Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-17
Continued from page 6

and the mother, walking, like the others,
eyes cast down, side by side. Now they
were nearly abreast of him; but this that
they carried came first. slowly, and win
hush around it. 1t was {; coffin, and the
sun, CHANGING across it, flashed upon the
silver plate, and scared its letters as by
lightning upon the Boys brain:
Ruth, Aged 49,
"Ah. well and faithfully had she counted
the stars. Fool that he had been in his
pride. The lights of Fame, what were they?
They were as nothing TO the light that beat
upon that coffin lid.
"Thc Boy staggered back. Mad things
with hammers were beating upon IN anvil,
and the anvil was his brain. They were OPP
positc him now, the father and mother.
They saw him crushed, dazed, dcspairing
Friend Bethlehem, his head bowed on his
breast, shook it slowly twice or thrice, and
passed on. But the mother, Ruth's mother,
gently she reached out hand and caught
his, drawing him to her silently tcndcrly.
And between the two, holding fast to that
the glory of Fame dropped from him as
ragged garment, the Boy followed the coffin
down the hill"
TN the room fell a silence. The eyes of the
I New Star looked without, but saw
nothing for the tears that fell upon the win
dow ledge. After a space she turned and
softly crossed the room. The Successful
Dramatist sat still by the table his face
shaded by his hand. The New Star knclt
beside him, and as timid child plucks at
its mothers sleeve gently drew down the
hand, and her shining eyes looked up to his.
Il know why YOU have told me the story"
she whispered, land with all my heart |
thank you."
"Oh, Child, Child" cried the Successful
Dramatist But she STAYED him with a gcs-
turc toward the old escritoirc
"May I-now?' she questioned.
"Thc key is in the lock- he said simply.
And she crossed the room, and unlocked
the drawer, and took thercfrom the case of
ebony, and bringing it to him placed it rev.
crently in his hands; then, slipping to her
knees again, waited till he opened it and
laid it before her on his knee
And for long time the Comprehensive
Eyes looked upon the sweet and steadfast
serenity of those other eyes. Beautiful
eyes of Faith she murmured at last, "you
make me ashamed" And she hid her own
on his knee.
The Successful Drarnatist closed the case
softly, and his hand rested on the bowed
head of the New Star. 90 Child of the
I<N1o, llS Sttl,l, Doy
hood heart was hers, and you know how
well she guarded it! But now sadness
beyond any that had been there before was
in his voice, NOW my heart is in the keeping
of another, and she .the lights of Fame are
to her the only lights! And SO l am as one
who stands on lonely shore in the darkness
of night without stars -alone.'
"Ah, no." she raised her head, and her
eyes were very beautiful. at is not so
now. She has taught me- YOU She
rose to her feet, lovely wave of color
sweeping over her face. She held the little
case clasped tightly in both hands.
"Child-' the Successful Dramatist faced
her, the light of great alteration, long
sternly held in check, upleaping in his eyes.
go Child, Child" he cried, with very pas
sion of yearning. Every wave that comes
in upon that lonely shore whispers Your
name If a worshiping heart" he broke
off abruptly. at is the dclusion of dream
err he muttered brokenly.
NO" her voice was low, but infinitely
sweet, that other was the delusion. Oh,
she cried, clasping tighter the little ebony
case, she has taught mc-ycs, even more
than you could have taught me, how greater
than Fame, greater than all, the One guest
of the hearts desire, is Love-"
ABSENT FOR CAUSE
THE following letter was written in Eng
liSh lust as it stands, by Japanese