Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-14

responded to this proposal by violent
slap in the face There was no word OF
this in The bond Robert trembled violent
ly as he doubled up his little fist and lei
it out at Willy. They closed, they fell,
they rolled, they scratched. they bit. Tn
consciously, also, they roared somewhat
The screen door of the greenhouse
banged. Father Bulge. weary with his
days work, fastened down the steps and
into the miadle of the road. He picked
up the combatants. set them on their fee',
bestowed a box on the ear of each AMI
returned to mis- interrupted meal.
Mr.. and Mrs. Livingstone. seated A
their beautifully appointed table, heard
the commotion in the street. but not for
a moment did they imagine that it could
possibly concern them. Mrs Livingstone.
just returned from long days shopping,
supposed that Robert had been put IL
bed. according to directions. after his
early supper. The maids had shirked the
responsibility of telling her that Master
Robert had disappeared with some chi:-
dren about II o'clock and had not been
heard of since.
Suddenly in the doorway appeared a
small, torn, streaked, crumpled little fig
llre, it's face almost obscured by the dirty
and blood stained handkerchief pressed
against its nose
Please excuse me, mamma" remarked
the vision, removing his hat, but ]
can't open the drawer where my clean
pocket handkerchiefs are
Mrs. Livingstone rose with a cry and
stopped to take him in her arms Mr.
Livingstone. with an nkling of the true
state of the case, reserved his sympathy.
Robert. oh, Robert, darling, what has
happened to you?" she cried.
Willy Stevens and l. he began
Mrs. Livingstone, with flashing eyes. be-
gan an arraignment of Willy, but Robert
held up a scratched and dirty little hand
for silence.
II fought he said; II fought" Mr.
Livingstone turned TO the window with
what sounded suspiciously like a chuckle.
Mrs Livingstone stumbled to her feet.
Robert unburdened his heart. The mixed
details of God and picnics and stones and
little sisters were not clear to his own
racked little nerves, and conveyed abso-
lutely no impression to anybody else. It
ended in Mrs Livingstone picking him
up bodily in her arms and carrying him
upstairs. Mr.. Livingstone calmly finished
his, salmon and green peas and settled
himself to smoke. From time 20 time an
expression of amusement fitted over his
face. There was rustic of skirts and
Mrs. Livingstone burst in, her hands
pressed tightly together.
IAN you forgive me, oh, can you ever
forgive me-" she cried.
Mr.. Livingstone merely looked sympa-
thetic and said nothing.
II forgot him; forgot all about him.
she explained.
Mr. Livingstone settled her comfortably
on the sofa.
Don't you think we are taking it bit
too seriously?" he suggested
That dreadful Willy-oh, that dreadful.
dreadful boy.''
Mr.. Livingstone restrained an inclination
to say that he was much obliged to Willy.
Mrs. Livingstone, finding him not inclined
to take up arms, revenged herself by
turning the situation against him.
This is horrid neighborhood. / al
ways thought So
Suppose we send him to his grand
mothers for a good, long visit" he re-
piled.
Mrs. Livingstone.s face lighted
Are YOU sure it would be all right -
she asked
Mr.. Livingstone lit his cigar again.
Il think it would be the best thing all
around he said.
Robert was never quite clear i'm his mind
about that visit to his grandmother. 1t
did not seem polite to look upon it as a
penance. but he did wish she would not
cry in his neck and squeeze him SO hard
when she Rugged. At last one day, when
the leaves rustled as you walked through
them. Mrs. Bronson put on her black
bonnet and took Robert to the station. On
the cindery platform they encountered 4
neighbor, with whom she sank on con-
venient settee. Mrs. Bronson was large
soft woman, not unlike the lady at the
candy store; her face was thickly wrinkled
and she had faded blue eyes, and her
mouth turned chronically down at the
corners The nei2hbor was small and
hook-nosed and sallow They both looked
at Robert and then at each other, raised
their eyebrows and sighed deeply.
Does he know yet?,' asked the neigh
Dor in a sepulchral whisper.
Mrs. Bronson glanced apprehensively ut
Robert but he was feeling alternately in
his upper risht-hand pocket for his
ticket and his lower left-hand pocket,
quite absorbed. She bent -voiuminouslr
over toward Mrs. Lanman.
Mrs. Livingstone didn't wish he should
be told" she exploded behind her hand.
They turned simultaneously. looked 1T
Robert and them at each other. sighed
deeply and shook their heads. Then the
train whistled, and Mrs. Bronson, cut
short i'll some incoherent remarks about
mot allowed to keep the poor little DEAR
and .'of course it wouldn't be the same
now" kissed Robert loudly and often, and,
to his undying disgust, placed him II
charge of both brakeman and conductor.
At the station in town papa was wait
ing for him. but mamma was nowhere in
sight. They went home by trolley. which
was always delightful. Robert strained
his eyes for the first glimpse of the
house. Mr. Livingstone felt strangely
silent and embarrassed he passed along
In, street with his little son at his side
His masculine desire 10 make plain an
nouncement had been curbed by the many
subtle precautions laid upon him by his
wife. AS Robert climbed eagerly up the
long, stone steps, jeer. which seemed 81
contain the words. nose joint
followed him from the house across tn.
street, unheeded.
In the hall were still no signs of mamma
Go upstairs and see her. Robert" said