Evening star., 1921-10-09

There was excitement and delight in
the dogs bark now. This must be
new sort of game. With his paws
he sprang time and again against
the wooden panels.
1t was no use. Once more Stephen
pressed his lips against the keyhole.
Il can't help you none, old boy" he
whispered. you gotta stay in there
and starve. and it's all my fault"
Then because he had no other place
fringe of willow hedge new moon
rose. delicate and distant, and from
the sky behind it the sapphire blue Of
evening had not departed. 1t was
one of those nights in spring of
a strange intangible beauty, that
Even the fields where, half drunk
with fatigue, he had trudged in the
wake of the plow, plucking morning
glory weeds, seemed beautiful to him.
This was his country, his land-and
from now on he must be an exile, an
to go to the high school in Green
Mountain next year with the other
boys. even though Zeke thought edu-
cation was foolishness. Well, he
could never think of going now!
With the scourge Of remorse. cruel as
lashed himself
LIE was skirting the field that Zeke
- rented from Smart Another turn
and he would be home. But the next
turns brought him a surprise. Across
the COW yard, miry with the trampling
of cattle. streamed a pale radiance.
peered into the stable. The meager
flicker of a lantern conjured up
strange bulky shadows beneath the
rafters. The air was warm with the
smell of beasts and drowsy with the
sound Of breathing. Only one sound
broke the quiet, the pitiful, choking
moan of suffering. Old Grimple was
dying: In the doorway Stephen
yt1aghen x15sa suassng Sa agd Steady ashf
against the side of the stall. His
face was gray with fatigue and
drawn with anxiety.
Stephen slid back into the dark
ness, past the sheds. around to the
kitchen. There was light here too,
and Hephzibah looked up sharply
astevie~" The quick relief on
her face startled him. She still trust
ed him. '.Steyie, I'm glad you come"
He walked over to her and awk-
wardly touched her sleeve.
"Zeke don't know nothin' about It,"
she hurried on, but I think you and
me ought to- send word over to Smart
and ask Dolfi to come"
Stephen looked away from the
long moment before he answered.: II
reckon So"
Again there was silence in the
kitchen while the clock that had come
all the way from Bennington whirred
and ratified. Il reckon so."' he re.
I'D fN1 % 1. l.. =
in her lap and tell her everything.
He wanted to feel her arms around
him-just as when he was a little
boy-but a curious, boyish chivalry
restrained him. She had enough to
bear already. With something that
eyes. "Guess I better be steppin'
along then" he clustered, 'if ketch
Dolfi fore he hits the hay"
The lines of anxiety smoothed out
of Hephzibah's face. Don't say Zeke
did the askin':" she cautioned.
He shook his head. "Slong." he
mumbled.
Again he trampled across the fields
beneath the misty April starlight. He
wasn't thinking of anything now.
Fate had caught him up and was
hurting him toward disaster. Nothing
peace descended. Besides, he must
save Zekes COW. Grimple was a
good beast. and her calves were al
ways red with humorous white noses.
"Calico critters" ,HephZibah called
them.
AS he passed Smart's barn he lis
tened second for the bark of his
dog. But no sound reached him. and
he did not call. He had said goodbye
to Stranger. Without hesitating at
the kitchen, he walked around to the
front door. Like a man in a trance
he pressed his knuckles against the
wooden panels of the door, but he
did not strike it. His hand would no
longer obey him. Then he tried to
call. but the voice had gone from his
throat. Was he to fail in this, too?
Must he forever wear the brand of
coward as well as Of thief?
Suddenly the big door opened. and
Smart. poker in hand. stood framed
in the brightness. "Well. hello" he
said. Thought heard somebody
come up on the porch. He smiled
little sheepishly and held out the
poker "Sort Of thief around here
today" he muttered. Thought I
wouldn't take any chances. Got the
fellows dog locked up in my barn
now" he chuckled. Come in"
Dumbly Stephen followed him into
the dining room. 1t was a comfortable
place with red geraniums on the sills
and black walnut furniture. The side
board, with its thousand scrolls and
tiny wooden cupolas, represented the