Evening star., 1908-01-19
By MARGARET DE

looking still" he thought. with an effort
to console himself But. Of course. II he
could squeeze ont of it And SD his an
swer TO IIelena's letter was telegram
to say he was coming TO Old Chester
William King. driving down the hill In
the October dusk. had a glimpse of him
as the stage pulled up at the gate OF the
Stuffed Animal House. and the doctor $
face grew duly red. He had not seen
Helena sincs that black. Illuminating
night: hc had not seen DIR Iavendar, he
had scarcely seen his own wife. tie de-
voted himself to Ills patients. who. it ap-
peared. lived back among The hills. AT
any rate. .he was away from home from
morning until night. William had many
things 10 face in those long drives out
into the country. but the mean self-eon-
seriousness that he had been fooled was
not among them. a. larger matter than
modification held him in its solemn grip.
On his way home, i'm the chill October
twilights. he usually stopped at Mr. Ben
jamin Wright's But he never drew rein
at the green gate in the hedge. as he was
pa ss,ing it the night that Pryor arrived
ne had to turn. aside TO let the stage
draw NJ. A man clambered out. and in
the dun flash of the stage lanterns Viii
! liam saw his face.
"Iloyd?', Some one said. in low
voice: il was Mrs Richie, waiting for
/ him inside he gate. William Kings face
7 auivered in the darkness.
"That you Nelly?' Mr.. Pryor said, mo,
no: III carry my own bag. thank YOU Did
I a hamper come down on the morning
4 STAGE Good, Wen have something 10
| eat. I hope YOU haven't got q sick cook
! this time. Well. how arc you?"
He kissed her and put his arm around
/ her: then withdrew 1T. reminding himself
not Ia b. IA fobll Yet she was alluring
I II nnly she would be sensible there was
! no reason why things should not be as
I pleasant as ever. If she obliged him &c
pay the piper. Lloyd Pryor was coldlS
aware that things would never be pleas.
| ant again.
so many dreadful things have hap
1 pened.' she burst out. but checked her
self and asked about his journey. "and-
and Alice" .....
oh. pleasant enough, rather chilly
/ Shes well. thank you. And then they
were az the door. and in the hustle o.
! coming in. and taking off his coat anC
| saying ''Huilo. David. Where's youl
| sling?" disagreeable topics were post
poned But in the short twilight befor'
i the parlor fire. and at the supper table
| the easy commonplaces of conversation
tingled with the Consciousness of the in
evitable reappearance ot those same
topics. Once, at the table, he looked a
her with frown.
! whats the matter Nelly? You lool
old Have you been sick?''
Things have happened" she said, witt
an effort: I've been worried.
What things?'' he said; but before sh
fies and the subject was dropped.
You need more cinnamon with thi
sugar" Mr. Pryor said. with annoyance
And Helena, flushing with anxiety. tol'
the woman to add some cinnamon a
once .'Oh. sever mind now. he said
but you ought 10 look out for things lik
that" he added when Sarah had left tn
room. And Helena said quickly that sil
would; she was sorry.
DIR. Lavtndar" David announced, III
won't let you say you don't like things
He says II ain po!it.. But | don
: ! Hike
DRY IN, dry up MIR. Pryor said. ir
ritahly: Helena, this young man talk
too much
Helena whispered TO David 10 be auie,
. ! She lad already arranged with him tina
hc was not to come into the parlor aft ,
+ supper. whici was an agreeable surpris
: To him. For. you know. l don't iils
your brother. he said. nor neither doe
: danny" Helena was too absorbed I
reraanstrate: she did. however, remembe
/. to tell Mr.. Pryor that David had aske
if she was coming up 10 hear him say hi
, prayers.
r 4 told him couldn't tonight. and wha
do YOU suppose ne said? Il SAID. Doe
Icd like ladies better than ssntlemen?
4 do"
, II made him laugh. as she lad hoped
would. Il fancy that is = reflection upo
] me-" he said. THE young man has nsve