Evening star., 1915-04-30

their tea and all that. And send along
| old Hannah with oil and cotton wool.
! I'll see to this fellow and muffie up his
, paws for him. You go and say It's all
right. and don't let any Of them be
frightened any more"
1t was an hour before the house was
cleared of its guests. but thanks to the
strength and swiftness and presence
of mind of Capt Hildred no one was
the worse for that terrible fiery rain,
which. had it dropped upon the group
OF fairy children. must have had con-
sequences terrible to picture. When the
last carriage had rolled away. the last
little party Of walkers trotted off under
the escort of nurses, l was free to re-
turn to the two men, whom ! found in
Iom's smoking room. They were sit
ting on either side of the fire, cleaned
from their coat of CRIME and with a
tea tray between them.
come along, Polly, and feed this fell
low. I'm blessed If 1 know how to do
1t. and he certainly can't do IL him
SELF
And then 7 saw that our guests
hands were both of them muffied up
In cotton wool. and that his face was
extremely pale. I was quite sure he
was in considerable pain, but he would
not admit 1t for moment
HIS color flew up as l approached. 1t
was no use his hating it. He was
frightfully thirsty, and l gave him cup
after cup OF tea. though he was not in
off altogether. I had to call him little
Jimmie" and treat him as such That
made him laugh. His face went into
delightful crinkles when he laughed
and soon we seemed on the best terms
together.
Polly. little Jimmie has got to stop
the night here-and in fact stay here
till he can fend for himself Just see
about his room,'' said Tom.
] went at once like an obedient sis
ter. conveniently deaf to little Jim
mics contention that he was as fiji as
a fiddle, and could get along all right
at home with his own people to do for
him.
BY the end of three days we felt as
if our guest had been the friend of
lifetime. On the fourth Tom said to
me:
Polly. my girl, I'll have to give you
to little Jimmie. I see. And I'll have
to hurry on my own marriage. and get
Maud to come here to see II through!
But you'll have to propose to him,
Molly mavourneen. for the poor chap
is obsessed by the conviction that he's
a sort of monster. And its YOU VIII
have to do the wooing,
That was Just the worst of it, And
vet ] knew he loved me- As for me,
felt though there never had been
anybody in the world before except
Jimmie! / had not known him a week
quite-and yet. All, we1l-there's no
explaining some things. You just
have to accept them as they stand
Only no face in all the world had
ever been so beautiful in my eyes as
the face of James Hildred.
At dusk 4 came upon the two men,
and I saw by the fires glow the light
that leaped into one pair of eyes at
sight of me- | went forward and
stood beside the fire. There was not
a third chair, and Jim was just about
to move. when Tom said. Don't. For
his hands were still pretty helpless.
It'll get you chair, Polly. IN one
half moment, he said, ana then J took
nv courage in both hands. How L
did it | don't know; Yet my voice
sounded quite natural as J spoke
Don't bother. Tom. said, Im
| going to sit on little Jimmie's knee.
The next moment ] was there, and
! his arm had gone round me. holding
me fast When we had time to look
| round Tom was gone
| lTHE END