Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-03
Bv Ellis Parker Butler.


This was his constant feeling-"con-
slant" as his feeling of godship had
been constant. His aunt, his teachers
and his fellows occupied much of his
time. There would be days and weeks
when he did not happen to think what
a miserable eauhWorm he. was. He
ran and shouted and played ball and
studied his lessons ana Went to the
head or foot of his class just as other
boys did. He went to parties and was
shy or annoyingly forward, as were
other boys. lie did his chores grum-
blingly and went fishing eagerly, and
was an absolutely normal boy in
every way. But he had lost his god
ship and had become less than IL
slave. He had become clod, subject
to every whm of nature and less as
sertive than the grass he walked
upon.
day.
"Yes. Aunt Mary?'
He was sixteen then. almost seven
teen. He WIS ditlident and much given
to blushng accompanied by an un-
pleasant internal sensation, as il his
blood was congealing.
Cousin Jane Dabney and Dorothy
are coming up from Jefferson tomor-
row; they will probably stay week."
"All right. Yes'm.'
al was just thinking you might wear
you look little shabby"
"Do IL" asked Donald. lie glanced
down At himself 1t was indeed an
obviousS fact that the knees of his
brooches were worn through.
"And you had better wear Your
Sunday shoes also. Are they pol
ished?'
II guess So"
"You had better make sure. You are
always careless about your shoes.
And be sure that you polish the heels.
You never do
"All right. will"
II think that's all. Oh, after school
run down to Herben's-will you. Don
ald?--and tell him to send up two
between. two and three. Vanilla.
And"
"Yesm."
"If you want to ask couple OF boys
and girls to come over tomorrow aft
ernoon to see you and Dorothy, you
may"
III guess I don't want to-"
well, that's all. Perhaps II is Just
as we'll not to ask any the first day.
III have Aunt Jane and some ladies
to look after That's all, Donald"
"Yesm. Boodbye."
1t was late spring, but when Donald
came Rome from school tho next
afternoon Dorothy sat on the porch
like some delicate ivory enhanced by
a setting of black velvet. He learned
later that she wore black velvet be-
cause she had twinges OF rheumatism,
and black velvet was supposed to be
good for that. All the way home from
sch' Donald had wondered how 1T
wol be if he choose this occasion for
running away from home to become
an independent being. He had con-
Sidered such an event now ana again
when it seemed the only way to es-
cape his uifHdence and the distress 1t
caused him.
Tho house was set we'll back from
the street and he knew that Dorothy
and her mother and the other ladies
have to open the gate and walk all
the way up the walk to the porch.
He would have to be introduced to
Dorothy and her mother He would
when. after he had eaten the ice
cream, he wanted to go away, he
would have to say. May be excused,
please? To say that before Dorothy
He wished the ground might open ana
engulf him before lie reached the
gate. Hs was in an agony OF diff
dence.
from the gate to the walk. and Donald
opened tho gate and hesitated. He
turned and closed the gate carefully
for the first time in his life. He took care
care in latching it.; Then !, he ~ tried ri The he
turned toward the house and cleared
his throat He did hope he would be
able to say "Howju do. Dorothy" when
he was introduced, but he doubted 1t.
He said "Howju-hoyju-" several
times.
Then an amazing thing happened.
AS he mounted the first step he saw
the wonderful vision in velvet arise
from the chair on the porch and come
toward him. She had no hat and her
hair was gold In the sunlight. She had
cuffs and collar OF white lace. marvel
Gus against the black velvet. She came
down the walk. neither quickly nor
slowly, but as IL it was the most natu-
raj thing in the world to do. Before
he had topped the steps she was there,
holding out white hand and smiling
pleasantly
you're Donald, aren't you? I'm Dor
othy. Your Aunt Mary said you could
show me your rabbits while she's get
ting the ice cream ready. viii your
"If you want to see them"
"Im Just crazy to see them. Your
Aunt Mary says there Is a black one
with white OH 1t that make her think
of I think you ought to call 1t
Dorothy"
Donald blushed. "Ie--hes a buck"
he said, and then added hastily, "but
iii call him Dorothy II you want me
to-"
"IIow many have you?" she asked.
changing tho subject promptly and
naturally, and before he could answer
she said, "Come up and meet mother.
then we can 60 see them. Are those