Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-15

she is neither humpbacked nor does she ride
broonstick 50 I'm afraid you'll be disap-
pointed, Mr.. Bellew."
"Then. at least. can carry your basket
allow me-" And So in his quiet, masterful
fashion he took the basket from her arm,
and walked on beside her through the Or
chard
What glorious night it is" exclaimed
Anthea suddenly, drawing deep breath of
the fragrant air. ooh, it is good to be alivel
In spite of all the cares and worries, life is
very sweet.
After this they walked on some distance
in silence, she gazing wistfully upon the
beauties of the familiar world about her,
while he watched the curl above her ear,
until she, becoming aware of it all at once.
promptly sent it back into retirement with
a quick, deft little pat of her fingers.
IL hope" said Belew at last 81 do sim
cerely hope that you tucked up my nephew
safe in bed. You sec"
"Your nephew. indeed
"Our nephew then. | ask because he tells
me that he can't possibly sleep unless you
60 to tuck him up. and l can quite believe
it."
"Do you know, Mr.. Bellew. I'm growing
quite jealous of you? He can't move a step
without YOU, and he is forever talking, and
lauding your numberless virtues
But, then, I'm only an uncle, after all,
and if he talks of me to you he talks of you
to me- all day long.
"Ohl does he?'
"And, among other things, he told me that
ought to see you when your hair was down
and all about you.
"Ohl" exclaimed Anthea.
Indeed Our nephew is much luckier than
l, because never had an aunt of my own
fo tI,pl- qt WITH
hair hanging all about her like beautiful
cloak. &c. you see, have no boyish recOl-
lections to 60 upon; but | think | can imag
inc
"And what do you think Of the Sergeant"
Anthea inquired changing the subject alb
ruptly:.
II like him so much that l am going to
take him at his word and call upon him at
the first opportunity"
"Did Aunt Priscilla tell you that he comes
marching along regularly every day at ex-
actly the same hour
ayes, to see how the peaches are getting
on" nodded Bellew
"For such a very brave soldier he IS a
dreadful coward" said Anthea, smiling. at
has taken him five years to screw up courage
enough to tell her that she's uncommOnly
Young for her age And yet think it is just
that diffidence that makes him so lovable.
And he is SO simple and so gentle, in spite
of all his war medals! When l am moody
and cross, the very sight of him is enough to
put me in hunor again
"Has he never-spoken to Miss Priscilla?"
"Never; though of course she knows, and
has known from the very first. | asked him
once why he had never told her what it was
brought him so regularly to look at the
peaches, and he said, in his quick, sharp
way, Miss Anthea, can't be done, Ma am
poor, battered, old soldier-only one arm
no, Ma'am."
al wonder if one could find just such an
other Sergeant outside Arcadia?' said Bel
lew. IL wonder?'
Nov they were approaching a stile
~ toward which Bellew had directed his
eyes from time to time, as, for that matter,
curiously enough, had Anthea; but to him
it seemed that it never would be reached,
while to her it seemed that it would be
reached much too soon. Therefore she be-
gan to rack her mind trying to remember
some gate or any gap in the hedge that
should obviate the necessity OF crossing the
stile.
But before she could recall any such gate
or gap, they were at the stile, and Bellew,