The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-10-02
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child that every trivial move he had made but
fred his pet,iness Worse than ALL he had not behaved
like gentleman; Donald, for all his presumption, had
shown far better breeding than he had. What
temptible cad am he thought He nsolent. of
course but his devotion to-all OF gave him
right to talk he did. Heaven knows it's enough
have forgotten my place. haven't meant to-hut
everything has gone wrong somehow He rose from
the piano in moment and after waverng little, he
the book STOPPING suddenly. he picked it up
The quick action released the sob his heart and
still kneelng he caught the book his breast his face
broke in response the gasp of his mounting breath
"Oh, mother. mother he spoke to her softly I've
thrown everything of yours down-everyhng tina, you
loved. Can't you see how it all is? And how ashamed
l am?"
He rose with the book in his hand and without mean
ing knowing the piano and placed it, open
still, the music-rack. He down upon the stool
again and gave himself up sharp biting memories of
all that happened since his mother had held it in her
hand and read her children her favorte tale of Arthur
and the Round Table Suddenly he leaned and put his
lips the page the lines where had unexpectedly
left off, and his boyish shoulders shook with dry
strangling sobs When he Strengthened up he began
play gently staring before him the lines and through
them something beyond. 1t was an old tune he
played as simple and as sweet as his boyhood had been
Sing me the songs that to dear
Long. long ago; long ago."
Playing the hardness of his heart, and
with it the recklessness out of his young face.
Into the doorway creeping warily past the danger
point came Evelyn, again escaped from bed Her face
rogush, and she had her finger her lip if to
impress upon herself the idea of silence She stood there
until he had finished the familiar strain Then she tip
toed cautiously toward him, with the careful concentra
ton with which children always perform this hazardous
act balancing herself with her if were walk
80 Dat.
upon him he wheeled the stool, He seized her in
his and swept her far above his head She caught
her breath with delight and he let her down to level
with his face she wound her about his neck, half
laughing half-crying He Rugged her to him passion
aely himself between and laughter and carrying
her to the armchair pumped her with playful threat
of violence down into its soft depths
"Why aren't you in bed?" he said. "And in your
bare feet, tool"
Evelyn raised her nghtgown danty and disclosed her
other foot in its knit worsted slipper Il couldn't find
but one" she explained. She wrgged her bare pink
toes geefully. How de do, my John"
my John?" asked Kenneth, nystifed.
"'One shoe off. shoe on
Diddle diddle dumpkn, my son John!'"
she quoted and doubled the whole pink row rogushly
But why aren't you and your John sound asleep
by this time said Kenneth austerey. And your other
Peter?" he added quite spelling the effect of his
paternal air
Peter" cried Evelyn joyously
Certainly" gbly returned Kenneth
"'The that has the shoe looks neater,
And you call him my son Peter
Now why didn't you tuck Peter and John into bed long
ago? They'll never grow up if you don't give them
their sleep"
well" said Evelyn speculatively "they can't sleep
unless their mother does and I just so wake full
When I'm that way can't go to sleep unless
tells me stories or sings to that is can't most al
Donald tells lovely stories, but his singing she
laughed gaiy in recollection It's all creay and breaky
a IL singing is just 50 funny laugh myself awake
She suddenly dived up at him in the chair. ooh,
Kenneth just prayed you'd come in Tell all about
where you're been all this time, and everything"
Kenneth looked into her questioning eyes the warm,
flushed face with its turbled hair very his
No. dearie he answered.; you 60 to bed again.
It's ve-v late for little giries to be up"
But, Kenneth she coaxed, a.: don't ocant to go to
bed And now, when haven't seen you for years and
Yeas, 1 not bit sleepy the ttest bit Besides
I've just had nap and couldn't have one again for
ever so long She opened her very wide and stared
a: him convincingly But the sustained effort this
CURED was too much for her. and she yswned spite OF
herself Kenneth laughed provokingly. Oh that was
just 'cause-cause ought to be sleepy and I'm not"
she explained in triumph. And Just cont unless you
Tel! me story or sing to me This Idea dashed of
m the hurry of extenuation appealed her Eyes just
like used to do, in this very chair" She reached
out her arms put them about his neck and drew him
gently toward her ooh, Kenneth" she said, as she
Struggled he- mouth lust above his collar miss
much.
He smoothed her hair comforting her awkwardly.
"And do l, deare" he said with an effort for he
of those whom emotion before others always
shames- We'll. grille if tell you a story, will you
promise go straight to bede"
She leaped with delight. Eyes really and truly"
she declared "If it's good story it will put to
sleep anyhow. And then" she added joyfully, you'll
carry me there" She UNFINISHED Peter and John from