Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-31
CHAPTER X-Continued.

y y 90
CHAPTER X-Continued.
In an instant the clash Of battle ceased.
for moment there was perfect silence.
tiny tears were brushed away by grimy
little fists, touzled hair was smoothed or
tied back as the case might be. little girl
arms stole around little girl waists ana
little boy elbows around little boy shoui-
ders, and then there burst forth chorus
Of voices clamoring as one child. TELL US
the secret! Tell US the secret!
Children said the curate. when 81
lence was restored. I'm going to snow
you peppermint tree!
Daddy Merle?' said An Petronia. her
eyes filled with wonder.
"A peppermint tree!" echoed the others
Eyes, said Horatio. "a really truly
peppermint tree with really truly pepper
mints on it, and I'm going to shake the
tree and you shall catch the peppermfnts
as they come down..
Are we going to see it now?" asked
An Petronia.
Where is it," eagerly chorused the
Fothers.
ut is only a little way from here" said
the curate. as the plan formed itself In
his mind, ''but before we start must go
into the shop and see Mrs. Beadle. l am
not quite sure just which tree IL the pep
permint tree, and, as Mrs Beadle is so
fond Of peppermints. she will be able to
tell me exactly how to find 1t. You had
better wait for me at the corner. he
added, Il shall only be a moment or
two"
AS the children trooped across the
street, chirping and chattering, the Gu
rate. full Of his happy little scheme and
all obvious o. tho fight Of time. stepped
into the shop. A few moments later ne
reappeared, and. II in the interim Mrs.
probably diminished, no corresponding
Increase Of bulk was apparent In the
region Of Horatio Merle's pockets. so art
fully had the sweets been bestowed about
his clerical person.
At the corner of the lane the children
awaited him in expectant silence. With
out q word An Petronia slipped her little
hand in his and down the lane they went.
this strange, hushed professional led by
the gray-haired curate hand in hand with
little An Petronia.
Here it is!'' cried Merle at last. point
ing to small acacia, toylike tree with
slender trunk and bushy top that stood
on the very edge Of the wood. An I'M
mistakabie peppermint tree. thought An
Petronia. -
Following the clergynan's directions,
the children formed a ring around the
tree, while he stood In the middle. clasp
ing the thin trunk in both his hands.
Now" said Merle. I'm going to sing
it after me-" He thought a moment and
then sang:
Tree, tree. peppermint tree?
Let some peppermints fall on meg
''Now then. children, all together
They needed no rehearsal Children
have their own little notes like birds and
cherubim, and. as for the tempo. the au-
thor and composer took care of that. 4.
"Splendid!" cried the curate at the end
of the first repetition. Now, once more!
And this time; children, you must keep
your eyes fixed on the ground. and. when
shake the tree. II you are very careful
not to look up, the peppermints will be
sure to fall
Once more the cherub chorus rang
through the wood, and this time the
heard to swish and shiver and shake in
the most exciting manner. Then. all OF
a sudden. the swishing and shivering and
shaking stopped and down came ter
rife shower Of peppermints like big,
round sugar pennies. skipping and rolling
on the grass at the children's feet.
Here they Gomez cried Merle, flushed
with the success of his invention.
Fresh from the tree. pink peppermints!
White peppermints! All ready to eat
His voice stopped suddenly. the flush
died on his face. leaving it a white.
mirthless mask Of laughter He was
staring at the footpath only a few strides
away, staring in CONSERVATION, for there
stood Harriet, with a look ON her face
that HOratio would remember to the end
of his days. He called her name i'm
ploringly, he knew that she must have
heard him. but she made no answer. she
turned away and walked straight on.
The clock. Of st. Timothy's was strik-
ing. One-two-no need to count, he knew
it was o'clock. Harriet's look had told
him everything. He had failed in his
duty. he was disgraced.before every
body-and Harriet-how she must have
suffered!
Close by. the children shouted and
laughed and scrambled for peppefmints.
How little they knew the cost Of their
laughter. Their voices grew fainter az
Horatio ran, ran Iespairingiyr to over
take his wife. A moment later he was
by her side. breathless. pleading.
"Harriet--I forgot the time-I- Don t
leave me like this
Her only answer was to quicken her
pace He tried to take her hand. but
she snatched it away quickly, conten,ptu-
ously.
Horatio stood still. Dazed. stupefed.
he watched her until she was out of
sight, then. with unsteady steps. he turn
ed into; the shadow of the quiet, ques-
tionless woods and sank face downward
among the ferns. Presently there was a
sound of something moving through the
ferns and bushes. Nearer and nearer it
came until it was quite close to him.
then a warm. little hand. a pepperminty
hand, stroked his wet cheek, and a tear
shaken voice. the voice of An Petronia.
quavered close to his ear. Don't cwy,
Daddy Merle
M AnrED VT