Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-17
XXITI1>T>I> Il E.HaMT Terry

creased aggression OF her aspect that
more was in the wind than usual a.
Miss kidlington was a supremacy I'M
important little person. but the high
gods often employ such for big results.
and SO it was to be with her that morn
ing.
She fitted on to the scene and of it
like a sadfiy. but her white feathers
might have been poison in the far
reaching effects which they left behind
them.
why. Daphne" cried Molly. in a
startled note of incredulity, what have
you got in that basket?"
Feathers" said Daphne. adding. with
increased emphasis. white feathers"
Miss Myrtle. bending forward so that
her pince-nez threatened to take
header OFF her attenuated nose, stirred
an inquisitive finger round in the pas-
ket.
so they are" she ejaculaAd.
Feathers. What are you going to do
with them, Miss kidlingtone Stun
cuShions?"
NO. / am going to present one to
every young man l meet who has not
enlisted. That's what l came about, TO
see whether Molly would come down to
the beach with me. We girls should do
our little share just as much as the
men. shouldn't we. Mr.. Pollock
Molly certainly shan't go making a
TOOL OF herself on the 'front.'" replied
that gentleman, emphatically. land il
You wish to know what l think. Miss
hidiington. 1 think You are talking
pack of nonsense. What good do you
suppose YOU a re going to do by setting
the mems backs up, eh?"
Il think it's perfectly horrid OF YOU"
said Molly. coming forward and step
ping. apparently by accident. in front
of Brent as she did so.
MY dear Molly replied Daphne,
somewhat cattily, those whom the cap
fits may wear it. What about " $. San
derson's son? Has he enlisted"
MY dear Miss Daphne" said Mr.. Pol
lock, don't you make a bloomer over
young Sanderson. He's in the adj
miralty."
"Of course. how stupid of me-" replied
Daphne. who was perfectly well aware
of the fact and was only leading up to
you. Mr.. Brent? But 1 suppose you
have made all your arrangements to
join something alreadyo'
Its really business of yours,
Daphne" said Molly. resentfully.
Fact is, Brent has not decided yet
what he shall join chimed in Mr.. Pol
lock, who, if criticisms had to be made.
preferred to keep them in the family
and make them himself.
Brent himself had made no answer,
but his good-looking face, usually
masklike, seemed to lose some of its
fatuous expression in an involuntary
sharpening and hardening. There was
a painful silence. broken by strong
cons. hoping for food. swooped down
from the pigeon cote in the yard and
circled round the heads of the little
group on the lawn.
tact, seized verbally on this diversion.
Talking of feathers" she said,
brightly, those pigeons would certain
~ be conf1scated. l suppose, if Mrs.
Sanderson weren't English"
"Oh, Why" drawled Brent, speaking
for the first time and fixing his eyeglass
more firmly to gaze at the birds in
question
"oh. spies use pigeons and things"
said Miss Myrtle, vaguely. And Mrs.
SanGerson is SO devoted to them, makes
quite pets of them. 1 often wonder
how she can bring herself to have them
cooked.
II am glad she does" declared Mr..
Pollock for once following Miss Myr-
ties lead. Very good pies they make"
But Daphne was not to be so lightly
diverted from her purpose.
so you are going to join something,
Mr.. Brent?" she insisted.
why. no; don't know that I am"
Daphne" said Molly. in a low voice.
please don't"
"oh. don't stop her. please" said
Brent. taking out his pipe. It's aw-
fully becoming to Miss Daphne to look
so serious" He blew down his pipe
as he spoke, then squinted at it doubt
fully.
Il am only doing my duty" Daphne
continued rummaging in her basket
and extracting the largest feather she
could find. Here you are. Mr.. Brent.
1t is only a feather, but please notice
the color
Brent took it and let it lie for a mo-
ment in his lean. brown palm. Then
he began quite gayly to stun 1t down
the stem of his pipe.
at is very nice Of you to give me
such smart one" he said. genially,
"but l can't saythe color of my pipe
cleaners worries me very much. Thanks.
awfully, all the same. / suppose you
saw l was in difficulties with my pipe.
It's jolly hard to get a decent pipe