Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-02

little and stood with hands clenched
as she tried to control the deep feeling
that possessed her. He waited. not I'M
Outstanding; but the light broke upon
him suddenly.
Does he know about you and me,
Jean? Is that the reasOn?
''Oh. why do you ask me that? she
cried, answering by the evasion. That
hurt me more than anything else when
he was so sick; I talked to him just be-
fore he left the parish house. and he was
i'll and weak and I told him l was ready ::
but he wouldn't do 1.-THE wouldn't come
back because of you. You don't under
stand how he loves you: how you are his
great hero: how humbly he serves you.
He would die for you. He wrote to me
about ii while / was away-letters that
wrung my heart-they were all of you,
how you were fighting to master your
self: and he was SO proud of you for go
ing to work here at the mines. l wouldn
tell you this only / don't want you to
think of him so contemporary, as some
thing to be lightly flung aside. He loves
me in his foolish. boyish way, as he al
ways did from the time we were chill
cause of you that he never wavers in his
refusal to take me pack. / tell you this
because l want you to appreciate him
what he has done for you-what he
would do for you and me-
He was touched. but rot greatly by
what she said. Joe's nobility was admit
rable enough-but il did not ease Wayne s
burden or brighten his hope. His inn
patience of restraint-lulled for a time by
hard labor-fashed up like a fiery torch
in his heart.
She talked now of her work. and of the
places she had visited. winning and hold
ing his interest.
1.-THE best time had was i'm the south.
l went to some of the cotton-nlill towns
in North Carolina. and the little colored
children were great fun. But they were
harder to do. They want me to illus
trate children's Christmas book as soon
as this is done-I suppose IL l go on l
shan't come here any more. Grand
father was my only tie with the place.
II had just received your letter about
him the evening your grandfather. died.
l had intended doing what | could. but
my father had trifed with his case too
long, and Mr.. Gregory was at the house
when I went up there that night. had
gone to the house for the last time.
Why"
The question was unlike her. and he
started guiltily. The truth about her
grandfathers death was one thing she
must never know: but he was treasured
at once. The question had sprung to her
lips thoughtlessly.
''Oh. l beg your pardon. dldnt mean
to ask that
1t was inevitable We irritated each
other more and more. and then the break
came. 1t was better that / should not go
back any more.
I'm sorry it happened that way" she
replied.
They were at the edge of the town and
she put out her hand.
Il am glad | met you toniGht-but
must not see YOU again. The people mere
would never understand it. But II pleases
ME that you came here: it brings you -
she hesitated-'it brings you nearer.
some way. your being here in my coun-
try.
That's why | came-because it is your
country. We were at Gettysburg, Joe
ard /. and looking down on the battle
held where men had died, | thought OF
what they did there. and that brought
back what you had said about labor; so
l started for this place. knowing that If
/ could win my way TO my own respect
/ anywhere it would be here. And here
! am, and / shall stay while longer.
| Walsh will take me when / want to go
| but I'm not sure of myself yet"
If have helped. ! am glad" she said.
He had kept her hand while he spoke.
| for this might be long goodbye: and
she laid her other hand lightly on his,
| an instant only. but his whole being
| tingled at the contact.
1t was only a fleeing touch of hands.
| but they were nearer that moment than
! they had ever been before. They had
gone far since that autumn afternoon
when she had spurned him Indignantly
| in the art gallery at Pittsburg. He lay
awake until past midnight, thinking OF
| her. Strangely enough. in spite of her
reaffirmed obligation to Joe. she seemed
| less unattainable. more nearly of a world
| he knew. And as he sought words to
| express their relation to each other they
| took this form: II there be as men say.
| real differences that power and place and
| wealth create between man and man. she
might never have attained To the station