The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-12-09
Star
BY BESSIE HARRIS



spcck ~ hsht grew and shun. with
his own delight In coming. Home
coming was never failing delight tu
joe. lie loved 10 warm his heart az
The Thought ~ the picture there. hig
blonde Elizabeth. the elder sister.
hriskly busy ahou, the shining c,-,k.
stove. preparing Ter his evening neal
the things be- liked hcst-and Star. N.
small wrath - u sister. curled ~ Iva
the couch corner. where She could ,a>.
ily part the curtains aud peer cut over
the dark waters For star vatchrd
for Joe's white fishing boat ~ eagerly
as his eyes searched cut the lllht frum
the window.
li~heth was horn .'rumhlpr. aud
perhaps Sometimes the work did fall
ten heavily on her hrond shoulders.
for though star mignt be- w.Siful aud
willing, h"r strength was Insufficient
fer many tasks
tn" coy cottage on the shor,. had
been handed down from gruudUar,ut.
to the three children And nov M
made in the hope II pleasing Siar-the
rrettirSt clothes werr hers. and II was
Elizabeth who stIll rrumhling arranged
for her many pleas ircs And star was
rndiautly grateful her love for ~.
big hronzrd brother and N. sister
whose own NE had known but the hap
piness ~ service. was beyond expires
sion. ~ for Joe. ID. mere thought u
her there In the lamplit corner
brought strange lump IN his throat.
In an eTnotlon which dimmed his clear
eyes rs ne stcer.d toward the llght. !
II was Elizabeth, who held open ne
door for him. her rosy cheeks AMI |
white nprol always u pleasant part 4
his welcome home picture But IL Was
Ia it'll" Sta: that n. turned hrrnthl.ss.
~. a. she slipped from her couch o. |
stand laughing softly and holding out |
eager hands II watched YOU" said
S'si. since first saw YOU far agalns;
'"r sky, and could not tell whether
you were wave or really boat"
And while YOU watched" rrumhlci |
IiSheth. ! rolled cookies aud biscuits |
III my arms ached. and they will burn |
IN the oven this minute unless they
are attended to. Star. YOU Nigh, ~
least take the pans from the oven
while I Talk 20 Joe"
u Will tan" them" Joe offered
quickly, and was IN 10 the kitchen.
That evening. when the girl had bid
den them rood NIGHT. lingering. her
shining eyes carcssing them both from
the doorway. Elizabeth turned abrupt
IL Ia her brother.
Joe" she said. II have Som.thln,
10 tell YOU. Something that only
learned today. ! was hunting in the
Old Bible for my birth date thought
ri made mistake Of year. and
cooked II up. And there. folded IN "a.
birth and death place was an old let
er. Seemed queer as looked that
Stars birth he'd never been registered
With onrs-hui the letter .Nplain,-i
hat Mother had written 70 hefor.
he died. and left 10 there for safe
ieeping. Thought perhaps Id ind q,
when ] went 'n write the date ~ her
learh. But ! didn't think 70 do n.
Ioe. will give YOU mothers letter
u minute. but this Is what II said:
Star isn't our sister NJ all: She never
las-helonged. one night when ~"
we're away az school boat came drift
ng along without any folks. or anv
ars. and In II all wrapped and quiet.
ny baby. First. mother thought The
my whit" face was reflection 90
ne big star that seemed somewuy - |
c"p shining down on the boat but |
'h"n she found what II was. mother
"nt father out 20 bring IN the boat.
nd the baby's eyes stared up AZ her
he said steady and shiny Ike ~.
tar. And So III. named her ~
ne ever came "a claim the baby. and
h"ugh father tried to learn NJ 'l"
line. there was no word ~ accident ,r
nss That's all. Joe hut I've given
ny Young life. n seems. Ia the cnrr
Z a child not kith or Kin. And ! have
ept from marrying Jed Warren be-
ause ~ what considered my duty"
.isheth paused
Il shall marry him now" she said
etermlnelly.
I"a mad. no reply. when NJ last
H. sister went sulkily Ia bed. ne read
he letter slowly through. Then with
nee aglow. big Joe jumped ~ tls
pet
star" h. called softly. "oh. NV
title Star
There was mn answer. Vaguely iror-
led, ioc went out "a the sands stand.
lg where the water. stretched silver
NJ before him In the moonlight Not
mr. from shore he saw drifting boat
tar's own little boat. with the blue
tar M IT. side that he had painted.
he Girl sat IN the stern. a detected
cure. he coald see her dark hair rip
ling over her shoulders as II used %
- when years age she came NJ bed
lime for his goodnight kiss. Joe
trod. cut into the water When he
cached the boats side the sHier was 4
iill beneath his strong arm. star d
lrnsd 10 him calmly.
n heard II an she said. "and I ana !
80 Il