The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-01-17

that you can stay as long as you're
IA good boy. down there where us
nieo and cool. digging In the sand.
and going barefoot"
"f'il be tho best boy you ever
saw Brcck sputtered. eagerly. I'm
work for her. and IN make the other
kids work for her-Hhe'il tell you she
never saw such n good boy, And IN
write you letters"
you won't have 10 work. old
man. Blily felt strangely stirred ms
she kissed him. She watched him ms
| he rushed away 10 break the news 81
bis departure 20 the stoiid Swedish
girl In the kitchen and the colored
boy nj tho elevator. lie Jcrked his
little bureau open, and began to
scramble among his clothes. he We.
ieetef toy for Jim and toy for
Derry, and his mother noticed that
they were his dearest toys. She took
him down town and bought him
bathing suit. and sandals. and new
panjmaE. and his breathlcss delight
na ho assured sympathetic clerks
that he was going down TO the shore.
made her realize what a lonely. un.
comfortable little fellow he had been
all these months. lie could hardly
eat bis supper that night. and had to
be punlShed before he would even at.
/ tempt to so 10 sleep. and the next
morning he walked bis raoSher at o
and fairly danced with lmpstlenec
and anxiety as the last prepara,io
were made
BUY took him down to Clark'H
Hills herself. She had not notified
Rachael or answered her in any way
never questioning that Rachac !
would know her invitation 10 DC ac.
cepted. But from the big terminal
station she did rcnd wire. and RIA
chaei and the boys met her after the
hot trip.
'Blily. I, was good Of YOU TO come. %
Rachael said. kissing her quite na,u'
rally as they met.
II never thought OF doing any,
thing else" Blliy said. breathing the
fresh salt air with obvious pleasure
Il had no Idea that II was such a
trip. But he was an angei--look at
them now-arent they cute TO.
gether1''
Raohaers boys had taken eager
possession OF their guest: the three
were fast making friends as they
trotied along together toward the old
motor car that Rachael ran herself.
"its a Joy TO them" their mother
sald "Cet in here next TO me. Biil.
I'm not going even 20 look Mt you
until get you home. Dld you ever
sec the water look 30 dcilelous7 Wen
all go down for dip pretty soon.
live NO simply here that I'm en-.
tirely out OF the way of entertaining
guest. but now that you're here.
you must stary and have little rcAt
yourself"
''Oh. thank you. but" Billy be
gan IN pcrfunetory regret. Her ,ont
changed Il ahoaid love to- she said
honestly
Rachael laughed. so funny 10
bear your old voice. Bgii, and your
old cxprcssionnT'
Il was just thinking tina, you've
not changed much. Rachael"
~ Oh. but I've gray hair, Got.
ting old fast. Billumr'
And how's Greg" Billy did no,
understand the sudden shadow that
fell across BaohaefA face. but she
saw Il, and wondered.
VERY well. my dear"
Docs he get down here often7 It's
hard trip"
'Sie always comes in his car. They
make {; in-I don't know something
ike two hours anA ten minutes. I
think This IL my house. with all u.
hydrnnveas In full bloom Yes. isn't
II NICE And here's Mary for Breok
enridEe's bag"
Rachael had got out Of the car. and
now she gave Bllly's boy her hand.
and stood ready to help him down.
Wen. Breck." said she. do you
think YOU are going TO like my house.
and my little boys1 WIN you give
Aunt Rachael kiss
Billy said nothing as the child en-.
braced his new-found relative heart.
iiy. nor when Rachael took her up.
stairs to show her the third hammock
between the other two. and herself
invested the visitor In blue ovcralis
and a wide hat hut late that eve
ming. after a silence. she said sud
denly;
You're more charming than ever
Rachael: you're one Of the sweetest
women I ever saw
Thank your Rachael said. with
little note OF real pleasure under her
laugh.
You've grown NO gentle. and
good. said Billy little awkwardly.
Perhaps it's Just because you're 80
sweet to Breck. and because you have
such n nice way with children, but |
II am ever and ever NO grateful TO
YOU I've often thought OF you. all
this time. and OF the old days. and
OF every sort has come to you. At
first | felt drcadfully--at that time.
you know"
She stopped and faltered. but RIA.
ehael looked at her kindly. They were
sitting on the wide porch, under the
velvet black arch OF the starry sky.
and watching the occasional twinkle
OF lights on the dark surface OF the
bay.
You may say anything you like
TO me. buy" Rachael said
We'll II was only--you know how
| loved him" Billy said quickly.
i've so often thought that perhaps
you were the only person who knew
what 1t all meant to me. i only
thought he would be angry for a
while. | thought them that Joe
would surely win him. And after
ward. thought ! would. 40 crazy.
thinking OF him sitting there in the
club. | had failed him, you know
I've never talked about t. ! guess
I'm all tired out from the trip down.