Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-20
CHAPTER XIV-Continued.

CHAPTER XIV-Continued.
The invalid looked at her. And. if he'd
been the picture of misery afore. he was
afore he answered. She shivered. kind
of, at that cough. and l don't wonder. If
ever there was "a graveyard quickstep.
Washy Sparrows cough was it.
mo. ma am" says he. IL guess not.
but / don't know. The shock of 1t. and
and all. has pretty nigh finished me up.
I'm afraid. I don't caflate I'll pull
through. but I may. Let's hope for the
best anyhow. But. mann. if you'd heard
the things that's been said to met
She whirled around on US and her eyes
flashed chain lightning.
Aren't you asha med?" she says.
Great strong men. every one of You.
and all banded together to torture poor,
helpless invalid
4 feller's conscience is the biggest fool
part OF his insides. Now I knew that
what we'd been doing was exactly the
right thing to do. but / felt as mean and
small as il I'd been caught stealing eggs.
/ kind of shriveIed up. as you might say.
and tried to scrouge back into the corner.
Maybe I'd have got there. only the rest
of the crowd was trying to do the same
thing.
All but Hartley He was lot set back.
but he spoke up prompt.
Miss Page" said he. I'm sure you
don't understand. We
She was back at him afore he'd begun.
Il think that is exactly what I do
understand" she says. AT any rate.
mean to understand thoroughly. Mr..
Sparrow, what have they said to your"
Washy cleared his throat. When he an
swered twas in sort Of beg-pardon
- - - -
speak i'll Of anybody. He wouldn't hurt
nobody's feelings for the world. Bless
him! he was a cute shyster, II ever there
was one.
Its like I wrote you. ma am" says he.
They've offered me a place to go to
take it. 1 want to take 1t. My land!
how 1 want to! But don't feel able to
dig cellars. I wouldn't last at It more n
a few days, and then what would become
of my fatherless children with nobody to
look after EN-? And because I think of
these things and can't bring myself to
to-passing away from 'em 80 soon. I'm
going to be put out Of my house and
home. My little home, that I've thought
so much Of
Agnes eyes were wet. too. and her feet
patted the floor. But why?' says she.
"Why?"
IT don't know-that is. for sure. ma'a am.
You see. amt been able to earn moth
ing for some time. Eureka, poor girl.
blieve the doctor there. his bill amt
been all paid: and we owe Mr.. Scudder
some rent: and 1 s'pose likely Eureka
would be able to give more OF her time
to the island work. and maybe for less
Il See" says Miss Page. scornful. IT
see. And SO. for few dollars. you are
to be turned out Of your home. You. a
poor sick man! Oh! 1 can hardly believe
there are such people in the world. And
yet. 1 had some experience.
She flashed a look at Martin as she
said it, He turned white under his sum
burn.
Miss Page" he said. you do not I'M
derstand. I must insist that you hear
our reasons for this proceeding"
1T is not necessary" she says. cold as
ice. II have heard enough"
The minister plucked up spunk to
speak. But she snapped him up snort
as pie crust. Then tried it-and got my
medicine.
Mr.. Sparrow" says she. '.let them do
their worst. The children shall come to
my school. AS for you. ] mean to
Then she turns to me.
Does Mr.. Van Brunt know Of this?"
she asks. Course I couldn't say nothing
but I believed he didn't.
THANK goodness she says. And just
then who should walk in but Van himself.
"Hello," says he. surprised. Eureka
told me you were at the village. Martin.
so Lycurgus rowed NE across. One of
the children said you were here. What
too, Am / too late for the refresh
ments?
He smiled. but nobody else did.
Edward" says the Page girl. will
you do a great favor for me-"
yours to command. Of course" he an
swers, puzzled.
will you find a boarding place for Mr.
Sparrow"
.Who? Eureka's father? Why. GER
tainly. What's the trouble? Is 1t time
for the Sparrows to nest again? He can
come over to the island with us. There's
plenty of room. Hey. Martini
Never mind your friend. please" says
Miss Page. IF he comes Will you pro-
tect him and treat him kindly? Thank
you Then that is settled. Gentlemen. I
believe there is no necessity for your
further mountaineering yourselves. Your
several bills will be paid.
looked at the doctor and lie looked
at Poundberry. The minister and Brown
and Scudder looked at each other. Maybe
1t seems queer that We didn't speak up
and make her hear our side--the right
side. 1t does seem strange now, I'm free
to say, but as for, ME. 1 couldn't have
faced her then no more than the boy
with the jam round his mouth could face
his ma.
Hartley was the only plucky one. He
says. swallowing once, as if he was gulp-
ing down his pride. Miss Page" says
he. ''you are treating me most unfair.
To judge without hearing is not
She held up her hand. There was Il
kid glove on it, and even then I noticed
how we'll that glove fitted.
MIR. Pratt" she says to me. Il want
to ask you one question. Who is re-
sponsible for this? Whose idea was it,"
1 hemmed and hawed. The other fellers
might not have meant to do II. but some
how their eyes all swung round to
Hartley.
Il see,'' she says. Il thought as much.
There is a proverb. I believe. concerning
what is bred in the bone. Thank heaven.
to me there are some things in this world
which outweigh my personal convenience
and-money. You needn't answer, Mr.
Pratt. He pays your salary. I believe
My. but she said it bitter and scornful.
Hartley was white afore. but now he was
like chalk. He bowed to her. stuck his
chin into the air and marched out Of that
house as proud and chilly as a walking
icieIe. The rest of us. all but Van and
Agnes. trailed along astern, like parcel
of kicked dogs.