Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12

II
~ slightly in advance Once or twice he essayed to
put question to the who trod voiceless as an
Indian at his heels but the other in the grip Of some
for space the two Travelled on. Then suddenly, at
long dip in the path Marvin became strongly
that Sherwood had halted Before he could turn about
a tense, aching cry thrilled him to the quick.
"Hilda! My little Hilda! Down in the valley there
A woman grown, and with her mothers face! Twenty
years. it was-ny little girl that will never know!"
1t was not loud cry To Marvin, as he heard, it
seemed though the man had fought to sti1e it. He
wheeled, white to the lips Sherwood leaned painting
against tree He strobe back to his side hot tumul-
tuous shame battling with arnazement in his face.
You knew-you knew, Sherwood, that-that | was
cheating. you! God forgive me! That she was down
yonder!'
Breathless, Marvin waited The other had
slowly mastered himself
mo, not cheating Henry. It's just, Man, it's just
Something came to here-it had kept coming to
beforehand knew that it was So But you need have
no fear l shall 60 no farther The tree here cuts the
to me. You never did me wrong in the world Henry
Marvin. She has grown like her mother was, you say
and would give my life to see her face Yet she is
given content in the thought of her future" He
groaned. what place could there be in her heart
for one like me? None-none, tell you'll"
He caught Marvin's hand in grip that lasted long,
looking straight into his eyes, To the former in the
silence sound which he recognized the ticking
the path, waving farewell Once, Marvin watched,
he saw him turn again, throwing out his lean with
wordless cry, the attitude of benedction. breeze
stirred the leaves and the trail shut him from sight
WHEN Phillip Chaplin bounding through the
w bushes moment later he recoiled sharply at
MaTvinMyou heree You certainly r gave me pretty
start He laughed, the joyous laugh of one with whom
the world went very we'll You I'm the relief ex
petition Miss Hilda insisted" He stopped peering
curiously about him. But talking. l
swear heard voices, Marvin !"
Eyes, you right. The other has gone. You see
D1or1 lou <to%
with me-
Chaplin was quick to catch the slip of the Others
tongue. well, all can say is that Sherwood or Blan
chard, whichever you WILL appears to have furnished
you an uncommonly disagreeable morning Marvin. By
the Lord Harry! You might easily have been hob
nobbing with ghost"
that's ALL The old rapperhes treking farther north
going away tonight He paused. You see, there
story. Perhaps shall to tell it to you
1t will not hurt you to know.
They moved downward in silence. Chaplin felt that
Marvin given riddles that he could trust him
better than most it had been his privilege to meet
The older took his they passed at length out
into the open.
TWO sweet faced women down the steps to greet
them the eyes of the younger preternaturally
bright, Marvin thought they wavered from him to
the at his side.
"Somy relief expedition is back already? What luck
Dad? You do look dreadfuly tagged, somehow. Really
doesn't he, Mr. Chaplin Laughingly the girl flung out
her hand at the older man bullying pocket. Look
Mother! It's positively stubborn After all our trouble
too! He's actually packed those miserable papers all the
way up there, and lugged them back again. Why, it's
positively ridiculous, Dad!
Stirring. the loose drapery of her sleeve fell away
slightly disclosing there, ourvalng the soft fair
ness of her forearm, the hereditary emblem of the
Sherwoods.
With eyes gone strangely dim, Henry Marvin bent
his head and kissed he had done times in the
playful days her babyhood The picture of desolate
tudgng up the lonely hillside trail flooded his soul
There silent prayer his lips when he raised his
head.
Chaplin was speaking 1--WE shall rather miss the old