Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-07

as his manners.
We'll, you sit down here by the fire
and make yourself comfortable said
Miss Cordelia, land I'll go into the
kitchen and see If l can find something
for you to eat before you co.
An old maids larder is not a very good
foraging place to find things for hungry
man. But Miss Cordelia managed to as
semble quite a serviceabe meal. for she
was an adept at the noble science of cook
cry. When the little man picked up his
napkin. snowy. spotless, in his grimy
hand the contrast struck him.
If you please. ma am he said, is
there any place / can wash my hands,
But your coffee will get cold," remone
strated Miss Penley.
Il had rather drink cold coffee with
clean hands, ma am and a pure heart"
said Mr.. Smets. than hot coffee without
it. I'm as hungry as a dog; 1 amt had
nothin' today, but I'd rather wash my
hands"
You'll find basin and soap and a
roller towel in the Kitchen said Miss
Penley, who thoroughly approved the
pious sentiments of her guest.
Then she covered the coffee cup with
the saucer and sat down to await her
guests return.
He came back in short time, looking
really quite presentable. With little
bow. stif1y returned by the lady, he sat
down at the table.
Miss Penley lifted her hand.
Grace before meat" she said.
True, ma am" said Mr. Smets, but
I'm not a professin Christian. will you
say it for me?''
Miss Penley rose and repeated her in
vocation. Mr. Smets, Immediately the
Amen was uttered, fell to. When the
first ardor of his appetite was appeased
the conversation was resumed.
You said you were not a processing
Christian" asked the lady.
NOM was the reply.
well, even atheists have to be fed, l
suppose" returned Hiss Cordelia, some
what grudgingly.
Il amt exactly an arneist. AS far as
that goes. 1 don't deny that there is
God, which would be an assumption on
my part. / just say l don't know any
thing about it."
Have you ever read the Bible?"
Nom
Then no wonder you don't know any
thing about it." said Miss Cordelia.-
Just so, ma am assented Mr.. Smets.
deprecatingly.
IT you were to read the Bible I'm sure
you would know something. The bishop
says that no one read the Bible In
diligently and disbelieve it. I will give
you little Testament when you go
away tonight. Will you promise to read
it when you get time?''
II certainly will, ma am" returned Mr..
Smets. And I'll treasure it as remem-
brance of one of the kindest ladies I ever
CHANGED to meet And now I suppose I've
got to 60
Yes, suppose So" said Miss Cordelia.
She rose with her guest and they both
stepped to the door. The wind was blow
ing tornado. and it could net have
rained harder If a cloud had burst over
the cottage. Mr.. Smets shivered and
shrank back as he contemplated the blast
Miss Cordelia looked from the warm, light
room to the shivering little man and then
to the swirlng wet blackness outside. She
heard him cough and that decided her
Il couldn't turn a dog out in weather
like that, she said. determinedly. You'll
have to stay here all night
But, ma am, think Of"
IF l can stand it," returned Miss Pen
spare bedroom yonder: you can go in
there and Sleep"
I'm not fit to lie in decent bed" said
the tramp. land I'm not accustomed to it,
anyway. II you'll let me take some of
these rugs, I'll just go in there and lay
down on the floor
Very wen.'' replied Miss Penley, who
began to be a little frightened as to the
hat he hal toll
step.
And I'll get up, ma'am. and build the
fires for you in the morning. l seen
where the wood box was in the kitchen"
Then he bowed deeply to her again and
turned away.
1t was morning and broad daylight be-
fore Miss Peuley awoke. She rose to her
feet and laid the horse pistol back in
the drawer with prayer OF Thanksgiving
that there had been no need for It's use
Then after some hesitation she stepped
to the door OF the spare chamber and.
keeping we'll out of view. knocked upon H.
There was answer. She knocked
louder, knocked again, and a third time,
and then. summOning all her courage she
peered into the room. 1t was empty She
went into the kitchen. There was nobody
there.
Her glance fell upon the dresser The
doors of 1t were open, the silver was
gone. She threw open the door of her
own room. Her bureau drawer was open,
was her empty purse. her poor jewelry
gone. He had taken everything of value
in the house. Stop. There was one thing
he had left behind-thv little Testament
she had given him. He had laid it across
the top of the coffee cup.
She sank down in the Boston rocker,
hid her face In her hands and cried bit
terly. The only man who had ever paid
her compliment. the only man who had
ever looked at her with an admiring eye,
was thief. an migrate. Her heart was
broken.
Again the wind. again the rain, again
Miss Penley alone in her little cottage,
again knock on the door. just twenty
four hours had elapsed since the first
knock had come with it's portentous train
of consequences. With firm STEP a COM
posed manner in spite of wildly beating
heart, she strobe TO the door and threw
il open. Mr.. George Smets stood on the
threshold smiling and pewing deprecat-
ingiy. but with shamefaced look in his
eyes.