Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-21

little longer and not trouble papa by
fretting?"
Ards was beyond speech but she nod
ded quickly. and breaking away from
her mammals arms ran into the house
and up to the attic. always her refuge in
times Of trouble.
Old soldier suits. worn and faded: rusty
swords and battered muskets hung sol
EMMY here. Old furniture. discarded
clothing, broken toys trunks and boxes
Uttered the dusty spaces. Ards crept into
a favorite nook beside a gable window
and throwing herself upon an old sofa
sobbed as though her heart would break.
At last she sat up and tried to fight back
the tears. The late afternoon sun poured
warmly through the cobwebby window
and shone full upon an old table just be-
hind her.
Such an old old table! A moon table,
she had heard her father call it. 1t had
belonged to his great-grandmother and
had come from over the sea. 1t was
made in the shape of a half moon. of
solid mahogany. and had slender. taper
ing legs. 1t had been richly inlaid with
rose and lilac woods, but now the deli
cate pattern was only family discernible.
and the whole thing was scratched and
worn and shaky. Mr.. Lindsay was fond
of antique furniture. and Ardis had
once heard him speak of having this old
heirloom repOlished and put in order. But
mamma had laughed at the idea. Mamma
hated anything old-fashioned.
$50 do t. said Ards. looking through
her tears at the moon-shaped relic.
'Horrid old piano. Ugly old table. I
should just like to make a bonfire out of
dingy old things.' And she gave the
poor table a vindctive kick.
Then she perched upon the arm of the
sofa and began to drum carelessly upon
the worn inlaid work of the table
'Oh. the dear new piano. she sighed.
"Oh. the dear. smooth shiny. white
keys
Slowly the finger of her right hand
picked out "Fingertwist' upon the moon
table. Suddenly something flew out with
a snap and a drawer lay open before
her. In the widest excitement Ards slid
off the arm of the sofa and began to eX-
anime the mysterious hiding place. 1t
cotained only one article. a small leather
bag. tied up with a faded red ribbon, and
smelling family of musk.
With trembling hands Ards united the
worn ribbon. and then. oh. wonder Of
wonders. treasures undreamed of poured
forth from the bag. A beautiful string
of gold beads. Of quaint design, and for
eign workmanship. glittered in the sun
light. Next came queer old brooch.
richly set with glowing rubies. Then an
ancient thumb ring fell into her lap: and
last of all a roll of gold pieces slipped
from their crumbling wrapper and rat
tied and jingled upon the attic floor
Ards gathered her treasures into the
two flights of stairs, wild little figure
with flying curls and face all dust and
tears and smiles. Papa had come home
and was sitting at his desk. Ardis fell
upon him like a baby whirlWind.
See what I found in the moon table
drawer, See what I found in the moon
table drawer she cried. swinging the
string of gold beads before his eyes.
The moon table, What moon table :?
What are you talking about?
THE funny old table UP in the attic -
explained Ards
But moon table never has a drawer"
said papa.
This one has. This one has cried
4rdis. See the pin with the red stones.
See the gold pieces. Oh. do come quick
and see the moon table, And she start
ed atticward. followed closely by papa
and mamma and Molle and Elsie and
Dick And every one had to admit that
there certainly was a drawer in the bat
tered old table.
You shall have the piano after all.
sweetheart" said papa. These rubes
alone will more than buy it. And it will
be a present from your greatgreat-grand-
mother Lindsay
And the moon table shall he restored
to its former beauty said mamma.
1T shall have the place of honor, close
beside the new piano. said papa.
THE blessed old moon table," cried
Ards.