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

sort of gasp. Instantly David who
had been lounging in the swing. slipped
down and planted himself directly in
front of her. his arms stretched out at
each side. .Tll take care of you" he
said. protectingly.
William King caught his breath. No
one could have heard the frightened note
in her voice without understanding
Davids impulse. The doctor shared it.
Evidently Sam had been making love to
her. and her very innocence made her
quick to feel herself rebuked! William
felt an ardent desire to kick Sam Wright S
Sam.
But Mrs. Richie was herself again; she
laughed. though not quite naturally, and
sat down in the swing. swaying slightly
back and forth with an indolent push OF
her pretty foot. David lounged against
her knee, cycling the doctor with frank
displeasure. Il am sure she said Il
wish Sam would attend to his ledgers;
it would be much better than making
visits.
DIR. King" David said. gently, III
shake hands now and say goodbye"
The laugh that followed changed the
subject. although warm in Williams con-
seriousness the thought remained that she
had let him know what the subject meant
to her; he shared a secret with her. She
still told him, of her troubles with young
Sam 1t was as if she had put out her
hand and said. Help mel Inarticulate-
ly he felt what David had said. "1ll take
care of you,'' And his first care must be
to make her forget what had distressed
her. He said with the air of one i'm
parting interesting information, that some
time in the next fortnight he would prob
ably go to Philadelphia OH business. Can
do any errands for you? Don't YOU
ladies always want ribbons or some
thing
Does Mrs. King let you buy ribbons for
herr" Helena asked.
Ribbons, l am to buy yarn and some
particular brand of I've for soap"
"Lye, How do you make soap out of
lye?''
You save all the''-William hesitated
for a sufficiently delicate word-"the-fat,
you know, in the kitchen, and then you
make soft soap
why. 1 didn't know that was how
soap was made
I'm glad you didn't" said William
King. Il mean-it's dsagreeable,' he
ended. weakly And then, to David 5
open JOY, he said goodbye and logged
off down the hill. leaving Mrs. Richie to
her new responsibilities of discipline,
Now, David, come here. I've got to
scold you
David promptly climbed up into the
swing and settled himself in her lap. Then
he Struggled his little nose down into her
neck. I'm a bear" he announced. I'm
eating YOU Now you scream ana IL
roar"
"OI, David, you little monkey! Listen
to me: you weren't very polite to DR..
King
"O-o-o-o-o-o"' roared the bear.
"You should make him feel you were
glad to see him
Il wasn't" mumbed David.
But you must have manners, dear lit
tie boy ....
Il have" David defended himself sit
ting up straight. Il have them in my
head, but l only use them sometimes"
Upon which the disciplinarian collapsed.
you rogue she said: come here and
I'll give you forty Kisses
David was instantly silent; he shrank
away. lifting his shoulder against his
cheek and looking at her shyly. Il won't,
dear she treasured him, impetuously;
truly. l won't.
But she said to herself she must re-
member to repeat the speech about man
ners to the doctor; it would make him
laugh.
William laughed easily when he came
to the Stuffed Animal House. Indeed, he
had laughed when he went away from it,
and stopped for a minute at DR.. Law
endar's to tell him that Mrs. Richie was
Just as anxious as anybody that Sam
Wright should attend to his business
"BusineSs,' said the doctor. much she
knows about it," And then he added that
he was sure she would do her part to in
fiuence the boy to be more industrious.
And you may depend upon it. she won't
allow any love-making." said William
He laughed again suddenly, out aloud,
he ate his supper that night because
some memory of the afternoon came into
mis- head. When Martha, starting at the
unusual sound. asked what he was laugh
ing at, he told her he had found Mrs.
Richie playing with David Allison. They
were like two children; | said | didn't
know which was the younger. They We're
pretending they were shipwrecked: the
swing was the vessel, if you please"
Il suppose she was trying to amuse
him." Mrs. King said That's a great
mistake with children. Give a child
book. or put him down to some useful
task; that's my idea
''Oh, she was amusing herself" Will
liam explained. Mrs. King was silent.
''She gets up for breakfast now, on &C
count of David it's evidently a great
undertaking. the doctor said, humor-
ouSly.
Martha held her lips hard together.
You ought to hear her housekeeping