Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-04
CHAPTER XIII.

of waking at about 3, just when the birds
begin the scattered twittering that swells
into full clamor and then dies suddenly
into silence. In that gray stiffness,
broken by bird calls, he used to occupy
himself by thinking of his people.
THE name of the large upper chamber,
facing the east, was peace And so this
old pilgrim found it, lying in his four
poster, listening to the cries and calls in
the jargonelle pear tree in the corner of
the garden. and watching the ghostly OBJ
long of the window that faced the east
glimmer and brighten into the effulgence
of day. 1t was then. with his old hands
folded on his breast. that he thought
about the Wrights-all three of them.
would influence Sam to put his mind on
his work; II the boy would do that, his
father would be less irritated with him
And Williams assurance that she would
not allow any love-malSing ought to end
his grandfather's worry. But while that
worry lasted 1t must be utilized.
The room was slipping out OF the
shadows. DR.. Lavendar could see the
outline of the window distinctly. The
bureau doomed up in the grayness like a
rock; opposite the bed, under a high
wooden mantel, was the cavernous black
Elected that it must be nearly 4.
The question was. when should he use
this weapon of Benjamin Wright's worry
on the two hard hearts? He had made
several attempts to use it, only to feel
the blade turn in his hand. He had
asked Mr.. Wright when he was going to
talk things over with Samuel, and the old
man had instantly declared that he had
changed his mind. He had mentioned to
his senior warden that Benjamin was
1n6 oh hic CHI
eyes, and Samuers studied deafness had
put an end to conversation. So DR.. Law
endar had made up his mind that a mat
ter of this kind cannot be forced. A
thirty-two-year-old wound is not to be
healed in a day. He took any chance
but he did not try to hurry his Heavenly
Father For it was DR.. Lavendars be,
lief that God was more anxious about
that reconciliation than he was.
A line of light threaded it's way under
the window curtain and fell in spot of
fluid gold upon the mirror. He watched
1t move silently across the powdery sur
face: suddenly another dimpling pool ap-
peared on the SCOT of the chimney-back
and his eye followed the tremulous beam
to its entrance over the top of the shut
ter. The birds were shouting now in full
voice. How fond Benjamin was of his
poor Gagged creatures! Well, he had so
little else to be fond of: land 1 have so
much" thought DR.. Lavendar, shame
facedly-"all my people. And David, the
rascal" Then he chuckled; DR.. Laven-
dar was under the delusion that he was
unprecedented in regard to David; "a very
unusual child!' he assured himself grave
ly. No wonder Mrs. Richie liked to have
him. And he would be the making of
her! he would shake her out of her self
ishness. Poor girl. 1 guess, by the way
she talks, she has never known anything
but SELF David will wake her up. But
l We got, to look out that she doesn't spoil
him." 1t was this belief of what David
might do for Mrs. Richie that had recon-
ciled him to parting with the little boy.
His eyes wandered to the window; a
gl1ttering strip Of green light between the
bowed shutters meant that the sun was
In the trees. Yes, to be sure, for the
birds had suddenly stopped singing
DR.. Lavendar yawned and looked at his
watch. 5 o'clock. He would have liked
to get up, but Mary would be worried if
she knew he was awake so long before
breakfast. Well, he must try to have a
nap; no. the room was too light for that
He could see all the furniture; he could
count the pleats in the sunburst of the
tester; he could. perhaps see to read?
He put his hand out for Robinson
Crusoe," and after that he possessed his
soul in patience until he knew that Mary
would allow him to come downstairs
1t was In one of those peaceful dawns
early in June that he decided that the
moment had come to strike a decisive
blow; he would go and talk to Benjamin
of Sans Sam, and though truth de-
manded that he should report Mrs
Riches good sense he did not mean to
insist upon it too much; Benjamn's anx-
iety was the Lords opportunities Dr.
Lavendar thought. He would admit Sans
sentimentality and urge putting the mat
ter before his father. Then he would pin
Benjamin down to a date. That secured,
he would present a dafinita tn
Samuel. He is the lion in the way" he
told himself anxiousy: Il am pretty sure
can manage Benjamin. Yet surely if
he could only put it properly to Samuel,
If he could express the pitiful trouble in
the old fathers soul, the senior wardens
heart would soften. 1T must touch him."
DR.. Lavendar thought, and closed his eyes
for moment.
When he said amen the bird-calls were
like flutes of triumph.
On his way up the hill that morning he
paused under great chestnut to talk to
David Allison, who, strapful of books
over his shoulder, was running down the
path to school. David was willing to be
detained; he pulled some grass for Co
Hath and told DR.. Lavender that Mrs
Richie had bought him a pair of sus-
penders. And 1 said bad word yes
terady." he ended, proudly.
We'll, now, I'm sorry to hear that
ITS been in me a good WHILE David
eApidilleu' Dul yesterday Sdlu IL. 1t
was damn"
ITS a foolish word, David; never use
it."
You don't?" David said. blankly. and
all his pride was gone. They parted with
some seriousness. but DR.. Lavender was
still chuckling when he turned in at
Benjamin Wright's neglected carriage
road, where burdocks and plantains grew
rank between the wheel tracks. AS he
came up to the house he saw Mr.. Wright
sitting out in the sun on the gravel of the
driveway, facing his veranda A great
locust was dropping it's honey-sweet bios
SONS all about-on his bent shoulders, on
his green cashmere dressing-gown, on
his Shrunken knees, even one or two on
the tall beaver hat. A dozen bird cages
had been placed in a row along the edge
of the veranda. and he was nibbling
orange skin and watching the canaries
twittering and hopping their perches
AS he heard the wheels of the buggy, he
looked around and raised a cautioning
hand:
Look out. You scare my birds. Rein
In that mettlesome steed of yours, That
green cock was just going to take a
bath"
Goliath stopped at a discreet distance.
and DR.. Lavendar sat still. There was a
GREATNESS moment of awaiting the pleas
ure of the green cock. who, balancing on
the edge OF his tub, his head on one side,
looked with inquisitive eyes at the two
old men before deciding to return to his
tween the bars of his cage. Upon which
Mr.. Wright swore at him with proud af-
lection and waved his hand to his WIS.,
itor.
Come on! Sorry 1 can't take you in
doors. l have to sit out here and watch