The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-06-23


 | ingly.
 Alone, Kirby remained at the table, staring and seeing not.
 "Take one good look at yourself, Gene Kirby; then take another at | her." he unused mechanically and with dull monotony reiterating the phrase. "Take one good look st your self, Gene Kirby I might never have thought of that-I have been so busy looking at her."
 As he sat there face to face with the future, striving to learn renunciation without embitterment, the General, now dressed in nightclothes, tptoed softly into the room. 'They sent me to bed again." he whispered. triumphant at his evasion, while he cuddled against the mans ex- tended arm. Il want to know the end of that story. Tell me"
 Kirby strove to assume his wonted gayety of manner. How long ago it seemed since in the closed carriage he had prompted that light hearted laugh ter.
 "So you made another ha1rbreadth escape, General" he commented light ly. And you want to hear the end of the story-about the bad prince who was half good? IT don't know if can tell you the end"
 "Why? Hasn't the end happened yet"
 "Yes; it's come"
 "But it ended all right, didn't it?" persisted the General, with all youths confident optimism.
 "Yes,' said the man; cit ended all right"
 "But I want to know if he's still . mixed prince-a mixed good and bad prince"
 Kirby pressed weary hand over his throbbing forehead. 'I guess he's pret- smiling bravely.
 The child pondered over this state ment until at length he began to nod. "Did-did he go away?" he murmured drowsily, inquisitiveness battling no bly, against outraged nature.
 "Yes-he went away" whispered the man, his arm tightening about the small form. You're sleepy, General"
 "I'm not" protested the child. with great earnestness. opening wide his eyes only to promptly close them after an intellectual struggle. "I-want-to- know-the-end." He gave a vexed, protesting sigh; then his breathing grew deep and regular.
 Your sister will tell you the end in the morning." said the man.
 Rising, he gently laid the now sleep ing child on the sofa and with clumsy tenderness covered him with a rug. For long time Kirby stood looking down upon the faithful little General, who of them all had from the first given his full measure of unswerving loyalty and devotion without question and without price. and this despite the influence of family pressure, the ven- om of lying tongues or the spacious ev- idence of circumstance. He knew only that he loved: that was faith and trust sufficient. AS yet he was only very small juvenile member in ife's boys brigade. but still he had his own dim notions of standing true to the colors.
 When at length Kirby turned away it was to find himself face to face with Adele. How long she had been stand ing there he did not know. The fugi- tive sunbeam had long since vanished, as if heartily ashamed of taking prece- dence over its majestic progenitor, and the room was now suffused by dull. rosy glow. For a space girl and man eyed each other in silence, both wait ing for the other to speak. Finally she whispered:
 "Am I to tell him the end of the eral. "But he'll want you to-"
 "I'm afraid it won't be fixed so that I can, Miss Randall. You see. 1 was only waiting to say goodby to you"
 "He'll-he'H be disappointed,' she ventured. with a pitiful attempt at composure. "And-you are only wait ing to say goodby?"
 He nodded. smiling wanly.
 "You remember that story I told you of the rosebush and the playing cards?"
 Are you and I like that?"
 "Just like that" he said.
 "But some time"- She broke on, making a hopeless. pleading gesture.
 'Tell him when he awakes," said Kirby. taking great breath and hold ing high his head, ''the end is that for one great day, from sunrise to sum- rise, the mixed prince was with some body so good that he went away to try to make himself all over. And if he cam He faltered and stopped; then, taking courage from her eyes, began again. And if he can"-
 "And if he can," she prompted, a great wave of color surging to cheek and neck. And if should wait for that-that wouldn't be the end?"
 "No. That would be-
 Tt would be- she whispered, hold ing him with her eyes.
 "Just the beginning. after all"