Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17

fort, sat with him at lunch. and showed
him to the room where the dead girl STU
IF can help you in any way. Mr.
Beck please tell me-" she said. looking
wistfully In his face with guileiess oiue
eyes. II was very fond Of poor Lefty.
"rm sure Of that. my child. ne sain,
gently. But / do my work best alone
He locked the room door on the insioe
and began a search at once Nothim ,t
escaped his quick eyes and hands. tinaIly
anined 1t carefully. Then he sifted t1 I
ashes in the crate through his fingers. In
the ashes he found a blob OF .oiue gas
melted to a long needle at one END, ana
fragment, half burned, of a white past
board box In the dust sweepings there
was little twisted gold ring OF antique
make and OF small value. strip OF mar
row white ribbon notched Ike tne eoge
Of a saw: a tangle of bright-coiored SIX
threads, and innunerable pins and hair
pins.
He showed his treasures in the palm OF
his hand to John Woodrin just before ne
started.
IT have a notion" he said. that there
are one or two letters of our riddle here:
IL can only manage to pick them our
Of the rubbish
with unrnistakable suggestions OF the
Yankee in voice, dress, and figure, inquired
at Merview for Mr.. John Woodruff
It was a marvellous makeup. Peter
man-nearly three inches taller than
Mr. Beck, whom he in no way resem
bled. About the lines of eyes and
mouth there was a strong family re-
people noticed Immediately. declaring
they could tell them to be brothers at
first sight
The two girls were called down to
welcome their Uncle Peter and took to
him at once. He was shrewd and
yet SO kind-hearted; SO grieved at their
grief when he came to know of it that
he won his way straight to their hearts.
Day by day they grew to be better
friends. But though he plainly loved
were curious contrast-the big. rough,
shewd man and the quiet maid. But
the contrast seemed to have a charm
for both.
To Susan, Peter woodrfn was the
kindest of uncles and she repaid his
affection with condolences concerning
her home life in Liverpool, in which he
seemed deeply interested. She told him
sin. DR.. Coleman woodriff. After a
while it came out that the doctor had
made love to the shy little maid and
frightened her. Presently she was fill
ed with remorse lest she had injured
her poor cousin with his rich Uncle Pc
ter, and accused herself of prejudice,
and praised the young doctors kind
heart and cleverness, and told little
stories OF MS QOlngS among the poorer
patients that showed her praise was
just
So the days slipped by as pleasantly
as might be. and Time, the healer.
smoothed away the first keen agony of
their grief.
The girls had the habit of walking out
to meet the postman on his way from
town, and Uncle Peter never missed
the chance of being with them on those
occasions. There was a red postal pill
lar-box, about two-thirds of the way
into town, on which he would lean,
lazily smoking, while his nieces rified
the postman and shared the spoils. One
morning in October. a memorable morn
ing for all concerned. there was an un-
usually large delivery, and there fell to
Millys share, in addition to half a
dozen letters, the crowning prize of a
wedge shaped box of wedding cake,
neatly tied in white paper and sealed
with pale blue sealing wax.
Back at the house Milly cut the string
and broke the seal, and got out the
card box, tied in the orthodox narrow
white ribbon edged like a saw.
Inside the box lay a card with names
in silver letters; the brides maiden
name run through with silver arrow
Louisa thompson" cried Milly, in
surprise and disappointment oh!
Susie, look here, 1 don't know any
Louisa Thompson"
Perhaps some of her friends know
you, dear, and sent it. The address is
plain enough. anyway, and it looks like
very nice cake"
Then you shall have half said Milly.