal House.
we are shpwrecked.' cried Mrs.
Richie, as she saw him coming down the
garden path toward the barn. Her face
was flushed and gay. and her hair,
shaken from its shining wreath around
her head, hung in two braids down her
back. She had had a swing put up under
the big buttonwood beside the stable, and
David, climbing into it. had chung to the
rigging to be dashed. sidewise, on to the
rocks of the carriageway, where Mrs
Richie stood ready to catch him when the
vessel should drive near enough to the
shore. In an endeavor to save himself
from some engulfing sea which his play
mate had pointed out to him, David mad
clutched at her. breaking the top hook of
her gown and tearing her collar apart
leaving her throat. white and round open
to the hot sun. Before the doctor reached
her she caught her dress together and
twisted her hair into knot You can't
keep things smooth in a shipwreck, she
excused herself. laughing.
David sighed and looked into the car
rage house. In that jungle-Mrs. Richie
had called it a i, jungle-were wild beasts:
there were also crackers and apples-or
to be exact. breadfruit and citrOns-
hanging from what George called "har-
ness racks though. of course. as
thoughtful persons know. they were trees;
David was to gather these tropical spols,
and then escape from the leopard. the
shark, the crocodile! And now here was
DR.. King. spelling everything.
The doctor sat down on a key and
looked at the two, smiling. (which is the
younger of yOU?'. he said. 1t came over
him. in a gust of amusement. what
Martha would say to such a scene, and
he laughed aloud.
DIR. King" said David, in a small. dis
tinct voice. won't jimmy run away if
you leave her so long at the gate?"
"Oh, DAVID cried Mrs Richie horri-
fed. But the visitor threw back his head
with shout
That's what my wife would call speak
ing fatty and frankly. Well, Mrs.
Richie. | never wrote a better prescrip
ton in my life. You look like a different
woman. already
And, indeed. the youth in her face was
as careless as David's own. But it tagged
when he added that he hoped her brother
would not think the care of David would
be too much for her
''Oh. no. she said, briefly.
Il feel like saying 1 told you sol |
knew you would like to have a child
about
Il do, but he is tyrant. Aren't you
David? l have to get up for breakfast"
..Terrible.' said William, delightedly.
why but ii is. l don't know when I've
done such thing! AT first l thought l
really couldn't. But | couldn't leave him
all by himself downstairs-could l,
David?'
I'D just as lieves." said David, gently.
'Oh. how like your sex"' Helena cried.
What do you suppose I've come for?'
Dr. King began, in the bantering tone
one uses to a child. I've come to get
you to exert your influence to improve
business. Business he repeated de-
lighted at his own absurdity: "a lady who
finds it hard to get up in the mornings"
She looked at him, ruefuly; I'm lazy,
I am afraid.
mo, you're motifs a very sensible
thing to do if you are not strong. Well,
l must tell you what we want Sam
Wright is anxious because young Sam
neglectS his work at the bank, and
But he doesn't like business" she eX
planned, with surprised look, and Will
liam laughed with pleasure.
so that's reason for not attending to
it? Unfortunately. that's the young
youngster,'' William added in his kind
voice.
Il don't think it's queer not to like dis
agreeable things" Helena said.
to stand them. Sam has no patience with
anything disagreeabe. Why, when he
was little fellow-let me see. he was
younger than David; about four. l think
he scratched Ills HnSer one DAY pretty
severely; it smarted. / guess. badly. Any
way, he roared! Then he picked up
pair of scissors and ran bawling to his
mother: Mamma. cut finger off, 1t
hurts Sam-cut finger off, That's been
his principle ever since: 1t hurts-get
rid of it. -
Il don't blame him in the least" Helena
protested gayly; I'm sure I've wanted
to cut finger off, And l have done it,
too
well" said the doctor, with great pre-
tense of gravity, Il suppose, then, Wen
have to tell old Mr.. Wright that nobody
must ever do anything he doesn't want
to do? 1t appears that he's worried. too,
because the young gentleman isn't indus
trious The fact is, he thinks Sam would
rather come up here than work over his
ledgers,'' he teased.
Helena sprung to her feet, nervously.
But l wish he wouldn't come. l don't
want him to come. ] can't help it: in
deed IL can't help it, She spoke with