Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-17

yentions. Sometimes he would dream for
Gays together. There was an old-fash-
toned pond In the middle Of the common,
with rough benches placed here and there
At the brink. Septimus loved to sit on
one Of them and look at the ducks. He
said he was fascinated by the way they
WaEged their tails. 1t suggested an in
yentton-of what nature he could not yet
determine. He also formed a brotherly
intimacy with lame donkey belonging
to the sexton, and used to feed him with
pate de fote Gras sandwiches. specially
prepared by Wiggleswick. until he was
authorftatively informed that raw carrots
would be more acceptable. To see the
ducks In the pond wag their tails was q
touching spectacle.
Another amenity In Septimus' peaceful
existence was Emmy.
Being at this time out Of an engage
ment, she paid various flying visits to
Nunsmere. bringing with her an echo Of
comic opera and an odor of Peau d'Es-
like a mfschievous and impertinent planet.
80 different from Fora, the great fixed
star Of his heaven. yet so pretty, so
twinkling. so artlessly and so obviously
sun of her own, that he took her. with
Wiggleswick. the ducks and the donkey.
Into his close cOmradeship. 1t was she
who had ordained the carrots. She had
hair like golden thistledown, and the
dainty. blonde skin that betrays every
motion Of the blood She could blush like
the pink tea rose of an old-fashioned
English garden. She could blanch to the
Wilderness OF alabaster. Her eyes were
forget after rain. Her mouth
was made for pretty slang and kisses.
Neither her features nor her most-often-
photographed expression showed the tin
lest scrap Of what the austere of her sex
used to call character: When the world
smiled on her she laughed: when it frown-
ed, she cried. When she met Septimus
Dix she flew to him as a child does to a
new toy. and spent gorgeous hours In
pulling him to pieces to see how he
worked.
why aren't you married. she asked
him one day.
He looked up at the sky-they were on
the cOmmon-an autumn stretch OF pc arls
and puppies. with here and there streak
of wistful blue. as II seeking the inspira-
ton of a reason.
Because no one has married me-" he
replied.
Emmy laughed. That's just like you.
You expect a woman to drag you out of
your house by the scruff Of your neck and
haul you to church without your SO much
as asking her."
Eve heard that lots of women do"
said Septimus.
Emmy looked at him sharply. Every
woman resents q universal criticism OF
n,
Of respect for the critic. She took refuge
In scorn.
"A real man goes out and looks for
wife,"
But suppose he doesn't want one?"
"He must want q woman to love. What
can his life be without woman in It?
What can anybody's life be without some
one to care for? really believe you're
made Of sawdust. Why don't you fall in
lover?
cont,r,,,s toll, Of r,;e hat ron ,,;s ~
gers through his outstanding hair, recov
cred his head and looked at her help
lessiy.
"Oh. no! I'm booked. It's no use your
falling In love with me"
II wouldn't-presume to do such q
thing" he stammered, somewhat scared.
II think love II serious. It's like an In
vention-sometimes 1t lies deep down In
side you. great and quiet, and at other
times 1t racks you and keeps you from
"Oho.' cried Emmy. $50 you know al
about 1t. You are in love. Now. tell me.
who Is she?"
1T was many years ago." said Sept.
hole In her pinafore with q toy cannon
and she slapped my face Afterward she
married q butcher"
He looked at her with his wan smile.
through his hair. Emmy was not con-
WINGED.
II believe" she said, "you have fallen
In love with Zora."
He did not reply for q moment or two:
then he touched her arm.
please don't say that" he said. In an
altered tone.
Emmy edged up close to him as they
walked. II was her nature. even while
she teased. to be kind and caressing.
mot even II it's truef Why not?"
Things like that are not spoken Off,
he said. soberly. They're only felt"
(To be continued tomorrow.)