Evening star., 1923-10-21

/ duchess clapped her hands and
danced, too.
| That enough?" the duke asked her.
"oh. It's enough to light the way
from here to the polei ia not have
said there were so many candles in
all the world"
right" said the duke to his servi-
tors briefly. That's all, then. Good
night"
| And the quick hands and the quick
feet were gone, and the duke was left
alone with his duchess.
'Tt's not too cold?' he asked.
mo, no." she said. TITS fine and
warm"
TITS not too dark?"
| mo. no-it's hne and bright"
my little heart you don't hate II?
You're not afraid?"
"Afraid?" cried his heart, alight
with laughter. Afraid with you by
me? Am 1 mad?"
/ He knelt at that and put his arms
about her. Even kneeling his black
head was higher than her bright one.
IT'S I who am afraid. Biddy, what
II I made you stop smiling? Biddy,
Biddy. don't ever stop smiling!"
Near fear" she cried. Never
fear. my dear love. I'll never in this
world stop smiling" She caught
her breath. and shook her curls. and
laid her laughing lips gayly and
bravely against his. Nor in the next
one. either!" said her grace.
She kept her world. That shining
/ mi ~
nothing touched It, not the frozen
! the surly insolence of the three dark
boys, or the Indifferent disdain Of the
county neighbors, or the blank indig-
nation of the court. He watched over
her with terror and rage In his heart;
| they. they to scorn his miracle!
That first dinner. with the ladies
Pamela. Clarssa, Maude and Char
lotte, looking down their high noses
at the radiant Intruder
Say the word" he told her through
his teeth. safe in the sanctuary OF
their beautiful room. land the four
Of tenn shall walk to London"
well. II they crawled there. 'twould
be no more than they deserve!" said
her grace with decision. THE cross
faces they have. and the mean
tongues! They'd wear the patience
! out OF a saint
They can start packing now!" he
cried, and made for the door.
! mo. no!'' Her laughter checked
him like a hand What does It mat
need patience: all I'll need is grace to
4 Ufr lob oE,,Iy
tongue. Let them be. darlin': tits a
thousand pities my Aunt Dasheen
died without laying eyes on them
They're like her own sisters. Did no
one ever give that fine Roddy Of yours
a good cuff?"
'Tll give him two and a strapping,"
| said the duke. THE glowering young
cubI"
You'd never steal such pleasure for
yourself" she implored. I'm no time
at all they'll be gone to their schools
and colleges. and I'll set what mind 1
have to growing tall enough to reach
their ears If I stand on my toes
| Would you like me better IL I reached
up higher?'
1
| Its four blue walls held all their
heaven and earth. From its windows
| they saw dawns break and nights
fall: when they crossed its thresh-
hold they stepped under a spell that
held them safe from all disaster No
one had ever loved any one as he
loved his little golden duchess; some
times he smiled gravely and indul-
gently when he thought of the poor
| travesties that passed in the world
for alteration.
! When winter hung the world In
silver frost they piled the fire higher
and drew the curtains closer and sat
in dreaming happiness while the
winds roared and lashed over the
world.
Shall I take you to London?, he
asked her.
'London?" she cried in wonder.
"oh, whatever forr'
You're not dull here? You're not
lonely?"
Dull? With your Lonely-lonely
with you?"
After awhile she lifted her head
and locked her fingers fast in his
| and asked: when is your birthday"
"In July-the 25th. Why?"
It'll have q grand present for YOU"
said her grace. "a baby. A baby
| twinkle in both his eyes. A baby
that'll grow tall enough to thrash the
wickedness out OF his black brothers
and have sense enough to laugh in
stead Of doing It,"
He bowed his head over the linked
fingers.
"Biddy. what moro will you give
me. you who have given me all the
| world%
| otis a small thing" she whis-
pered. "July. That will be a year
since you came to see me dancer"
| "a year, my heart"
How many days are there in a
year, did you say?
| Three hundred and sixty-five."
| "a day-a day is a poor short
thing" said her grace. "If I had a
wish. I'd wish them longer. IT'S cold
in here, with the wind roaring down
the chimney. Hold me closer-hold
me fast"
With spring her wish was granted
and the days were longer; not long
| enough to hold the Joy they poured
into them-but filled to the brim with
| pale sunlight and primroses and
| hawthorn hedges. And It was June,
and they were longer still, flooded
with golden warmth and the smell of
yellow roses and life and magic, and
the taste of honey. And II was July,
and 1t was his birthday-and the
| world stood still.
| Her grace gave him the yellow
| headed baby for q birthday present.