Evening star., 1909-09-04

Rudolph knew and was glad. So she
came. to talk of him to both the children.
They both knew his picture: it had always
stood in James room; and they both came
to call 1t by name. as they did that CT
Judge Hassel. "Wudolph was almost as
real a personality to the children as was
Jane herself.
So the days went until Eva was ten and
Margery was six. and nudolph had been
in Paris for ten years. And that summer.
ten years from the June of his coming TO
Middleton, Jane did not hear that the
Great House was at last to be sold. That
she did not hear. either, that Rudolph
was coming to Middleton to arrange for
the sale was not remarkable, for no one IN
Middleton knew it until his arrival. He
had come over to New York to plan A
frieze for Louis Quins- music room. and
it occurred to him to run out to Middleton
to close the sale of the property himself.
He took the train on the day that he
thought of it, and, arriving in Middleton
next morning, inspected his old home with
his agent, gave his instructions and found
himself with half day to spare.
He turned at once to Judge Hassel's cot
tage. He was curious to see what the
he was always so ASSOCIATED in his own
mind from the events in which he figured
that his own responsibility never occurred
to him. That he had had a hand in what
ever Jane had become did not once cross
his mind. They had reacted upon each
other for time, that was all; why was
he to blame. or to praise. or to be respon-
sible for any standards that she had
cur to him.
It was pleasant to see that nothing
about the place had changed. The arbor
the white gable in the green. the mari
gold bed. were all serenely in place. Even
as he looked little pink frock fitted out
Of the arbor, and then another. Catching
sight Of him entering the gate, both little
figures drew back abashed. and the next
moment threw themselves violently upon
him.
It's Rudolph cried Eva.
"Wudolph.' echoed Margery, ecstatic-
ally.
Rudolph stared at them. Who were
they? How did they know his name?
They laid hold upon him by each hand
and led him down the path, pouring sc.
crets in his ears.
You've been way off," Eva informed
him.
'On the boat" supplemented Margery
Have you come to take us all back
with your" demanded Eva point blank
''On the boat?" inquired Margery, fever
ishly.
"She said you'd never come back any
more" cried Eva. I'm going to tell her ;
Where's all my nice candy?' inquired
Margery. eyeing his pockets suspiciously
Rudolph looked at her helplessly, and he
looked helplessly after Eva, who had just
run clamorously upon Jane, bringing her
book to the arbor.
"Oh. come on and see Rudolph" called
Eva, joyfully. You said he'd never come
back. but he is!'
Jane saw him in the door of the arbor,
under the yellow roses She stood still
and her hand clasped little Eva's till the
child looked up in terror. Then they went
on together quietly enough, and Jane put
out her hand.
How stranger she said.
She stood looking up In Rudolphs face
the face that she had hungered and
thirsted to see. her eyes seizing upon the
remembered soft hair, and tender mouth,
and deep eyes. A curious atmosphere of
unreality was about him; so used had she
grown to her dream of him that his pres
ence was almost that Of stranger. But
how like-how like.
I'm SO glad. Jane" said Rudolph, look
ing wonderingly into the face that had
won SO much womanliness. "Are you
glad, too?'
Jane sank on the arbor seat, and he sat
opposite her. watching this new Jane with
a great returning tenderness. Her eyes
were on the ground, and she was strug-
Cling with strange impression of resent
ment. Why had he come Why had he
come from the grave to find her and to
mock her peace? She spoke the words
aloud
why have you come back?" she asked
perplexedly
The words reused Rudolph
Now, really" he cried, lightly, what
a welcome for returned wanderer. |
have come to see you, of course. You are
to say at once that you are glad to see
me-"
His words put Jane at her ease. If this
were to be his attitude, she knew what
to do.
Indeed. am glad" she said. relaxing;
raspberry wine and some seed cakes
The children ran away and Rudolph for
got for the time to question her about
them. so absorbed was he In wonder at
the gentle reticence and the quiet that
had come to her.
Tell me of you,'' said Jane, feeling in
stinctively that to encourage some men to
talk of themselves is the only refuge from
DID Fon ,,,;1l
tim, and he talked freely. painstakingly
and luxuriously of himself. He told her
of his life in Paris, of his work, OF the
admirations, the tributes, the dinners, all
but the affairs, indeed, that had been his.
He spoke idly of this school and that cult,
and now and then he cropped into one of
his old ecstatic moments Of the worship ~
something good. Jane listened in amaze
ment. The sanity and reality of her new
life made her sit above him as she did
above some gorgeous butterfly, waving It's
wings admiringiy at its own shadow.
And now." said Rudolph. finally, what
Of you? What of you, Jane? Tell me-
Eva and Margery came back then. little
Hebes of the raspberry wine and yellow
cakes.
"The cakes are just baked. mother" ex-
planned Eva. Rudolph started at the ad-
dress.
Jane" he cried. why. Jane, no one
has told me-"