Evening star., 1919-03-09

single spot, and when tney nave lHe
dance at the hotel Saturday night
Going to have dance? Good"
He smiled happily.
Yes; and you're going in this SUIT,
Tom. and going to look the way you
ought to-"
SO Brennan wore his old clothes on
the morrow and reveled in the free
dom which those garments gave him
freedom to throw himself on the
grass, to stride through thickets, to
romp with the children like huge
boy.
Emancipation was complete with
him The work that he did for fifty
weeks of every year was barely
memory. He knew none of It's prob
lens, none of it's responsibilities He
was often conscious of lightness in
his hip pockets. bereft of their old
weight Of grim hardware"
He reveled in the lazy, carefree
days-his vacation. The children
made him companion or beast of bur-
den. as they willed. He picked flow
ers for them; he ferried them across
the swimming pool; he carried them
through the forest on his shoulders.
And Maggie told him when to come
home or what to wear.
There were occasions when he found
himself unwittingly in conflict with
the ruling spirit Of this happy king
dom:
the chubby vision In blue rompers to
feast on ice cream topped Off by
sticky confections from the village
store--a morning followed by a noon
tide of colicky tears and stern repri-
mand
A lazy afternoon when, urging the
khaki-clad Indian chief to remount
Moses-grown rebellious under i'm
portunities and of sudden discover
ing that he still possessed one rheu-
matte buck--he heard the swish of
skirts and saw Maggie bearing down
on him with red cheeks and blazing
eyes.
And the enormous occasion when he
was caught letting his son roll on the
dusty earth locked in physical combat
with the heir OF the railroad section
foreman.
However, these were but passing
breezes ruffiing the surface of tran
gull pool Brennan survived them
smiling In the grateful sensation OF
being carefree subject where Mag
gle ruled. There was something in
that sensation akin to the feeling OF
lightness in the hip pockets of that
flannel suit when he wore 1t during
the evenings.
Often, when he lounged among the
other summer visitors. gay in those
gie's eyes upon him. and he remem-
bered to comport himself with sedu-
lous care for that fabric.
So when Saturday evening came and
the children were tucked away In
bed, Brennan stood before his wife.
chuckled.
She frightened the knot of his tie
stepped back and looked him over.
You were pretty good, Tom. Anc
you'll be the best-looking man in the
whole dining room tonight"
a nI in,n ar
the crowd of summer visitors on the
floor of the large dining room. They
had danced until nearly midnight
when fate so ordered things tha
Brennan saw Maggies finger beck
oDing him to her side. She was sit
ting by woman from one of the bun
galows from whose rent the vilIag,
people derived goodly portion O
their sustenance.
Mrs, Chisolm has forgotten her LACE
shawl" said Maggie, beaming up a
him. will you get 1t for her, dear?'
And in moment Brennan foun,
himself with the key TO the cottae,
and minute directions as to the loca
tion of the wrap in question,
gress, at all events.
He set forth at once. He was cross
ing the wide veranda of the hote
when he saw a little old man witt
bent shoulders and the brush-like tuf
of chin -whiskers which used to be s.
much In evidence on the stage whel
The Old Homestead" and kindre
plays had their vogue.
Evening, chief" Brennan waved hi
hand.
The village police ferce acknowl
edged the salutation with gravity an
. resumed his post by the dining -roor
window, against whose panes he ha
been pressing his chin whiskers, a rap
; spectator during every rag" dance O
the evening.
Brennan hurried on down the lon