Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03

the barrel at him-sullen, cowed all at once
with eyes as resolute as had been her
fathers when he had charged the enemy
and fallen at his regiment S head at Malvern
Hill. And after a moment she had added,
still holding her aim, and since it is only
at the pistols point that | can longer exact
decency from YOU, go, and never enter my
presence again!'
A ND in this fashion the fabric had fallen
apart, rotten network of lies-and
worse. She shivered again; but the air
was bitter as her thoughts, and she had
been standing sometime She called the
dogs, and they came bounding to her.
There was the usual jealous squabb1e and
then Sir Bedivere possessed himself of his
preempted corner of her gown. appro-
priated since earliest puppyhood. and es-
corted her with dignity indoors: little
Babbie, pacified with an end of her long
scarf, trotting proudly on the other side
Oh they loved her! Her heart warmed
They loved her with the great, loyal love
of dogs, unselfish, unbribable And until
one has known such, she thought, they have
missed one of the great Compensations
But she was of too healthy a mind to
humanity, all dumb animals, all the sad
and somber fatalisns and cruel conditions
of the thing called Life, there was no room
for self pity. Had there been, all this
world of old and patient VISIONS round
her would have taught her better. From
the forest giants, which had learned their
lessons in other centuries, down to the
veriest flower at their feet,-though it
bloomed but for a season, fulfilled its
destiny and died on the earth it had helped
to beautify,-she drew her wisdom: to
bend to the storm, but forever to seek the
sun. The sun was sanity, was health, was
the Law and Order of things. With doors
and windows of heart and soul opened wide
to it, self pities persisted like sickly weeds.
She sat before the great open fireplace.
a book on her knee, Sir Bedivere stretched
in lazy abandon at her feet, the long, slim
nose of the Lady Babbie against her gown.
She was studying the inscription set in the
fireplace, a Conceit of her own:
Now is the winter of our discomfort
Made glorious summer by this genial
friend.
The dogs, and the great ruddv heart of
the fire, and, moving to and fro in the outer
room, her broad back casting grotesque
shadows on the firelit wall, the old serving
woman, who would lay down her life, if
need be, any day, for her,-these things
counted. All! how well worth living was
lite, II one but sought and held fast to the
worth whites of it! She laughed softly,
and the old black NANNY came and stood
in the doorway, gazing down at her with
all her dark races sensuous delight in
beauty, and all the love and pride of actual
ownership it, that comes as a recompense
to those who serve long and well. To her,
this beautiful, rare bit of womanhood was.
and had been from her cradle, and would
be to her grave lust 81 IL Mis-
desc fireplaceries, said she, makes me
jes' nachally think OBJ some OBJ de spresions
nah son Junius make one night when he
late a gittin' home After Junius git to
niggah-waitin' at dat big Noneymaker sto',
he sho gets mighty up-tedo. Berry techy
oh he perquisitives, am Junius, whateber
dose may be,-Junius am de greatest in
clinationed at pickin' up biggoty words,
an fire dem onto me to see whether dey
kill or cure, All reckon. All been here long
lies Junius, EFF it jes' hadn't been TO one
dat come inter de outlay after six clock. She
up alongside de sizzlin' steam regulator, an
am. Huh! it plumb erupticate me, to see
ling a stan'in dar roastin' OBJ her back
gulator, an freezin' all de front OBJ her
M" Her laugh rumbled out, deep and
beatific laugh of her race. "Des' de odder
wifi desc fireDlacieries: but dev sure look