Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-03

hrmed his pettjness Worse than all he had not behaved
like gentleman; Donald, for all his presumption, had
shown far better breeding than he had. what con-
temptible cad am he thought. He insolent, of
course, but his devotion toall of us, gave him
right to talk as he did Heaven knows it's enough
l have forgotten my place l haven't meant to-but
everything has gone wrong somehow" He from
the piano in moment, and, after waverng little, he
went to the book. STOPPING suddenly, he picked it up
The quick action released the sob at his heart and as,
still kneeng he caught the book to his breast his face
broke in response to the gasp of his mounting breath
"Oh mother, mother" he spoke to her softly GIVE
thrown everything of yours down-everyhing that you
loved Can't you see how it all is1 And how ashamed
I amp"
He rose with the book in his hand and without mean
ing or knowing it. the piano and placed it. open
still, the musc-rack He sat down upon the stool
again and gave himself up to sharp, biting memories of
all that happened since his mother had held it in her
hand and read to her children her favorte tale of Arthur
and the Round Table Suddenly he leaned and put his
lips to the page the lines where she had unexpectedly
left off, and his boyish shoulders shook with dry,
strangng sobs When he Strengthened up he began to
play gently staring before him at the lines and through
them to something beyond 1t was old tune he
played simple and sweet his boyhood had been
Sing me the songs that to dear
Long, long ago; long ago"
Playing so the hardness went out of his heart and
with it the recklessness out of his young face
Into the doorway, creeping warTy past the danger
point Evelyn, again escaped from bed Her face
was roguish 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 concenra
ton with which children always perform this hazardous
act balancing herself with her if she walk
ing tight-rope. But suddenly she darted and sprang
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-cryng. He hugged her to him passion
ate1y himself between tears and laughter and carrying
her 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 nghgown dainty and disclosed her
other foot in its knit worsted slipper "I couldn't find
but one" she explained She wriggled her bare pink
toes gleefully. "How de do, my son Johni"
my son John7" asked Kenneth, mystifed.
"'One shoe off, one shoe on,
Diddle diddle dumpkin, my Johnl'"
she quoted and doubled the whole pink roguishy.
But why aren't you and your son John sound asleep
son Peter?" he added quite spelling the effect of his
paternal air
Peter? cried Evelyn joyousy.
Certainly" g1iby returned Kenneth
"'The one that has the shoe looks neater,
And so you call him my Peter.
Now why didn't you tuck Peter and John into bed long
ago? They'll grow up if you don't give them
their sleep"
"Wel," said Evelyn speculatively they can't sleep
unless their mother does and I was just wake-fu.
When I'm that way can't go to sleep unless
tells me stories or sings me- that is can't most al
ways Donald tells lovely stories, but his singing she
laughed gay in recollection It's all creay and brea
His singing is just so funny laugh myself awake
again"
She suddenly dived up at him in the chair. oh,
Kenneth, just prayed you'd come in Tell me all about
where you've been all this time and everything"
Kenneth looked into her questioning eyes the warm
flushed face with its tumbed hair very his
NO. dearie he answered; you must go to bed again.
It's very late for little girlies to be up"
But Kenneth" she coaxed, 4 don't 0OaMt to go to
bed. And now, when haven't you for years and
years, Pm not bit sleepy not the ttest bit Besides
I've just had nap and couldn't have again for
long, She opened her eyes wide and stared
at him convncingy But the sustained effort this re-
qued much for her. and she yawned in spite of
herself Kenneth laughed provokingy. Oh, that was
just 'cause-cause ought to be sleepy and Pm not"
she explained in triumph. And just can't unless you
tell me story or sing to mel" This idea, dashed off
in the hurry of etenuaton appealed to her Yes, just
like mama used to do in this very chair" She reached
out her arms put them about his neck and drew him
gently toward her. "Oh, Kenneth" she said as she
snuggled her warm mouth just above his collar, miss
mama so much"
He smoothed her hair, comforting her awkwardly
And so do l. deare," he said with effort, for he
was one of those whom emotion before others always
shames "Wel grille, if tell you story, will you
promise to go straight to bed?
She leaped with delight Eyes really and trulyi"
she declared IF it's good story it will put me to
sleep, anyhow And then" she added joyfully you'll
carry me there" She untwisted Peter and John from