Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-08

was awake, AIMEE, when the star!
were hangin' In the trees. an I saw then
go out one by one while / was waitin
for 1T to sing. 1 heard little creepin
Things maxim way through the trees an
the grass. an / saw the poplar by thu
window turn from silver to brown ant
BACK TO gray, an I heard the other birds
maxim their early mornin' stirrn', fifth
and chirpin, an a little breeze came an
hustled through the trees with them
but no cuckoo. An then, just as It wa.
slngln', We began stormin' with pots an
kettles"
ma. Davie. lad. I'm that sorry: but y,
nave heard it twice. dearie. an it'll b
singin' this evenin' at dusk, perhap.
over an over again. Ye are feelin' fine
this mornin', Davie?"
Ay. Better nor yesterday mornin'; II
be gettin' well. Annee-is> 1T not SEP
indeed. lad. dear. ye'll be about among
the heather fore long
aimee turned suddenly and went bach
into the kitchen. There in a corner she
dried her eyes with her apron, drew 8
long breath and went on with her house
hold duties. She was disposing of the
of the wicket gate. Coming up the path
were John Roberts, Peter Williams an6
Lowry Prichard. AIMEE put down the
pot she was securing, wiped her hands
on her apron and went to the kitchen
door. which. stepping outside. she closed
carefully behind her. She looked sharp.
~ at the approaching group, and hel
kindly, wrinkled face hardened. Peter
Williams spoke first.
"A fine mornin' to We. AIMEE Dalben.'
THANK We. Peter Williams, for the
wish"
How is your mann" asked John Rob.
erts.
He is the same replied AIMEE. in q
level tone of voice.
Lowry Prichard moved nearer.
We've come about the cuckoo singin'
AIMEE. At the meetin last night the
congregation prayed for We, an a com
mittee was appointed to wrestle with
ye.'
AIMEE breathed quickly.
"Ay, sister," continued Peter Williams
we've always been godly member OF
the flock. Ye would not have David &C
to heaven with your lie on his soul?"
"Amen!" sang Lowry Prichard
An, sister, there was light in that
meetfn'. The spirits among us these
days. Yours are the only lynn lips
Have We done?' asked AIMEE.
But, sister,"
I've word to say. I've no mind tc
your salvation. no, nor to heaven If the
Lord er;n, makes this Singh a lie: Tn
him these fifty years, an IL lie will
make him happy when he's dyin', Their
I'm willin' to lie an do 1t every minute
Of the day."
"Sinner!'' muttered John Roberts.
"Ay. sinner. a willin' sinner said
AIMEE, her soft eyes blazing. Now be-
gone. and we need not ret rn.''
AIMEE Solted the door and !, sat down
YEARLY on a chair. she felt quiet: II
housn 81 50 hsr Eh the sn neg nso
might die happy and David still be-
lieved he had heard the cuckoo. She was
tired-so tired that she did not care what
the church, said Of her:-and her heart
was numb. She knew that David was
In the least except to make her hungry
to bring him happinessa He should have
that IL she could give It. At faint call
she fastened to his ROOM.
AIMEE. there's some one outside.
"Ay, David Dalben. there is. an AIMEE
is q cuck-
But the sentence war never finished,
for AIMEE forced Lowry Prichard's head
back and slammed the easement to.
What does she, want?" asked David,
feebly.
II cannot 80. lad. but she's no right
talkin' to We through window. She's
an ale. pryin' young woman. I'll see
now that she's out OF the garden. Go
so much noise over nothin': ay, that's a
good lad" And AIMEE smoothed his
brow with one hand the while she brush
ed aside her tears with the other
If David should live a week longer
could she ever keep the truth from him
For day-yes. perhaps. But for an
entire week. with all Nant Nor trying
to force a way to the sick sman? No.
And how could she sing morning and
night with the neighbors spying into the
garden and around the house? She felt
friendless. for strength only the courage
Of a mother left alone in the world
with sick child to protect. She had no
idea of relinquishing her plan. although
she was in despair, and if any one had
come to her with a friendly hand she
would have wept. As it was, she was
ready to meet attack after attack.
AIMEE was not surprised later in the
day to see young Pastor Morris coming
up the pathway. He came slowly. When
ground. his complexion was ruddier and
more boyish than ever, and his lips,
usually firm i'm speech. seemed uncer-
tain. But the large hand with which he
held Annee's was warm and kind. In
the clean kitchen he began to talk
with AIMEE about David-how was Da-
vid? What did the physician say? Wasn't
AIMEE growing tired? What could he
do? Suddenly the young pastor changed,
as if brought face to face with dis
agreeable duty.
aimee they say ss. you are Initiating a
"Ay. sir. for David's ears
But, AIMEE. that is acting lie, is II
not +"
.'It may be-" replied AIMEE. YEARLY.
Wouldn't it be better if were to tell
David, Annee?"
"Oh, no, no, no." sobbed AIMEE mot
thatr'
ma, AIMEE AIMEE. you mustn't cry so
there!' and the young man stretched out
his hand helplessly.
ooh eli if'S tho hanpipaSS yid's
got. an he's goin'. oh, my lad, my
lad.'
There. there, Annee!"
t"We've been married fifty years this
spring, an every spring we've listened fol-
the cuckoo an not one missed. An this
year he's dyin', an he's a wantin' to
hear it SO. an it's overearly. oh, Davie
Davie." sobbed AIMEE.
There, AIMEE: there. dear!' soothed the
young man; tell me about 1t. Well see
AIMEE
There's no more" said AIMEE, "only
he kept askin' about things-violets an
cowslips an birch-trees an poplars-an
/ knew all the time he was thinkin' of the
culxoo an not askin' because he was goin
an mightpt hear it, An one day he did
An l said l thought he'd hear one that
very evenin'. that everythin' was over
early. Then he seemed happier than Ii
seen him. an l went off up the hill an
practiced it till 1 could do it fair. Oh
Davie. lad,'
Now, AIMEE dear" comforted the
young man. patting her helplessly on the
back-"Annee dear, don't cry; just tell me
more"
'Then, sir. l sang the song in the corner
of the garden. an when i went into the
house there was such a look OF Joy or
David's face that's not been there fol
many a month, an 1t was no matter
Lowry Prichard found me singing IT..
the last haDp ness / can give him SIR