Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-30
Cleveland Moffett and Oliver Herford.


sive use when he condescended to visit
the lodge.
Mrs. Pottle followed the curate to the |
porch How about this Storm girl?'
she asked.
What do you mean? Don't you like
her. Mrs. Potter There was real con-
Germ in the clergyman's voice.
Mrs Pottle folded her arms; her whole
attitude was an answer to his question.
I'm not saying if likes the girl or
don't hike she went sSs Scss
taught how to make a bed, nor yet how
to dust a room. And what's more" here
Mrs. Pottle fumbled in her pocket. II
found this on her table" She held out
a rabbits foot, tinged at the end with |
pink powder.
BLESS my soul! The foot of a rab-
bit!" exclaimed Merle in genuine surprise. |
Dear me! This is most astonishing. |
Perhaps Miss Storm is interested in nat
ural history"
Natural 'istory?" cried Mrs. Pottie.
derisively. Unnatural istory calls it:
that's what she powders her face with"
You don't say!' said the curate. grave
~, returning the rabbits foot to Mrs. |
Pottle. Il should never have known it.
HOY How does does my little friend An Petronia
IAN Petronia?" The old woman shook |
her head. There's no telling" she said. |
''It'I take a better head nor what have |
to say what that child's thinkin' on. She's
that deep and only eight years old come |
sns 's als Po S's
confused and reddening at Merles amused
smile OF acknowledgment. "Oh. Lor'. sir;
I beg your pardon. sir. didn't mean
the curate. kindly. What do you think?
Your grandchild confided to me the other
day that she is writing a book"
"Petronia writing "a book; Well H.
Pottle. 1T must be in her blood. And
now I think of it, sir. her stepfather
once kept little stationery shop down
Milibrook way1 :, It,. IT does come natural
any one. Mrs. Pottle. It's a secret. No
! one knows about 1t but Petronia and you
and me-" He looked at his watch. Halt
past 2; I must be going. The bazaar
opens at half-past 3; there's plenty of
time. know, but I fear to take any
chances"
AS the wicket gate closed behind the
curate Mrs. Pottle ran down the path.
If you're going by the road, SIR she
called after him. you'll be meeting Pet
roma. She walked to the village over an
hour ago with the little Royse girl and
Freddy Nichol It's Freddy's. birthday
bit to spend. and they're going to"
Horatio taking advantage Of a COM
pulsory pause for breath on the part OF
Mrs Pottle, thanked her hurriedly and
set off at brisk pace toward Ipping-
| ford, and, SO steadfastly did the good
man set his face against the temptations
Of the wayside. that in less than half an
hour he had passed the main street Of
the village and was within five minutes
walk Of st. Timothy's parish house.
Then. to his great relief. the curate
found by his watch that he had almost
half an hour to spare. It was a welcome
this sudden plunge back into public life.
Every moment was precious-what should
he do?
"What a pity I did not meet An Pet
ronia." he said to himself. She was
great friend of Horatio's. this strange
little maid with gold-red hair and ques-
tioning deep-set eyes and that odd smile;
Many were the walks and talks they had
together. Petronia holding on by the
curate's forefinger. asking questions. such
| questions: How many buttercups full of
| rain can mouse drink? Telling him
tremendous secrets and confiding to him
| all her troubles-what mountains of trou-
bles! And yet Merle had never heard
| Petronia cry, not even the time when
| she was bitten by the frightened squirrel.
whose foot she freed from the weazel
she had been disobedient and Mrs. Pottle
had felt it necessary to whip her grand
daughter. the child had not uttered
sound. which so frightened the old lady
child since and never would.
The sound Of children laughing star
| tied Horatio from his reverie He was
passing the little sweetshop at the end
of the village street, kept by one Mrs.
Bead1e, and behold, there was An Pet
roma, surrounded by mob Of laughing,
chattering playmates. They were look
ing in at the window and playing some
game Of Petrenia's invention, in which
| the objects displayed in the shop window
played an important part
| FREDDY Nichol, that's not fair! Pep
PERMITS doesn't grow on twees," Pet
| roma was saying in her odd, low-pitched
voice as Merle came up to the group.
Instantly she was at her old friends
side and looking up in his face. Does
they, Daddy Merle?" she asked:
"Does what. my dear?" said Merle. TAX
ing her hand. He had not heard An
Petronia's assertion.
| Does peppermints gwow on twees?
"I didn't say peppermints. I said pep
per-" put In Freddy.
| At this there was a perfect hubbub OF
| he dds and he didn'ts. as the children
took sides, all but Petronia, who. having
started the row, now stood tightly hold
| ing the curates hand and watching the
conflict with wide fascinated eyes.
| When things had arrived at the hair
pulling and Shaping stage. Merle. feel
| ing Petronia's hand tighten round his
finger, had a sudden inspiration. Clap
ping his hands to attract attention, he
called out suddenly in the most thrilling
tones at his command, WHO wants to
know a secret?'
(To be continued tomorrow.)