Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-02


one at the cake wad Chamber up. And
then it would begin again. Nibbe- chug-
getty. Nibble-chuggety." And they went
out into the hall and up the stairs.
A live coal dropped from the CRATE and
soon afterward the mantel clock strucH
10. Left to itself the room took on the
well-kept air of a hotel apartment kept
ready for transient occupation. The butler
was right. 1t was a room from which the
personality had departed. 1t was no
longer a center of household life. There
lay about it the subtle melancholy OF a
place which, created lovingly to be lived
in, Is now committed to the orderly care
of servants.
A short while only was it left alone
however. For young man, letting him
self in at the street door and taking off
his overcoat in the hall, entered briskly
He was good-looking, clean-built fellow.
wearing youth in a buoyant fashion,
though with suggestion of overdrawing
upon his vitality His fine-grained face
had begun to harden somewhat defiantly
to dissipation, and although the hardening
was as yet but superficial, it married q
sensitive mouth and cleaned little I'M
easily from frank eye.
He rubbed his hands together before the
cheerful fire. "Brrh." he said aloud. I'm
nearly frozen Then as he turned his
back comfortably to 1t, he saw the smok
ing jacket spread out upon the armchair.
Good old Donald" he thought, as he
took off his Tuxedo and put 1t on. 1t was
really coy in the pleasant room and he
was glad he hadn't gonS-after all, it was
better than the other places. He shrugged
his shoulders impatiently. How fiat all
these things got after the first taste!-the
same old round. night after night; every
thing like everything else-everything tire
some.
The butler came noiselessly into the
room. Seeing the young man, he gave an
unconscious movement of surprise. "Ah,
Master Kenneth, you're home!' he said.
Kenneth was quick to discern and resent
its slight note of censure. WELL" said
he, with a loneliness only partially con-
trolled, don't stand there as If it petri-
fed YOU.
Pardon me. SIR" answered the butler
quietly, II didna look for We SO soon.''
The boy was little ashamed Of his ir-
ritability and the tone he found himself
taking, but the mans conciliatory respect
fulness annoyed him. Il know well
enough he said shortly, that I'm back
earlier than usual. Now that I am here,
however. let US both try to make the best
Of it,
I'VE have no reason. Master Kenneth
said the butler without raising his voice.
Ito speak to me in that way. I'm real
glad to see you home again-at so guild an
hoor."
II shall come home when and as late as
1 please retorted Kenneth aggressively.
Then. feeling that the man deserved to
know his place. please to understand
that. And make no comments on 1t in the
future"
Vera weel, vera weel." the other an
swered. IF onybody could have pre-
vented We. 1t wad haze been done lang
since"
See here, Donald" broke in the young
man. catching fire. I'm no child. And
I'm sick Of this everlasting attitude of
yours. Don't take it on yourself to con-
troll my behavior"
Donalds mouth had settled grlmly.
MASTER Kenneth" he interposed with
dignity
Now listen to what I have to say"
Kenneth stopped him sharply. Il don't
forget your long service in this house or
the position you hold here: but remember
l am my own master, and you He
broke off abashed at the crude end Of his
sentence. Then he added gruffiy, Kindly
hold your tongue in the future" He
turned abruptly to the fireplace and began
to warm his hands
The butler did not move. He stood quiet
ly facing his young muster, whose black
forehead he could see In the mirror before
him. Nor, when he spoke. was his voice
lifted above Its customary minor level, but
the words came with a tremendous in
cisiveness that showed how much he was
stirred. Master Kenneth. l have held
my tongue over lang already. Ye forget
your ain place when ye tell me have for
got mine. Did 1 forget it night after
night when 1 was sittin' up to the peep O.
day, waitin' for ye to come hame? Did /
forget 1t when l was dom my best to be
the held O. the house. an the real held
was carousin'. forgetfu O. his duties? Did
l forget it when l had to lie to the Wee
mistress hushin' her innocent prattle for
fear O. disturbin' your monday sleep, be-
cause she mauna guess her brither's
shame and disgrace? It's me. when 1t
should have been you. VINO tried to COM
fort the bairn's sair he'rt. breakin' already
wi loneliness for her mither. All, Master
Kenneth, that should live to say it! It's
yol who have forgot your ain place."
Kenneth whirled upon him furiously,
smarting at the tone of conscious author
ity which for all Its quietness vibrated in
the old mans voice How dare you
speak to me In this way? Nothing but the
remembrance of your faithfulness to my
mother keeps me from dismissing you on
the spot
I'VE do we'll to mind that, Master Ken
neth.' returned Donald. gazing firmly in,o
his angry eyes, faithful to your mther.
l will be faithful to her BARNS. Dinna
forget that, when he forget yourself
"Oh, you're going to keep it up, are
you?" cried the young man defiantly. He
clamped his jaws stubbornly and strobe
out into the room. We'll, you can con-
slider yourself dismissed. You can go,'
Vera weel, vera weel." returned the
other calmly. Eye can bid me to go IL you
like. But the goin' is ma sac easy" He
turned as quietly to leave.
Kenneth waved his hands impotently,
feenng he could no longer trust himself 20
speak. Kenneth's glance fell upon the
book lying on the table. "Is it you," he
cried, his evaporation suddenly shooting
out again. who keeps putting this book