Evening star., 1908-01-20

King to come right along up here. Tell
him Mrs. Riches real sick
IF 1t was me. I'd let him wait TIL he
goes to school," Sarah began to hesitate:
shell be mad"
But Maggie had started in and meant
to see the matter through: let her be
mad"
well. it's not my doin'." Sarah said.
with fine carelessness. and crept up
stairs to listen again at Mrs. Riches
door Seemed like If she was sort Of
--cryin'." she told Maggie. In awed
whisper when she came down.
David brought his message 10 the doc
tors belated breakfast table William
lad been up nearly all night with a very
dck patient and Martha had been care
ful not to wake him in the morning. He
pushed his plate back. as David repeated
Maggfe's words, and looked blankly at
the tablecloth.
She's never really got over the shock
about Sam Wright's Sam. has she?"
Martha said. Sometimes I almost think
she was" Mrs. Kings expressive pan
tomime of eyebrows and lips meant in
love with him"-words not to be spoken
before a child.
Nonsense said William King curtly.
mo. ! don't want any more breakfast.
up"
Martha followed him to the back door.
William. maybe she's lonely. I'm very
tired. but perhaps I'd better go along with
you and cheer her up?"
"Oh: no." he called back over his
shoulder 1T isn't necessary" Then he
added, hastily. but it's very kind In you.
Martha. to think OF it,
I'D just as lieves," she INSISTED. hush-
ing with pleasure.
He tried to get his thoughts in order
as he and jimmy climbed the hill. He
knew what. sooner or later, he must say
to Mrs Richie. and he thought with
lief that IL she were really III he could
naf fl,of dnxr DIT x1,o srbt Of
David had brought his duty home TO him.
He had thought about 1t for days. and
tried to see some way OF escape. but
every way was blocked by tradition or
religion. Once he had said stumblingly
to DR.. Lavendar that 1t was wonderful
how little harm came to child from bad
surroundings. and held his breath for the
reply.
IAN innocent child in bad home
said DR.. Lavendar. cheerfully. always
makes me think of water ! y growing
out of the mud.
"Yesr said the doctor. 1.-THE mud doesn't
hurt it
mot the lily: but unfortunately. Willy.
my boy, every child isn't a lily.
wouldn't want to plant one in the mud
to see how it would grow. would your
And William admitted that he would
not.
After that he even put the matter to
his wife. Martha. you're a sensible
woman; I'd like to ask you about
case
'oh. WE'LL said Martha. simpering. II
don't pretend to any great wisdom. but
do know something about sickness"
This isn't sickness; It's about a child
Do you think a child is susceptible to the
influence of an older person who is not
of the highest character? IL, Cor in
stance. the mother was-not good; do you
suppose child would be injured?
mot good?" said Martha. Mortified.
''Oh. William. Somebody in Upper Ches-
ter. 1 suppose?"
But she is a devoted mother: you
couldn't be more conscientious yourself.
harm to a child?''
"Oh. Willy! A child In the care OF .
bad woman? Shocking
mot bad-not bad he said, family.
Most shocking! OF course a child
William drew arabesques on the table
cloth with his fork. We'll. don't
know he began.
II know said Martha. and began to
lay down the law. For II MARTHA prided
herself upon anything, besides her COM
mon sense. 1t was the correctness of her
views upon the training of children. But
she stopped long enough to say, vii
liam. please! the tablecloth.' And Will
liam put his fork down.
He thought of his wife's words very
often in the next few days. He thought
of them when David stood rafting the
knob OF the dining room door and say
ing. Maggie says please come and see
Mrs. Richie He thought of them as
jimmy pulled him slowly up the hill.
Sarah was lying in wait for him at the
green gate; Maggie had sent for him. she
said. and having. put the responsibility
where 1t belonged. she gave him what in
formation she could. Mrs. Richie wasn't
well enough to see her brother before he
went away on the stage: she wouldn't eat
any breakfast and she looked like she
was dead. And when she (SarahD had
given her note from Mr.. Pryor she read
II and right afterward kind Of tainted
away like. An when she come to. she
(Sarah) had said, Don't you want the
But Maggie was scared. DR.. King, and
she just sent David for you.'
quite right" said William King. Let
Mrs. Richie know l am here"
He followed the woman to Helena's
door and heard the smothered dissenting
murmur within, but before Sarah, evi-
IDENTIFY cowed, could give him Mrs.
Riches message that she was much
obliged. but did not wish-William en-
tered the room. She was lying with her
face hidden In her pillows: one soft braid
fell across her shoulder. then sagged
down and lay along the sheet crumpled
and wrinkled with restless night. That
braid, with its tendrils of little loose
locks. was a curious appeal. She did not
turn as he sat down beside her. and he
had to lean over to touch her wrist with
his quiet fingers.
ITO be continued tomorrowl