The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-11
TEE EVENING STORY
When David Came.
By TempIe Bailey.l

now everything was ready for her ex-
pected guests. Supper was practically
cooked, the spice cake cooling in the
pantry, the salad acquiring crispness
il the refrigerator.
Miss Phoebe had a feeling that an
evening supper was out of place. She
should have served dinner for city
guests. She defended herself feebly,
therefore, when Nanny Blair stepped
in to see how things were getting on.
| Goodness, Phoebel" Nanny said.
They'll expect a dinner with four or
five courses, not a country supper"
Miss Phoebe's delicate face famed.
'I can't help it," she replied. I'm
going to have hot biscuit, and there
will be chicken salad and fruit and
cake. It is the best I can do"
| well, If were you I'd change my
DRESS" Nanny said. why don't you
put on your lavender, Phoebe?"
eff you think I'm going to spoil my
best silk Miss Phoebe said, you're
mistaken. I have to serve the supper,
and this white dress is plenty good
enough"
| Nanny looked her over critically.
well, it's a little old fashioned" she
decided Nobody wears roses in the
hair any more"
Il have always worn a rose in my
hair" said Miss Phoebe with gentle
dignity, "and I'm not going to stop
just because David Knight is coming
back
They say he has lots of money"
Nanny's face was eager. ''I wish you'd
bring him over some time, Phoebe"
Il will" said Miss Phoebe. family,
and when Nanny went away, present
ly, she looked after her with a little
pang of jealousy at the style of the
little, slender figure.
But then Nanny has money" she
said to herself. ''She can afford to
have pretty things
1t came to her with something of a
pang how shabby was her own little
home. Things were very different
with her from the way they had been
when David knight went away fifteen
years ago. Then Miss Phoebe's peo-
pie had been the rich folk of the place. |
She was sure that David had loved /
her, but he was very poor and her /
family was proud. She told herself /
that he had not dared ask her to |
marry him, but she had never been |
sure Perhaps he had not loved her. |
Nanny Blair had 1nsinuated once or
twice that David's eyes had been cast
longingly upon her less aristocratic
self.
Still David was coming. and that
was something to count on, and he !
was bringing with him his married |
sister. Phoebe remembered her as a |
little, round and rosy-cheeked girl. |
She had expected some signs of pros |
perity, but when a gorgeous limous- |
Sine drove up TO hGT front gate Sn0 !
gasped with astonishment.
She wondered if the man who |
emerged could really be David. He
was tall and broad-shouldered and |
stouter than the David she remem-
bered- He wore a long coat and a /
cap. and he handed out the lady who l
accompanied him with the air of a |
Chesterfield. Miss Phoebe felt as If |
she might have come out Of the ark
as she went down to meet them. Da-
vid's married sister was a product of /
up-to-date dressrnakers and tailors.
She greeted Miss Phoebe with some
cOndeScenStOn.
Really I shouldn't have known
you," she said.
But David took both the little wo-
mans hands in his own and said
heartily. You haven't changed a
'.But my hair is gray" Miss
Phoebe faltered.
You still wear rose in it," said
David, "and that is just as remem-
ber it,
Miss. Phoebe, blushing under his
glance, led the way to the house. At
the head of her little table David
seemed to take on added dignity.
1--WE came up Mrs. Warren said,
Ito see if we could buy your fathers
old place. David wishes to live there,
and 1 am going to keep house for
him.
David's eyes twinkIed. Mary
thinks she is going to keep house
for me- he said, but she can't live
away from town long enough to do
more than just get me settled. I've
never been happy away from the old
place, Phoebe"
4 wish you could buy our old
home" Phoebe said eagerly. Ever
since I lost it it has not been kept up,
and it looks so run down."
DO the white Elacs still bloom on
each side of the gate?" David asked
Miss Phoebe nodded. How well he
RENE memberedi
Again Mrs Warren broke in on
their dreams ruthlessly- I'm going to
have everything done over,' she said
81 think shall have the living room in
Miss Phoebe had never even heard
of circassian walnut She had always
liked the clean, white paint and old
mahogany that fitted IN so Wen with
the colonial style of the brick man
Perhaps David saw something of
her distress at the thought of change
s@We'II go slowly he remarked, be
fore we put in circassian walnut
1t was at this moment that Nanny
blue dress and the black hat with the
willow plume Beneath the wide brim
her face looked young, and she car
ried herself with an air. Miss Phoebe
felt hopeless1y out of it, as the two
up-to-date women began a conversa-
tfon which had to do with shops and
theaters and things about which sne
had no knowledge
IF you'll sit down, Nanny, I'll give
you cup Of Coffee" she said
know you have had your supprs but it
would seem more sociable.'
i've had dinner" Nanny empha-
sized the word, "and I really don't
want any coffee, Phoebe
Then perhaps you'd better go out
on the porch Phoebe said sit is