Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-17

and materials that Mercy adored. For
deep in the heart of the Capable one"
was as deep a love of form and color as
the artistic Lola ever felt. But even
Mercy hardly suspected that. She only
wished that she had been taught, too,
and often accused herself of being just
'childishly greedy.
Confronted with the delicate task of
filling jars, Mercys thoughts broke off
and hung suspended. Finally she lifted
the funnel from the last jar and carried
it to the sink. She frowned at her fruit
stained fingers. and that brought back
her train of thoughts, via a mental pic
ture of Lola's pretty hands. white and
SOFT except for the palette thumb, which
she often daubed as freely as the palette.
A sudden peal of the doorbell sent
Mercy running to the door. pushing in
hairpins and scrambling out of the all
embracing apron. 1t was the young
architect who was planning the new
schoolhouse. come. as usual. to consult
Mr.. Taylor. Mercy smiled adorably with
pretty hospitality and led him to the coy
library while she went in search of her
father.
In moment she came running down
stairs again. The young architect caught
glimpse of her flying blue and white
dress through the stair railing. There
was pause while she looked into another
room and then she came to the door.
He doesn't seem to be in" she said,
Win a lltIle.SInllo OI regret. SOulu you
come again about $50? / don't know
where he is now, but he'll surely be back
then"
Ferguson went. rather reluctantly. and
in less than five minutes found himself
looking forward to half-past with unde-
niable eagerness. On her part Mercy
slipped into her apron again and smiled
when she remembered the unmistakable
admiration in his eyes.
There was little more to be done in the
I1~s& hCp. Nrfn
and hurried into the library. From the
table drawer she drew out thick sheets
of paper, pencils, brushes and paint box.
Then, removing the magazines from the
table, she drew up a chair. In five min
utes she was lost to the world drawing,
painting, testing.
| At noon she stopped regretfully She
cleared off the table slowly. holding out
the papers at arms length, and smiled
with satisfaction before she waved them
dry and slipped them into the drawer.
| Afternoon was always busy time with
Mercy. There was no more time to draw
or paint At half-past Mercy went up.
stairs to dress for dinner. At the dinner
table Mercy suddenly remembered the
caller "Oh, father she burst out, while
the family gasped and laughed at her alb.
ruptness. 'Mr. Ferguson was here this
morning to see you and l told him to
| Mr. Taylor shook his head regretfully
.'Too bad" he said. II can't make it
There's the. elders meeting tonight
You'll have to excuse me to him. daugh'
| ter -
"Oh, I'm sorry, too Mercy replied
.'Shall tell him to come tomorrow. dad?'
| Her father nodded, smiling, and left the
table with word OF excuse.
After dinner the family scattered. Mrs
Taylor to the kitchen. Mr.. TAYLOR to his
| church meeting. Prue to her room tG
mark papers, and Mercy to the library tc
sew sedately and wait for Mr. Ferguson
| Her longing eyes Travelled to the table
drawer again and again until she could
stand it no longer The mantel clock said
barely quarter-past IAN hour and q
quarter. Mercy folded up her sewing and
quietly opened the drawer.
| A sharp ring brought her back to the
everyday world. For moment she sa,
uncertainty, looking miserably at the
chaos before her. There was no time to
put 1t away. that was certain, and Mercy
got up resolutely and went to the door.
her face crimson.
| "I'm so sorry. Mr. Ferguson" she said
stifiy Father had an important meet
| ing to go to- but he asked me to tell you
that he'd surely be here tomorrow" She
stopped. praying fervently that he would
leave But Ferguson fingered.
won't you come in?" she said. finally.
with belated hospitality. and Ferguson
came in eagerly.
'I'n cali mother" Mercy went on. hur-
| riedly
| "Oh, no, don't. Please don't disturb
her." Ferguson said. making straight for
| the table II can only stay a moment.
Oh-may 1 see what you're doing?'
| Mercy nodded miserably and Ferguson
picked up the half-finished sheet. He held
| it out at arms length. After minute s
absorbed contemplation he whistled
softly.
| "Jove. that's good" he said. earnestly.
| wall paper designing. didn't know
that you went in for that sort OF thing,
| Miss Taylor.
Mercy flushed to her throat with pleas
ure. ooh, is it good?' she asked eagerly.
II don't know anything about it, but
| like to do it,
| .aYn,, hauen,t sfndied 2, Ferguson asked