Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-03

herself upon him where he was half kneeng by its arm
"Oh, Kennethi I'm so glad you came. just prayed
and prayed to God you would"
"And am, too, dear" he said, gazing over her shout
der into the dying fire.
"Is awful lonesome with just Donald" she said visit
fully.
"Yes, dearie know it." her brother said hurriedly
"Now about the story"
But you must tell it right in the big chairi" she
cried Gust used to-"
He lifted her and sat down with her on his lap "An
right Now which shall it bee"
Evelyn wriggled to him cozy. "Tell me about The
Palace O the King" Her little voice lowered itself
gravey. al haven't heard that since mama died"
The Palace O. the King ?" he repeated, as if to
himself "Imrm afraid I've forgotten all about that
dearie."
why Kenneth" protested Evelyn earnestly; q" of
you haven't You just think you have but you
haven't About how grand and fine it is and everythng1
Now just wait until I'm comfortable-and up my
John with your hand So he won't take cold"
He held her foot in his hand, while in the curve of
his other she followed place to her liking, and
rooted with her head his shoulder until she fitted it
in snugly. "Now begin" she commanded.
Slowly, partly because he trying to recall the
words, and partly in the effort to steady voice that
would tremble in spite of himself Kenneth began
"'Its bonny bonnie war that we're livin in the noo
And sunny is the Ian that aen traive throc;
But in vain we look for somethin' here to which oor
hearts may cling
For"
She prompted him. Its beauty is naethin' to-
Go on!"
"'For its beauty is as naethin to"
He stopped, and Evelyn finished for him. 'the Palace
O the King There l knew it would all come back to
you if you just hisd!" She yawned plcasurabIy Now
go on with the second verse"
Kenneth went on
"We like the gded Simmer wi its merry merry tread
An sigh when hoary Winter lays its beauties wi the
dead;
For tho bonnie are the snaw-hakes an the down on
Winters wing,
It's fine to ken it daurna touch the Palace o the King"
"The Palace o the King" repeated Evelyn sleepily
She snuggled up closer to him, drawing "my son John
out from under his hand and doubling her knees up
under her nightgown. Kenneth looking fxedy into
the fire. She reused herself drowsly the silence and
clutching his finger, closed her fist around it.
go on" she murmured
More and more falteringly he continued:
"'Nae NIGHT shall be in heaven an nae desoatin sea-
An nae tyrant hoofs shall tramp1e the city o the
free;
There's wan eVerlastln oaylght-an a-neVer-fadln
spring
Where our Gods a the glory in the Palace-o the
King"
His voice had broken into hushed sobs, and the words
came out in little groups of threes and fours
The tears flowed down his cheeks and dropped on the
toused head his breast Finally, his eyes blinded, he
tried brush them away; but Evelyn held his fingers
fast and as he raised her in doing she muir
~ 70 he
movement of the child helpless in her Sleep lifted
him suddenly out of his emotion to feeling which
he had never had before-that he had charge to keep
that he was responsible for her happiness and that she
was part of himself passion of fondness, of pro-
tectngness, swept him like eliminating wave. He
leaned his wet cheek upon her tumbled hair.
"Ahl" he cried in yearning whisper. Keep tight
hold little hand and don't let me wander away again"
Donald had entered quietly while Kenneth was re-
heating the last verse; and much stirred by the young
mans emotion and by memories and hopes OF his own
had come up with his noseless step behind the chair
Now feeling that he was in the presence of some
thing too sacred be sped upon and fearing also lest
the detection of his might spoil everything he
turned to steal away softly as he had come.
But Kenneth heard him, and, rising carefully with
Evelyn in his arms him just before he left the room
He called to him in a low voice.
"Donald!"
The man paused his worst fears aayed by the boys
tone but still apprehensve, he went toward him hest-
tatngy.
"Forgive me- Donald. very rude-and wrong
and" He stopped chokingly, but he still looked
firmly into the mans answering eyes, Then, forgetting
EVELYN he held out his hand to the butler
The child disturbed and finding the comfortable hol-
low of her nesting unaccountaby changed cud-
died and twisted until she had made herself new one
Both men regarded the movement anxiously tearing
she would wake Satisfied that she asleep Kenneth
turned toward Donald again. But the buffers glance
had fallen on the little bare foot and taking the missing
slipper from his pocket, he put it on tenderly.
When this ooeration was finished, Kenneth stretched
out his hand again "And-Pm sorry, Donald he SAID.
The butler took it in firm, moveless grip Whisht'
roor % he whspered. dinna wauken the BARN"