The Washington herald., 1918-12-24
THE LOVE AFFAIR OF A HOMELY GIRL
CHAPTER Ix-Continued.
BY JEAN LOUISE DE FOREST.

1t was a tremendous comfort to the
blind man. for faithful as Philip was.
he had his limitations. After that Re-
becca asked every morning. entirely
as a matter of course:
Have you any letters for me TO an
swer today. Mr.. Lewis7'
Once Martin had laughed.
DO you enjoy doing itY''g he had
asked, emphasizing the enjoy.
Yes" Rebecca had replied. little
culver Of eagerness In her tone.
True to his promise. DIR. Manfred
called early in the week succeeding
Martins first appearance in church.
he was filled with a quite unwonted
huttering, pleasurable rather than
otherwise, as he walked with scolarly
dignity up the long path TO the wide
porch where Rebecca was reading
aloud from David CopperfieId"-that
book above all others to be enjoyed in
company. and laughed over. or II nee
essary cried over. at all events. dis
cussed.
Rebeccn Il Interested.
Rebecca had never before welcomed
him so warmly. and his ascetic face
eiowed at her greeting and hand
clasp.
He sank gratefully into the wicker
chair which his hostess pulled out for
him, laid his hat and cane upon the
table, beside the book, and the pot
overfiowing with yellow roses Cthey
overflowed to Martins buttonhole and
Rebecca's hair, rubbed his slender
hands together, and as soon as polite
ness permitted, launched into his pei
subject-the orphan asylum There
was a house near the rectory, IL seem
ed, which would be just the thing. II
was for sale, together with a small
piece Of property, for two Thousand
dollars. II would need a capable ma
tron and one servant. II would cost
to maintain-and here he pulled out a
pad and began to cover it with tiny
figures.
Rebecca was interested. She wa,
always interested She suggested that
a fair should be held in the town hal
for the purpose Of raising money and
promised her aid and the sum Of FIVE
hundred dollars.
The rector beamed. Truly. Ms:
Vanderpool was one woman in a thou.
sand. As he looked into her eyes
which for the first time gazed bach
into his own in a sweet, wholly femi.
]
his near-sighted eyes she was beauti
fuL From where he sat he could Sc,
distinctly only the sunlight on hel
hair, the white of her dress. the ye,.
low flowers and the yellow ribbon, tn,
kindness of her expression and hel
smile. Her features were blurred.
Then. to Rebecca's delight. Martin
began to ask questions. He made par.
ticular inquiries as to the situation o.
the land. the condition OF the house
and wound up by promising to pur
chase the property outright and pre-
sent II to st. Agnes. leaving Rebec-
cas- five hundred dollars TO fall bacl
on for equipment. Then, he said, thl
townsfolk would have something def
mite to work for. They could rails,
, money each year for running ex
penses.
DIR. Manfred took his leave with al
elation which he had not experienced fl
many years. and IL was Rebecca rath,
er than Mr. Lewis whom he held re
sponsible for his good fortune. wha
: a woman she wasi
: During the following three week
he called twice. Each time he wen
away more resolved. but he neve
seemed able TO find Rebecca alone
! The blind man was always with her
Sacred Privacy.
The rector, however. was not in tn
habit Of sticking at trifies when ono
his mind was made UP. He adopte
the very simple expedient of writin
!, to her and requesting a private inter
>, view. He even set an hour for hi
! call. should IT prove convenient, an
he arrived punctualy at the appOinte
time. AS he entered the gate Marti
Lewis rose from his usual chair. an
e Rebecca. who had already riser
= slipped her hand Familiarity throug
!. his arm. They moved around to tn
e other side of the house. where the
= found Mrs. Vanderpool quietly sewing
Il Why didn't you come where "
a were. mother7"
: 1T seemed a little cooler here" tn
" old lady answered innocently, Fan
" then l knew that you were expectin
the rector. I feared II might look
trlfie conspicuous IL we were all {
get up and run at his approach"
Not for worlds would Mrs. Wander
pool have intruded upon the sacre
privacy which had begun to surroun
Martin and his nurse when they wer
together. Even the servants recoC
nized il and nodded knowingly anon
= themselves
Rebecca settled her charge CON
= fortably and was back in time to we
= come DR.. Manfred as he toiled labor
NJ ously up the steps. He was not a
III old man, to be sure; he was or ough
to have been in his prime. but he wa
II not very strong. AS his hostess note
= how he painted after his climb. sh
felt sudden solicitude, and from fore
OF habit took his arm and led him {
the comfortable chair which Marti
had just vacted.
A flush mounted the rector's thi
face, and the tears almost starte
to his eyes He was a very tendei
lovable man, and. in spite of her ir
| validism- had been vastly depender
upon his wife. He had been dependeu
on her for gentle touches from he
| slim. white fingers. and caressin
words and loving glances, even whe
she was too weak to sit up AnC
womanlike. she had never failed hin
Ernestine was a beautiful girl an
like her mother, but she was younl
and not at home a great deal OF tn
time.
Rebecca's touch on his arm woul
have made his decision final had
not been so already.
Learning Very Fast
My dear" he began. when he ha
caught his breath and had thanke
her for her kindness, and had coole
himself by slipping at the iced lemon
ade which she brought him. you ma
be surprised at what have TO say"