Evening star., 1908-01-24
CHAPTER XXXI-Continued.

that he thought that if the old man
could be induced to talk of his grandson
he might rally. .'He never speaks OF
him." the doctor said, but l am sure he
is brooding over him all the time. Once
or twice I have referred TO the boy, but
he pretends not to hear me. He's using
up all his strength to bear the idea that
he is to blame. / wish | could tell him
that he isn't" the doctor ended, signing.
They had met in the hall as William
was coming downstairs and DR.. Lavendar
going up. Simmons. who had been shuf-
fling about with decanter and hospit-
able suggestions. had disappeared into
the dining room
Well" said Dr. Lavendar. "why don't
You tell him? Though. in fact, perhaps
he is to blame in some way that we don't
know? You remember, he said he had
'angered the boy
mo, that wasn't it," said William.
DIR. Lavendar looked at him with sud
den attention. Then what he began.
but lean. freckled shadow in the dining
room doorway, spoke up:
Maybe he might "a made Marster
Sans Sam mad sub. that night. maybe
he might "A. But that weren't no rca-
son. said Simmons. in a quavering voice.
for boy to hit out and give his own
grandfather a lick. No. suh it warn't I.
An call him liar,'' DR.. Lavendar and
William King stared at each other and
at the old man in shocked dismay. His
grandfather used words. maybe, onc't in
WHILE Simmons mumbled on. but
they didn't mean no mon skim milk.
Don't / know? He's ID me for forty
years. but he'll go to heaven all the same.
The Lawd wouldn't hold it up agin him,
If pore niger wouldn't If He would,
I'd lief go to h---ll with Mr.. Benjamin
as any man | know. Yes, sub as ]
would with you yo'self DIR. Lavendar. He
was cream kind; yes. he was, One o
them pore white-trash boys at Morrison :
shanty town. called me .Ashcat' onc't:
Mr.. Wright he cotched him and licked
him with his own hands, suh An he
was as kind to Marster Sam If he was
baby. But Marster Sam hit him lick.
NO. sub: it weren't right Simmons
rubbed the cuff Of his sleeve over his
eyes and the contents of the fitting de-
canter drbbled down the front of his
spotted old coat.
Simmons said DR.. Lavendar. what
had they been quarreling about?'
But Simmons said. gliby, that fore the
Lawd, he didn't know.
HE does know said DIR. Lavendar. as
the man again retired to his pantry. But.
after ALL the subject of the quarrel doesn' t
make any difference To think that the
boy struck him. That must be a salts
faction to Benjamin.
"A satisfaction" William repeated, be-
wildered
But DR.. Lavendar did not explain. He
went on upstairs and sat beside the very
old man. listening to his muff1ed talk and
saying what he could of commonplace
things. Once Benjamin Wright asked
about Mrs. Richie:
THAT female at the S-Stuffed Animal
House-how is she? Poor cr-creeter;
pretty creeter, Tell her.
What Benjamin.
ut An hay oJ,r
my fault. ! made him angry. Tell her. .
He did not refer to her again; nor did
he speak of the boy, except at the very
end. The end came the week that David
was staying at the rectory. and perhaps
Dr. Lavendar'S plying absorption in that
dreary dying made him give less thought
to the pleasure as well as the perplexity
of the child s presence; though, certainly,
when he got back from his daily visit at
the Top he found David a great COM
fort. DIR. Lavendar stopped twice that
week TO see Mrs. Richie. but each time
she sent word that she was engaged.
would he excuse her? Engaged In the
sense of not wishing TO see a neighbor,
was new word in Old Chester. DR..
Lavendar did not insist. He went on up
the hill to that other house. where, also,
there was a deep preoccupation which
Benjamin Wright had called narrow
ing; but here he was not shut out. He
always stopped to say friendly word to
among the cages in the dining room, and
then went on upstairs
On this October afternoon the old serv-
ant sneaked up at his heels and. sliding
into the room behind him as noiselessly
as a shadow settled down on his hunk
erS close to the bedside Once he put up
lean yellow hand and patted the bed
clothes: but he made no more claim to
attention than a dog might have done.
DIR. Lavendar found his senior warden in
- -
there every day; he had very little to say
to his father. not from any lingering bit
terness, but because, to poor Samuel. all
seemed Said-the boy WAS dead. When
DIR. Lavendar came in he glanced at the
bed and then, with start, at the heavy
middle aged figure sitting listlessly at the
bedside. Samuel nodded solemnly.
"A matter of hours. William says. !
shall not go home until it's over"
Does he hear you?' said DIR. Lavendar.
in low voice, leaning over to look into
the gray face.
"Oh, no. said Samuel.
The dying man opened one eve and
looked at his son. How much you
know he said. then closed it again.
Are you comfortable. Benjamin. DR.
Lavendar asked him. There was no reply.
SamueTs face Redeemed. You can't tell
when he hears. he said. 1t was then
that Simmons put out his hand and
patted the bedclothes over the old feet.
They sat there beside MIN Tor an hour
before Benjamin Wright spoke again:
then William King came in and stood
looking down at him.
He'll just sleep away he told the son.
Il hope he is prepared. said Samuel.
and sighed. He turned his back on the
big bed with the small figure sliding down
and down toward the footboard. and
looked out of the window. The boy had
not been prepared
Suddenly. without opening his eyes.
Benjamin Wright began:
'Annula vagula blandula,
Hospes comesque corporis.
Quae uunc abibis in loca:
What do you think. Lavendar?'
1T will return to God who gave it,
said DR.. Layendar.
There was another silence, until he
wakened to say. brightly. 'Simons, you
freckled nigger you'd better wiring their
aecks. now. l guess.
mo suh," came a murnur from the
shadow on the floor. Il m agon' to take
care of 'em fine. Yes. sub. I'll chop their