Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09

biblical q b Dut
::
~ another interpreter
of d r m 8 who
seemed on occasion
even more 81 t =
lingly original than
his better W n
prototype Naturally, for the sake of eu-
phony the houseboat Of which Daniel
was so much part could bear no more
fitting name. although the wefl-bred Gay
lords were anything but lionlike. During
the summer months the Den, tethered to
a scarlet buoy, f1oated with lamblike
meekness on Lake Michigamme, seventy
miles by rail from the Gaylords' home in
Bayville. The clumsy. comfortable craft,
lumber scow underneath, series OF box
like bins on top, possessed no power or
locomotion In its own right, but submitted
tameIy to being towed about by hired
steam tug whenever the pleasure-loving
Gaylords grew tired of their anchorage.
OF the Gaylords there were four-Archi-
bald, aged thirty-five: his wife Elisabeth;
Dicky, their four-year-old son. and
''Toots," their daughter, precariously sur
viving her second summer. In addition
the Den sheltered Rhea, Mrs. Gaylord's
exceedingly pretty sister; Daniel, of whom
there is more to tell, and Regina Quinn, an
antagonistic elderly damsel. who attended
ably to the inner wants Of the Gaylords.
Then, later in the season, there was a
guest named Philip Marston.
Although Daniel had lived for nineteen
years, it would be a mistake to say that
he was nineteen years of age. Sometimes
lie seemed not more than nine and young
for his age at that: at other times so great
was his wisdom and prudence, his fore
sight and his intelligence, that 1t seemed
as if he must be at least ninety. He, with
a certain broad-bottomed boat, was the
connecting link between the Den and dry
land. For the rest, his duties consisted OF
making himself generally useful, and Dan
iel did his duty with untiring zeal.
In person he was not prepossesSinS.
being latheNke in build and overlong for
his width; his mouth and ears were over
Jorge, his stiff. orange-hued hair over
abundant, his freckles diversified and over
numerous, and his hands, feet and his big,
ovsstender heart had somehow outdis-
tHaced all the rest of him. For two years
Dsnoel had belonged body and soul to the
Oaylcr1s. He would have died cheerfully
for any one of them, from big, genial
Archibald down to tiny "Toots.'
IF we needed Daniel for dinner" Elisa
keth would say, IT believe he'd gladly per-
init Regina to cook him. Daniels per-
feet synonym for the word devotion. He
gives himself as the clouds give rain.
There can't be room in him for anything
further In the way of affection-we have
every bit of him."
Mrs. Gaylord, however. was mistaken.
Daniel still retained a generous portion Of
his large, tender heart; but not for long.
When Mrs. Gaylord's sister. Rhea Pres
colt. arrived in May to spend a long. rest
full summer in the Lions Den, after a
Washington winter, Daniel showed the
Gaylords what devotion. what utter abne-
cation of self really meant.
Stronger. more closely guarded citadels
than Daniels simple heart had gone down
fiat before the battery Of Rhea's big. dark
eyes: but certainly none had ever sue
cumbed quite so expeditiously. At sight
of the decidedly attractive young woman
Daniel had surrendered all that he had to
surrender with an instantaneous complete
ness that astonished even experienced
Rhea. All her other admirers. however.
had sooner or later desired reciprocity.
Daniel aspired to nothing. It was bliss
ship and to serve; and never before had
worshiper offered such distinterested hon.
age. 1t seemed, this time. that Daniel
must have exhausted his capacity for de-
votion: but again the Gaylords were mis-
taken.
In July Philip Marston. cousin Of
Archibald's. arrived by invitation to spend
three weeks aboard the Lions Dem. Had
Daniel been an ordinary worshiper at
Rhea's shrine. it is probable that Mars
toms advent would have filled him with
as many forebodings as it's announcement
did Mrs. Gaylord but as Daniel was not
an ordinary devotee he welcomed the new
conner as joyously as did Dicky, which is
saying a great deal.
But. Archie" demurred Elisabeth, when
Gaylord had mentioned casually that he
lad invited Philip to join their family
party. will he At in? You know the Den
isn't very big. and In such close quarters
we have to be pretty chummy. II he
shouldn't find us congenial. or If he dis
likes children"
You needn't be afraid OF Phirs not fit
ting in assured Gaylord. He'd fit any
place. His adaptabilty is amazing In
ten minutes YOU won't be able to belle e
that you haven't known him always-you'll
think he's your ego from some former
state of existence. I've yet to hear Of the
man, woman or child that doesn't adore
him. Why. my dear. he's simply the most
pleasing mortal that ever happened"
But" inquired Elisabeth, lis II safe to
have anybody as fascinating as all that?
There's Rhea-''
No danger whatever. Rhea's anything
but susceptible. She's too accustomed 20
attention to attach any Importance to a
few extra Establishments; Phil, too. is in
Vulnerable. We couldn't chaperon a safer
pair. Besides. if he and Rhea did-but
pshaw They're too much alike. Then
thege's Bari
There's nothing in that. Absence, in
Rhea's case, Is always fatal, you know.
She does forget the poor things, SO speed
lily. Besides. she refused him."
1t was Daniels duty to pilot all guests
from the train to the Den: and. as Gay
lord said whimscally. In three years he
had not lost or mlslaid single guest. He
did the honors nobly in Marston's case.
Get into this here boat" said Daniel,
when he had steered Philip from the little
station, down wavering sawdust road to