Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-06

1 s. =: e.: !: !: 6: g.: g:
acteristic of the in
habitants of Cape Coo The rear car was
Entirely empty, and in the forward car
wvob an elderly woman surrounded oy
brown paper parcels, and a brakeman
eating an apple in a business-like way.
only these two-with the important ex-
.eption OF Reuoen Reed. He sat In .he
middle of the car looking out fxedly at
he landscape as ii lazily crept into view;
he had turned over the seat in front OF
nin and his feet rested on II. while hts
arms were spread over the back OF his
own seat.
As the train crossed a bridge over
small river Reuben sat up straighter-
There was the pine grove where they
used to have the Sunday school picnics;
there was the field where the huckleber-
ries grew the thickest: there was old man
Carver's barn looming high on a sloping
hillside. Reuben remembered we'll how he
had helped build that barn. earning his
first $40 by the job.
Just opposite the station was the tav-
ern: Reuben thought il had chrunk since
he last saw IL. and felt reluctant to trust
himself TO its hospitality; but needs must
i'm certain combinations in life. so he
walked up TO its forbidding door, found
the landIady, and. hf wing made arrange
ments for the night, set out on foot along
the sandy road that ran beside the track.
1t was early in May and the air was Bit
ing as sunset drew near. The rare apple
trees in the scanty orchards were not Yet
in bloom. but there was pink glow
through the branches telling of the sap
that already swelle6 each bud. The
steady cape wind blew in his face. bend
ing easily the long, thin grasses that
pushed through the sand on the sides Of
the road.
Reuben walked with Q swing that soon
took him out Of the village. and in five
minutes moro he had gained the school
house. where 1t stood as far as possible
from the center Of civilization so as to be
within easier reach of the outlying farms.
1t was q dismal, square wooden building
with two doors, one for the girls. the
other for the boys. Reuben tried to open
the rght-hand door, but it was locked.
he sat down on the steps and looked at
the small playground. bare and grim.
troddsn hard by many hobnailed boots.
Some child had dropped a little bunch OF
sassafras flowers on the step and he took
them up. holding them thoughtfully In his
hand.
Here he was. on the threshold of de-
sign planned by him twenty years before.
and, till within eighteen months. the NOV
ing spring Of his existence. He sat in the
very place where he had sworn to be re-
venged on those who had wronged him, a
lad Of nineteen. All his boyhood had been
hard and unlovely. but never had he
known the pangs o. injustice and dis
loyalty till that last week at home.
His expression was less lowering and
more energetic as he started of in the
direction of the old home with a swinging
step. 1t was not long before he reached
The boundary iine of the north acre lot
the place where their farm began: and
then a feeling, ignored till then. leapt into
consciousness-the love OF land. IL Dave
had children, they would be the fifth gen.
Grafton of Reeds to live there. 1t was
more than a hundred years since his
great-grandfather had bought the place
and put up little two-roomed cabin: he
had prospered. and his son had built the
large, square rooms where Reuben's
father had been born. as well as himself
and Dave. Every fiber OF his heart re-
sponded TO the eloquent cry sent forth by
the trees along the stone walls, by the
grim rocks pushing up their old heads
through the short grass. and by the red
brick chimneys OF the house itself, which
now came into sight.
This was his as much as Dawes; he
would turn out the others and come here
with Grace TO make their summer home,
where his ancestors had tolled and strug-
ged with the obstinate soil: he would
buy out Dave. after he had received back
his $50 with twenty years interest at s
per cent.
The brute was predominant I'm his face
as he noisily pushed back the garden gate,
iscowling to notice that one OF the hinges
was broken. and crunched Up the gravel
path to the front door. He pulled the
glass bell handle. but II came out In his
hand. and he was forced to rap smartly
with his cane. He heard q person moving
hastily within. but he did not see a face
pressed against the window Of the room
on the right of the door. as IL some one
were trying to see who knocked so I'M
peratively. In q moment bolt was
drawn and a thin. elderly woman. whose
faded face was set in anxious lines, stood
before Reuben.
We COue 10 see MI Necu, MI DdNiu
Reed said Reuben in his authoritative
manner. Most people succumbed at once
to this manner of his. and IL was one OF
Grace's charms that she only laughed
when he domineered. But the woman be-
tore him was more than ordinarily I'm
pressed; her eyes. Of a dim blue. looked
ike those OF a kitten who seeks shelter
beneath a bed. and her voice quavered as
she replied: He's not in just now, sir: but
if you'd be good enough to wait" She
paused. the upward infection of her voice
turning her tmid suggestion into a ques-
ton.
Certainly. I'll wait. I've not Travelled
from New York for nothing Reuben re-
turned grimiy.
Would you mind. sir, stepping into the
ting room? The weather's still cold
. ID there's no fire In the best parlor."
will Mr.. Reed be long away?' asxed
i;eubcn after he had seated himself.
Il think hell be back in less than ar
hour now: my husbands hard to move
these days, and he's always for gettins
home as soon's ne can"
IIcr husband. Was this Lucy? Lucy
whose fresh image he had carried will