Evening star., 1915-04-04


NS9x9SM bed of snowdrops hung their little, white,
VStMRGy sunbonneted heads bashfuly, while
&ILlSS2 of scarlet tulips Haunted themselves
saucy wind slapped their bold faces. The
blue pigeons who lived in the pigeon cote stepped cheer
fully about the flower beds knowing they had only
friends in the old garden pair of robins just going
to housekeeping for themselves in the tall laburnum
tree, stopped work shameessly to sing rotous song
accompaniment the of music that hoated
from the fine old house.
To Mowbray, watching the scene, all the beauty Of
the earth and sky paled before the oveliness of Eliza
beth Alowbray and her flock Of children. 1t like
one of those exquisite family groups that Romney
loved to paint.
On the broad lagstones Of the old fountain, Eliza
BETH wearing pale blue gown, and her fair head bare
was learning some dance steps of Hubert her tall thir
teen year-old boy.
The boy graceful as he was muscular danced beau
tifuly, and Elizabeth might have been a wood nymph
for grace and simness The two small girls Christine
and Sophy in little white dresses and white shoes and
stockings, doing Mexican dance, all charm and
delight. Harold, his fathers boy, grave and reflective,
sat stone bench holding in his lap the little three
year-old Esther, looking in her white sunbonnet like
the big sister of the snowdrops.
INTO this symphony of love and sunshine and flowers
and music and dancing suddenly discordant and
tragic note was struck Mowbray, gancing toward the
tall iron gate two black figures, like despairing
souls, peerng in paradise from which they
cluded One was a woman, tall dark gaunt, and shah
Oily dressed III DlaCk ne Olllef was DOV crippled IN
his right leg, and underszed, his eyes darkly beautiful
and somber, but full OF intelligence He too shah
billy dressed in black.
These two fororn figures touched Mowbray's kindly
heart; but, more than that impulse sudden strange,
and strong, drew him toward the gate He crossed the
garden, and with his hand on the gate latch asked
"What do you wanto
The hesitated for moment, and then
swered quietly "Nothing. My nephew and were at
tracted by the dancing and music, and venued look
in 7 youv will rs We shall remain !"
NIowbrav felt great embarrassment. The words he
had used not what he intended. The tone and
manner Of the shabby woman indicated education and
refinement, and Mowbray like all gentlemen,
corded extreme courtesy gentle people in eclipse.
Il beg your pardon he said. Il had no intention
Of asking you to go away. | thought perhaps you had
some special object in coming.
"None whatever. responded the woman turning off
and taking the boys hand.
But the boy seemed unwilling to leave One small
sunburned hand still clutced the iron rods of the gate.
"Pcrhaps,' said Mowbray, strangely touched by
the longing eyes Of the lame boy "you would allow
your nephew to rest upon the bench for awhile"
The boys eyes lost their somberness and grew radiant.
The gaunt woman answered after moment
Kenneth may go in for little while; but he must
not stay too long" Then, bowing, she walked away,
toward little white cottage on the broad highway to
the town
Nowbray had noticed that day the window Of the
tiny cottage open, and smoke coming from the chimney,
the first time i'll year.
THE boy. all smiles, limped into the garden and
Mowbray lent him helping hand. When their
hands met something like thrill passed through Now
bray's whole being, and the lame lad clung to him.
As the lame boy passed toward the bench still holding
to Mowbray's kindly hand, the music from the house
suddenly stopped Elizabeth, turning with her
Huberts shoulder caught sight OF Mowbray leading
the strange boy into the garden 1t not anything
extraordinary. Mowbray invariably kind chill
drcn and dogs and all things that lost and asray
and helpless. But something like prcmonon came