Evening star., 1914-06-06

go on that visit it had como to this.
Jack Gather. OF all men, was evidently
in love with her.
Annette kept her anger out of her
voice and determined what to do. She
had another Cousin Rebecca Doris
divorcing. her history. Il hope you were
nice to my cousin. she said. sweetly.
Poor Rea has had a sad life. You know
she is widow-a grass widow
NO. Gather replied.
Yes. poor thing Annette continued.
And she hasn't seen her child-a dear
little boy of four-for two years The
court let her keep him. but it seems she
got tired of his care after a few months
and let some people adopt him. When
Frank. his father. heard of it he was
very angry. He had to go to law to get
little Maurice, and now he refuses to
let Rea even see him. Poor. foolish girl.
Gaither looked at her icily. widow
divorced woman. And he thought her
an innocent girl. sweet and unselfish. and
he had meant to ask her to marry him.
And the child. deliberately given away
because she tired of its care. The thought
sfckened him.
A week later when Gather called on
| Miss Brilie he did not ask for Miss Dor
rls. nor did he ask for her any more on
his subsequent calls. which as the sum
in.r waned became of great frequency
Annette was an accomplished musician
and Gather loved music. Sometimes when
their voices penetrated to the little din
ing room where Rea sat the girl shed
| miserable tears. She had been sure that
last afternoon in the country that he
| cared, but now, when they accidentally
met in the hall. his greeting had been
| SO coldly polite that it froze her heart.
one October morning. when Rea was
oustlng the music room. the picture on the
oack or one Of the songs upon the stand
"a little boy bidding good might to his
! toys-caught her eye. 1t was the song
| her mother had loved to hear. her sing
after Leland. the little brother, had died.
! She laid it ON the rack and touched the
| piano keys and sang:
And, as he was dreaming, an angel song
Awakened our Little Boy Blue.
Oh. the years are many. the years are
| long,
But the little toy friends are true
And they wonder as waiting the long
| years through,
| In the dust OF that little chair,
| What has become of our Little Boy Blue.
| Since he kissed them and put them
| there!
On the cars Of the Involuntary listen
er. the young man who had just entered
| the hall, the softly sung words sounded
| strangely pathetic. He never had heard
J Annette sing like that Wondering n lit
tie, with the freedom Of an intimate
| friend, he drew the port1ere tr1He-
| AS the last words of the song trem.
bled from her lips the singer turned. and
| Gather looked full in Reas brown eyes
| dewy with tears.
I Il beg your pardon" he said. quickly
IT expected to find Miss Brille.'
II will call her." she answered. in &
| low tone her face very white. Pleas
| wait
| A look of stern understanding crossed
| the young mans face as she left thu
! room. No wonder the woman sang Lit
| tie Boy Blue like that! mother wht
| has deliberately cast away her own baby
must come to a day Of reckoning with
herself.
| Don't work so long, Rea," the girl.
| aunt said to her that afternoon. noticing
| her white cheeks and listless air. -Tol
are wearing yourself out over Annette!
embroidery. Annette. do take her ou
driving with YOU
Annette had never taken Rea out ir
her pony trap. but something in Jacl
| Gathers manner that day told her h
| would speak soon. She felt a little sorr,
for Rea-
| A mile from the city. suddenly ant
without warning. the ponies began t.
| run, frightened at a tarpaulin covered
| haystack. Annette was thrown out in
| stantly, but Rea held to the lines. ant