Evening star., 1922-02-05

self down with suit-cases and all the
bundles that Bessie could not carry.
"Just drop everything in the front
| hall, John. want to go around and
| see things"
WHEN they reached the lower
w meadow John picked up his
scythe. 1--WE finished all the cutting
except this strip" he announced. II
left this standing to show you" And
he Graded q long. wide swathe while
+, the girl followed with exclamations:
| "Its wonderful! How'd you learn? It's
. miracle!"
It was dusk. John was discuss.
ing with Evalyn the advisability Of
changing the food for the chickens.
when a yelp came from the roadway.
An automobile few past with lights
streaming.
ITS Princess Blue Mouse" cried
the girl. Its Princess +" But
| the chow ran to them whining.
NO." said the man. 1T is Sirius"
He laid the inert animal on the grass.
Then he turned silently and went to
his own little house.
Late that evening Evalyn came to
him. John was sitting by the table
in the dark. II telephoned Mr.. Tuck
| err" said the girl. land we've buried
Sirius on the hill your hill and
his" and she stole away quietly.
During the fortnight that followed
John Temple strove to formulate a
simple philosophy-in tune at once
| with the eternal suns and the little
creatures Of the earth. Natures laws
should be universal and unimpeach-
able. he told himself. But he could
| think Of death only as a flaw-the
fundamental flaw of creation.
| Then came q warm September night
! Once a year. when Rockhouse is
open. the Ridge and the Valley meet
and dance together there-an old and
happy custom.
| The dancing platform was nearing
completion beneath the elms-cater.
ers had arrived and electricians were
busy.
But John Temple, down at the
brook back Of the barn. was scrub
bfng the farm implements with grass
and sand. He put everything in or
der and sought out Evalyn.
Evalyn was cutting chrysanthe-
NUNS. John carried the flowers from
table to table. while the girl arranged
i fhAv, to olAp4A~ opSs$oV
An automobile swung noisily into
the driveway. Catherine Farrell
jumped out unaided and was followed
by VIII Brooks and another man
-as pallid and drawn as the Prone
theus that stole the celestial fire.
Evaiyn waved her hand and glanced
from Dr. Marsdon back to her gar.
dener. John was standing erect, his
bearded. sun-burned face rigfdly ex.
| pressionless.
| Evalyn walked slowly to her
| guests.
| DR.. Marsdon kissed Evalyn. "who
IL the composite Of Lincoln and
Grant?' he smiled.
| ri really don't know" Evalyn re-
piled. I'VE call him John
| And every one talked at once as
they went toward the house.
| John Temple walked slowly to
Bethel. The distance IL seven miles
He paused before a window hanked
by q barber pole Of red and white.
| On his homeward Journey darkness
came down, and when he reached
Rockhouse Corners unusual sounds
drifted to him-music and faint
laughter. He thought Of q night
more than three years ago: the clear
tenor voice that had sung parody
no. q requiem. Since then curious
experiences on top Of water cart,
hospitals, the theft of his years Of
labor.
Even now great telescopes were
! pointed heavenward 1t an interlopcr
that had appeared among the planets.
Soon 1t would be visible to the naked
eye. He had computed It. It bore
his name Yes. he knew something
about the heavens. but this knowl-
edge seemed. less than worth while
for tho other thing that he knew was
this: He was built in a mold that
can love bui once.
|UE entered the annex In the
- rays Of his smoky lamp he pack
cd his books into large wooden boxes.
A knock sounded on his door, ana
lEvaiyn in . dancing frock entered.
For q moment she looked upon the
man crouching over great box OF
books at his thoughtful head. his
face, like . deep wood-carving, with
its close cropped beard.
Please get box and como to tho
barn at once" Evalyn pleaded. THE
Princess 10 going to be . mother"
John Temple lifted q large box OF
lprecious. carefully packed volumes
and turned It upside down on the
door. 'will this doF'
SkirtinE tho lawn and its dancers,
tthey reached the barn and filled the
box with fresh straw and carried 1t to
tho pumphouse. "Put the box In the
corner whore It will bs dark In the
daytime, Don't leave until I come
back" she said.
| It was after midnight when Evalyn
returned
i II was thinking Of boon given to
1.-The world long ago." said the man. 1T
came to. me tonight in answer to
matter that's been worrying me. II
seemed that the worlds Creator must
lhavs said: The world shall never
] grow old, for today upon the earth