Evening star., 1908-01-28

self: another passange she thought.
| shrinking into her corner.
I'll only detain You minute or two.
jonas William King said from the road
side. jimmy was hitched tn the fence and.
at the doctors signaling hand, the stage
drew up. with rafting whiffietrees Then
!, he opened the door and got in; he sat
down on the opposite seat.
II wanted to say goodbye to YOU" he
said. but. most of all. ! wanted 10 tell
you that IL have the deepest regard for
! YOU. ] want you to know that. | wanted
| to ask you Ii you would allow me TO call
myself your friend? I have seemed un-
/ kind. but he took her hand In both
/ of his and looked ut her; his face
/ tHitched. Il implore YOU to believe me.
! must not ask anything. or say any
| thing. more than that. But I could not
let you go away without asking your for
/ giveness-"
MY forgiveness
without asking you to pardon me. and
to- believe that I-have nothing but
esteem: the most = the most = friendly
esteem: you will believe that won't you?'
You are very good TO me-" she said.
| brokenly.
| IIe was holding her hand SO hard In his
that she WINGED with pain: instantly his
/ harsh grasp relaxed and he looked down
at the white hand lying in his. soft and
! fragrant and useless as a flower. he said
something under his breath: then bent
down and kissed 1t. When he lifted his
!! you. God always bless you. Goodbye"
And he. was on the road again. shutting
the coach door sharply. Go on Jonas.
| he said. And Jonas gathered up the reins.
| Alone. she put her hands over her eyes
again; the tumult of the moment left her
| breathless and broken. She had hated
/ him because he would have robbed her
of David. and then. when she robbed her
self of David, she had almost forgotten
| him: but now. when the chill Of the flu
/ ture was settling down upon her. to have
1 him say he was her friend brought sud-
den warmth about her heart. There
seemed to be some value to life. after all.
| She had told Jonas to stop at the rec
| tory. and DR.. Lavendar met her at the
| front door. Ie explained that he wanted
| to have last look at her and make sure
she was taking wraps enough for the long
cold ride to Mercer. lie reminded her
| that she was to write to him the minute
she arrived. and tell him all about her
/ journey and Ellen Bailey-"and Span
| gler. of course. Dr. Lavendar added.
/ hurriedly. Then he asked her II she
would take a package with her?
Yes. with pleasure" she said. looking
vaguely out into the hall But there was
no sign Of David. Where is the pack
age. DR.. Lavendar?"
Il told Mary to give it to Jonas. he
said. There was a moments pause and
she looked at him dumbly-
'David?"
"He isn't here DIR. Lavendsr said.
gently.
"Olf. DR.. Lavendar, tell him love him,
me. Oh. don't let him quite forget me.
! HE won't forget you." DR.. Lavendar
said. He took both her hands and looked
into her face 1t was long and solemn
| look. but IL was no longer questioning:
/ the joy that there Is in the presence OF
4 the angels IS done with questioning.
Helena he said. your Master came
into the world as little child. Receive
r.tt
giving"
She looked up at him. trembling and
without words. but he understood. \
moment later he gave her his blesslng:
then he said. cheerfully: Il must not keep
| you any longer; come,' With Danny at
| his heels he walked beside her down the
| garden path to the coach. 1t had begun
| to rain and the leather curtains tapped
/ sharply in the cold wind. Jonas had
| buttoned the big apron up In front of him.
and II was already shining wet the
steaming horses were pounding restlessly
In the mud.
She did not look about her. With un-
steady hands she pulled her veil down.
then she said, family. Good bye" She
hardly returned the friendly pressure Of
DIR. Lavendars hand She was so blinded
by tears that she had stumbled into the
stage before she saw the child. buttoned
up to his ears in his first greatcoat and
bubbling over with excitement. Even
when she did see him. she did not at first
understand. She looked at him, and then
at Dr. Lavendar and then back at David.
to whom it was all delightful game.
which. the night before, Dr. Lavendar
and he had got up between them. It
served its purpose. for the child had no
suspicion of anything unusual In the oc-
casion.
I'm the package" said David. joy
ously.
The stage went sagging and rumbling
down the road. For long minute DIR.
Lavendar stood in the rain, looking after
it, Then II turned the corner and was out
of sight. He drew a long breath. David
had gone.
A minute later he and Danny went back
to the empty house.
tThe end.D