Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-07

David Excuse me a minute" She fed
into the house and upstairs to David's
room. Did you want me. precious?" she
said. painting
David opened dreaming eyes and looked
at her. He had called out in his sleep.
but was quiet again. and did not need her
eager arms. her lips on his hair. her
voice mumuring In his ear. But she could
not stop cuddling the small warm body:
she forgot Sam and his play. and even
her own null ache of discont ent---an ache
that was: bringing IA subtle change into
her face. faint line on her forehead.
and a suggestion of depth and even pain
in the pleasant shadows OF her leaf
brown eyes. Perhaps the discomfort was
mere WEAKNESS OF the whole situation:
II so. she did not recognize It for what
1t was. Her fellow prisoner. straining
furtively against the bond of the flesh
which was all that held him to her. might
have enlightened her. but he took her
love so for granted that he never
pected the discomfort. However. watch
ing David. Helena was herself uncon-
boy was sound asleep she stole the forty
kisses which, as yet. he had not
granted: folded the sheet back lest he
might be too hot; drew thin blanket
over his feet and then stood and looked
at him. Suddenly, remembering Sam
Wright. she turned away. but hesitated
at the door and came back for one more
look. At last, with a sigh, she went
"He loves your rabbits she told Sam:
.'he has named them Mr. George Rufus
Smith and Mrs Minnie Lily Smith,
1T is all finished said Sam.
What is finished?'
The drama" the young man cx-
planned.
oh she said, do forgive me, My
mind is so full of David I can't think OF
anything else
He smiled at that. You couldn't do
anything I wouldn't forgive"
Couldn't IT,
He looked up at her, wistfully. Il love
YOU you know
oh, please. please
II love YOU" he said. trembling
Sam. she said-and in her distress
she out her hand on his shoulder-"you
don: really care for me. / am SO much
older. and-there are other reasons. Oh.
why did | come here!' she burst out
You displease me very much when you
talk this way She pushed her chair
back, and would have risenabut for his de-
tanning hand upon her srnN
"Wfll you marry me?"
mo! of course / WON'T
'Why?'
because" she stopped. then. breath
lessly, Il only want to be let alone.
came to Old Chester to be alone. | didn't
want to thrust myself on you-any OF
YOU
You never did," he said wonderingly.
You? Why. there never was anybody
so reserved. so-shy. almost. That's one
reason love you, I guess he said, boy
ishly.
You mustn't love me-
viii you marry me?" he repeated
"Oh. 1 know; it is like asking an angel
to come down out of heaven .
IAN angelI'
Mrs. Richie. isn't It possible for you
to care just little and marry me?'
No. Sam; indeed it isn't. Please don't
think of it any more"
rs it because you love him still?"
"Love-him?" she breathed.
He is dead" Sam said. land thought
from something you once said that you
didn't really love him. But If you do
My-husband, you mean? No! l don't.
I never did. That's not the reason: oil.
why did I come here?" she said. in a
distressed whisper.
At that he lifted his head. Don't be
unhappy. 1t doesn't matter about me-"
His eyes glittered. All is dross that is
not Helena! shall love you as long as
1 live, even if you don't marry me. Per-
haps-perhaps I wouldn't If you did,
He did not notice her involuntary start
of establishment; he rose. and lifting his
as If in wordless appeal to heaven. Then
his arms dropped. No he said. speak
ing with curious thoughtfulness. mo; you
would be human if You could marry a
fool like me-" Helena made protesting
gesture, but he went on. quietly: "Oh.
yes: l am a fool. I've been told so all
my life: but I knew it, anyhow. No
body need have told me. Of course you
couldn't marry me! If you could. you
would be like me. And / would not want
that. No; you are God to me. Stay d.
vine"
Helena put her hands over her ears
But please. can't you love me? We
needn't be married. If you'd rather not.
If you'll just love me little?".
The innocence of the plea for love with
out marriage struck her with dull
humor that faded into annoyance that
she should see the humor. 1t was an un-
comfortable sensation. and she hated dis
comfort: in her desire to escape from it,
she spoke with quick impatianca. NO.
Sam OF course not-not the way you want
me to Why. you are just a boy, you
know she added. lightly.
But Sam threw himself on his knees
beside her and pressed his head against
her skirts. 'Oh. are you sure. Mrs.
Richie? Why, It seems to me you might
just little? Can't you? You see. I'm
so lonely" he ended pitifully. His in
nocent solemn eyes were limpid with
tears, and he looked at her with terrified
beseeching. like a lost child.
The tears that spranS to her eyes were
almost motherly: for an mpetuous in
sharply. and the tears dried in hot pang
of shame. mo. Sam: I can't Oh. | am
so sorry. Please forgive mel ought not
to have let you-but I didn't know-yes:
uiu KNOW! ana l. ought 10 nave stopped
you. It's my fault. Oh. how selfish 1
have been! But it's horrible TO have you
talk this way! Won't you please not say
anything more?" She was incoherent to
the point of crying.
Sam looked out over the dark garden
in silence. WELL he said slowly IF
you can't, then 7 don't want to see you.
1t would hurt me too much to see you.
III go away. I will go on loving you.
but l will go away. so that I needn't see
you. Yes. will leave Old Chester
"Oh. | wish you would she said
You don't love me-" he repeated in a
sort of hopeless establishment: why I
can't seem to believe II, ! thought you
must-l love you so. But no. you don't
Not even just d little. Well
And without another word he left her.
She could not hear his step on the locust
flowers on the porch