Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-06
said in an agonized tone, II cannot do

said in an aagonized tone, Il cannot do
it; I cannot"
Samuel. your father is very old he is
very feeble; but he has had the strength
to take the first step. Haven't you the
strength to take the second? Will you
carry your wicked quarrel to his grave?
No. Sam. no! I am sure you won't"
An hour later, when DR.. Lavendar sat
| down to a'dinner Of more than ordinary
Sunday GOODNESS. his old face was twin
ised to go with him that night to the
Top! Perhaps as the still afternoon
softened into dusk his Joy began to cast
| a shadow of apprehension. If so, he re-
fused to notice it. 1t was the. Lord s
business, and He moves in mysterious
way he hunlmed to himself, waiting in
the warm darkness for Samuel to call for
| him-for both the 'quailing men had made
DR.. Lavendar's presence condition of
the interview.
At half-past seven Mr.. Wright arrived.
He was in a shiny box-buggy, behind a
smart sorrel. He was dressed in his
black and solemn best, and he wore his
high hat with fiat brim, which. only
came out at funerals. His dignity was
so tremendous that his great bulk seemed
to take even more than its share of
room in the buggy. When he spoke it
was with righteousness that crushed
the breath out Of any possible answer. AS
they drove up the hill he cleared his
y
unteered the statement that he had told
Sam not to stay late at-at-
oh" said DR.. Lavendar, your father
will pack him .off-he will probably take
the opportunity to call on Mrs. Richie. -
he added. smiling. But Sans father did
not smile. And indeed, DR.. Lavendar's
own face was sober when they turned
In between the sagging old gate posts at
the Top. - =:
When the moment came to get out Of
"a h,ru Go ,,t LS
panion dumbly; a sort of paralysis
seemed to hold him in his seat. When he
did move. DR.. Lavendar heard him gasp
for breath, and In the darkness, as he
hitched the sorrel to staple in one Of
the big locusts, his face went white. The
large manner which had dominated Old
chester for so many years was shrinking
and shriveling; the whole man seemed,
somehow, smaller. I"
Benjamin Wright, in his NANCY beaver
hat, sitting quaking In his library heard
| their steps on the veranda.- AS soon as
supper was over he had dismissed his re-
joicing grandson. and long before 1t was
necessary had hidden Simmons light the
lamps: but as night fell it occurred to
him that darkness would make things
easier. and in panic, he shuffied about
and blew them all out. A little later he
had a surge Of terror; he couldn't bear
| that voice in the dark!
You! Simmons!" he called across the
hall. Light the lamps!'
Il done lit 'em, sub" Simmons ex-
postulated from the pantry. and then
looked blankly at the black doorway of
| the library II clare to goodness: they
gone. out" he mumbled to himself, and
came in. to stand on one leg and scratch
| a match on the sole of his carpet slipper.
Don't light all four, you stupid mig
ger"' the old man screamed at him.
When Simmons left him he lit cigar,
| his fingers trembling very much; it went
and took another. Just as he heard that
ponderous step on the veranda, he took
a third-but only to throw it, too, still
| smoldering into the empty fireplace:
DR.. Lavendar came in first His. face
was very grave; he made no conventional
pretense Of ease. Behind him. in the
doorway. doomed the other figure. Out
| in the hall, Simmons, his bent old back
| fiattened against the wall. his jaw chat
tering with aniazement, stood, clutching
at the doorknob and staring after the
| visitors. 's ,.
Come in!''. said Benjamin Wright.
Hello, Lavendar. Hello"
| Alas! at that moment Samuers cracked
| and patched-up self-respect suddenly
| crumbled-his presence OF mind deserted
him, and, scrambling like an embarrassed
| boy into a marked discourtesy, he thrust
| both hands into his pockets. Instantly
he realized his self-betrayal. but it was
too, late; his father. after a seconds hest
tdllOii, oCCuplcu pOIll llaliQS Will Lie
decanter and cigar box. :,
| We'll. here. we are, Benjamin." said
DR.. Lavender.
Take g. cigar" said the very old man;
| he held the box out, and it shook SO that
the loose cigars Jared within 1t. DR..
Lavender helped himself. Have one
Benjamin Wright said, and thrust the
| box at the silent standing figure.
lido not smoke" Samuel slid into a
seat near the door, and balancing his
hat carefully on his knees twisted one
| leg about the leg of his chair.
| His father hustled around to the other
| brought up Kentucky instead Of Monon-
| gahela!'' He lifted the decanter and be-
gan to fill the glasses.
Hold on! hold on! Don't swamp u.s."
| said DR.. Lavendar. He leaned over to
rescue his tumbler, and his good-natured
| scolding made an instant's break in the
intensity,
Have some?" said Mr. Wright. turn
ing to his son.
| lido not drink" The banker uncoiled
his leg and put his hat on the floor.
| His father pounded the decanter down
on the table. Simmons he called out;
freckled Niger! Gad-a-mercy! niggers
| have no sense"
Simmons came stumbling in, the whites
of his yellow eyes cleaning with excite
ment While he was fumbling over the
| lamps. his lean brown fingers all. thumbs
Benjamin Wright insisted upon filling Dr.
Lavendar's tumbler with whisky until 1t
overlooked and had to be sopped up by
| the old minister's red bandanna
(To be Continued Tomorrow
|