Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-08


But that was before he had met Barbara
Frelinghuysen business man, with taste for
books His days spent honorably and lucratively
in trade, and his lonely evenings brought him still
larger and more delightful income; so that between
Them he said he perfectly content. If he made
in the choice of heroine from the bookstore, he
could shelve her instantly and without reproach.
domestic blunder would be less easily retrieved. And
for children the Little Nels and Marjorie Flemings
and Sawyers and Fauntleroys could be charming
naughty they pleased: he could weep or laugh
with them without answering for the consequences
And when it was objected that this was all very we'll
but that they never could love him, he wont to
reply that it better to give than to receive But
this was before he had met Barbara.
Barbara flesh and blood; and when flesh and
blood your lap and looks you calmly in the eye
while you tell her mother, widow, that there will be
terrible havoc of these days among the young gen.
tlemen ut the customary thing say you had better
look yourself, if you bachelor; for flesh and
blood set to thinking. And to think, when has
made up ones mind about anything is the most dan
gerous process in the world In just ten minutes after
little Barbara Prentice had climbed upon his knees,
Freinghuysen had thought things he had
pected to think, and at least thing that he had
never thought of before.
Barbara said, "Mr. Freling huysen,' very carefully
for the name was mouthfu just at first, "do you be-
heve in fairy StorleS?
ooh, yes. Yes, indeed
But Frelinghuysen looked little anxiously at Mrs
Prentice for in these days it is hard for to know
what is expected OF him in matters OF young faith.
There used to be well defined traditions to
what one said to children; but, the bachelor
uneasy aware, the modern mother held frequently
very modern views in this respect And Mrs. Prentice
was extremely modern,-young mean,-a mere child
herself compared Frenghuysen who in her presence
made to feel, somehow, old fashioned and out of
date to degree that almost embarrassing.
"You see, Dear Mrs. Prentice explained to Bar
bara, dvining his dilemma zone may grow to be quite
grown up she said just saving herself in time and
flushing little at her peril, "and still believe fairies.
"Oh, yes the bachelor resumed more heartily; "as
long as there are little girls, big folk will believe in
fairies. l shouldn't be surprised if you your
self and could work wonders"
"Oh, MIR. Frelnghouse!' cried Barbara. "How silly
of you'll But the she thought of it, the better she
was pleased. "Do really think SOP she asked just
well he acknowledged, you have very strange
effect upon me- very. feel-oh feel quite different
since you came in; Don't look diaerent?'
@You do! He does doesn't he Mama?"
@How do you mean, Dear?'
Frelnghuysen stirred uneasily. 1t was the word
dear And while of course, it not addressed to
him at all, it always startled him.
Why, said Barbara, observing him with the calm,
uninching eyes of innocence shes much redder than
he was before"
Mrs Prentice smiled and Frelinghuysen laughed out
4There!' cried the little girl 3You are redder than
ever!"
4Do make you do that?" she asked gravey.
ayes" he confessed. @And that proves that you
fairy. My! l shall have to look out for you'll"
"Of course. But one has to look out for the good
fairies, too You never can tell what they will do
you must be very kind to Mr. Frelinghuysen,
Dear, said Barbaras mother
If she had said @dear Mr.. Frelinghuysen." it could
not have been more dsconcertng to the bachelor. 1t
was not merely the word ITSELF though it always made
hi vince: it the easy, gentle way in which she
sud it, if it the commonest, most natural,
everyday word in the dictionary. Yet she had lived
only year with Prentice; and most of that time
though it is uncomfortable, with such charming wife
he had been under the influence of very different stim
uIant. But, however that may be, if Frelinghuysen
seems oversuscephble in the matter of the word, it
must be remembered that it that he seldom