The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-07-12

1865 ANFhNsNsaAt
What you soln' to dor shelasked
him.
Go on playing the duke. I sup.
pose; rebuild the castle tho best way
] can. That's tho hard part, II /
could run away and forget, butt
can't The old duke walled himself
in. lie must grin and strut and
keep people from guessing that he's
only fraud untn he can find a
hole In the wall thru which 10 can
creep"
There was long silence, then
Ma inquired; Would you like 10
tell me something about the little
prineesss Sometimes Il helps, TO
talk"
"N.not yet
You're a duke. an the best one
that ever lived. Mr., Gray. You
can't fool me: I've met too many %
en- That lookin' glass lied! Real
dukes an klngs an such people
don't get old, It's only common
folks There's lots Of mage. tho
worlds fun OF It. an your castle is
goin' up again"
After a fashion. perhaps Gray
raised his head and smiled crook.
edly-"but Il will never be a home.
and that's what l wanted most ot
all DO you think I'm very weak.
very silly 70 come 10 you for a
little motherng7''
That's the kind Of children moth.
ers love best" the old woman said,
then she drew him down 10 her and
laid her cheek against his,
There! I've made you cry" he
exclaimed. reprOaehfully., What a
selfish beast I am, III so now"
Wont you stay an have supper
with Anio an me? Were awful
lonesome with Pa gone. Allies out
somer's. hai-it would do me good
70 know you were here an nn do
you good 10 stay. You can rest
yourself while I take my nap.
Ma Brlskow did not wish 10 take
nap. but she knew that Gray
needed the salaee of hts own
thoughts just now. so. when he
agreed she sent him downstairs.
First balm. Indeed. had come 10
the man; The smart was less intense
To put hts trouble into words some.
how lightcned Il, then. too. the
grateful knowledge that some
warmth OF sympathy was his made
Ii easier to bear. But Il remained
a cruel burden. That gentle. dreamy
souid up yonder could not know
how Il hurt. How could she under.
stand. for instance. what Il meant
20 so back and face the deadly dull
routine Of a life from which all
zesi. all interest. had fled7 a rou-
tine broken only by moments OF
downright torture. Yes. and the ef.
fort Il would take 70 smile. God,
II there were only some way TO
b.eak his fettcrs. slip his gives.
Gray's brain. like his body. had
grown tired and feyerish. To be
sure. little more than day had
gone By since he had sailed forth
like a knight. but Il seemed a year.
IN age. and every hour brought a
new and keener distress. He found
Il possible now. for the first time.
10 relax a bit physically. 30 he
closed his eyes and lay back in an
easy chair while the twilight stole
IN upon him. Sooner or later his
mind. too. would cease its torment,
for pain distiis It's own anodync.
Then he would sleep. II would be
blessing 20 forget for even an
hour. and thus gain strength with
which TO carry on the fight. But
what useless battle IL vast He
could never win. peace would never
come.
He heard Allie enter the house.
but he did not stir. He would have
70 put on the mask soon enough.
for, OF course. she must never sus-
pect. on Buddy's account The
room, which had grown agreeabiy
dark. was suddenly Illuminated. and
he lurched to his feet to find the
girl facing him from the door. She
was neither startled nor surprised
at his presence. and when he tried
TO smile and TO greet her in his
accustomed manner. she interrupted
him by saying:
Il knew you were here"
"So2 Then Ma IL awake again p
Allie shook her head vaguely. Il
knew YOU were here the minute I
came In. can most always tell"
There had been n shadow OF a smile
upon her lips. but it vanished: n
look Of growing concern crept over