Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-28
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR JULY 49, 1912
MARK

"What happened to your father" asked
Priscilla, and her face twisted with pity at
the thought.
"He shot himself" said Mark quietly.
"\o.' famed the girl mo! How could
he be so cruel?'
"Oh, he asked me first. you see. He stood
it for a long time; but could see. I'd come
on him sometimes with his head bent a little,
as though he were listening | knew
that he was listening to hear Felicity laugh
One night-it was awfully late; but |
| couldn't go to sleep, because could hear
him below in the garden-he came to my
door and knocked. He said, Are you awake,
Galahad?' He and Felicity used to call me
Galahad Ii just for a joke, you know: Gala
had was such wonder! And said yes. He
said May come ino And | said, Why of
course SO he came in, and stood looking
at me with queer little smile.
after awhile he said, Mark. what would
YOU do if went away | didn't understand
at first: think was a little sleepy. So
just echoed Away And Sire said very
quietly, 1 mean to, Felicity, Mark Then
knew! | said, Wait a minute-let me
think | thought of Felicity, with the fine
gold harp they'd given her, who couldn't
sing because Sire wasn't there-Felicity,
dumb amid all the choiring cherubim and
seraphim Felicity, who would be fright
ened in Heaven without Sire. SO | said, /
think you'd better go, because Felicity will
be lonely And he took a long breath and
said, Thank YOU Then he went to the
door; but when he had his hand on the knob
he turned and came back. Are you sure you
will be all right he asked. said, Rather.
You mustn't worry about me, you know.
He put both hands on my shoulders and
looked at me-oh, for ages. ! could hear our
4 -.
she II he SO proud OF YOU when | tell her.
Goodnight, my Galahad, Sleep sweet
And-he kissed me. He never had before.
He.went out and shut the door quite quietly,
and then | could hear the outer door close,
and his feet going down the path.
"'rhen | was afraid was awfullv afraid.
went over and knelt by the window and
watched the stars go out, one by one, little
bright candles, snuffed out by Someone's
hand There were only three left-only two
the last star had gone. The sky was that
queer green that It gets sometimes IN the
| early morning and after awhile 1t began t.
get a little saffron round the edges; and
then, quite suddenly. almost as though it
sun, Priscilla! | laughed out loud for sheer
relief Now he'll come back. thought
It's morning: SO he'll come back. III tell
him that can't bear it just yet; that Felicity
won't mind waiting little; that
And then ! heard a shot, far off in the
garden. and another shot. and then it
was all quite still again, and knew that he
had found Felicity. a clock struck some
where five times, and | put on my clothes
and went down into the garden. The birds
were beginning to sing, and the roses were
all covered with dew They were red, like
blood; but they smiled so sweet, SO sweet
"Don't!' cried Priscilla, and she threw out
her hands with a passionate little gesture Of
protest. "'ro die with the sun on the roses
oh, horriblei'
"What's bullet or two through the heart,
if its broken?' said Mark a didn't mind
| the red roses: it was the dead ones He
broke off with little shiver, his eyes darken-
ing. Then, with sudden bound, he was on
his feet, more radiant and more carefree than
that Hernes whom he resembled. "Let's
taught he cried recklessly. Laugh, Pris-
ella. Ye gods, what day! Did frighten
you' Don't mind so much-though | love
YOU for minding.'
PRISCILLA sprang sharply to her feet.
Il know that you not real, you in
credible person. She Knocked serenelv, the
frightened child quite gone. and a very well
poised and slightly sardonic young woman
in her place. "But can't have even phan-
| tom of thin air informing me that he loves
mo that f.,c,,a1 wav Thanh yro,, Mr.