Evening star., 1923-08-26


Allen was taking leave of his lovely
friend.
will you come this evening,
Lucius, and help me decide on some
remodeling for the house," she asked
No, thanks" said Mr.. Allen. IT
never could decide which / thought
your voice was like, Lucy; a harp or
violin. Doesn't make any difference
what you say. whenever you speak
person can't help thinking OF wild
roses shaking the dew off of 'em
In the breeze. that blow along about
sunrise"
Mrs. Ricketts, looked at him stead
ily When will YOU come and help
me with the plans?" she asked
Il don't know" Mr.. Allen returned
absently; and he added with immediate
enthusiasm: Il never in my life saw
any girl whose hair made such a
lovely shape to her head as yours,
Lucy. It's the one thing In the world
without any fault at all--the only
thing just perfect--except your nose
and maybe the Parthenon when it
was new"
That brought a laugh from her. and
Lucius grew rosy. BY George. he
said. ITO hear you laugh again.
You always did make me laugh,
Lucius"
Especially if l had anything the
matter with me-" he said. IF had
a headache or tooth ache I'd always
come around to get you to laugh.
it wouldn't 60 away till you laughed
two or three times!"
She laughed the more: then she
sighed. "Over ten years. almost
eleven-and You saying things like
this to every girl and woman you met,
all the time"
Well" Mr.. Allen said, thoughtfully.
nobody takes much notice what a
chunky kind of man with a reddish
head and getting a little bald says.
Its quite privilege"
CHE laughed again. and sighed
~ again. DO you remember how
we used to sit out here in the even
fngS under the trees, Lucius? One of
the things I've often thought about
since then was how, when you were
here. papa and mamma would bring
their chairs and join us. and you'd
talk about the moon, and astronomy
and the hundred years war. and"
Yes" Lucius interrupted ruefully.
And then some other young fellow
would turn up-some slim. dark
haired Orlando-and I'd be talking
astronomy with the old folks, but you
and Orlando were strolling under the
stars-and didn't care what they
were made off,
NO" she said. II mean what I've
mamma never joined US unless you
were here. 1t took me long while to
understand that Lucius; but finally
did. Do the girls and boys still sit
out in the yards in the evenings.
Lucius?"
Not so much" he answered. "These
ten years have changed the world,
Lucy. Money and gasoline. Bore
Thompson's about the only man in
town that's still got any use for a
hitching post. BY tomorrow after
noon at the latest. you'll find his
old white horse and phaeton tied to
the ring in the hand OF that little
old cast-iron niger boy in front Oh
your gate yonder."
Mrs. Ricketts, glanced at the decora-
ton he mentioned; then she smlled.
That's one of the things l want you
to advise me about" she said. i doh
know how much of the place TO after
and how much to leave as 1t is. ana
why will / find Mr.. Thompsons
horse tied to our poor old cast-lroh
darky boy?"
Hes seen you, hasn't heE
"Yes, but he looked startled when
smoke to him. Besides, when L was
girl. he was one of the beaux OF the
town, and he never came then.
He will now," said Lucius.
ooh. surely not,r she protested,
little dismayed
He couldn't help it If he tried, poor
thing"
You seem to be able to help it,
Lucius,' she said. "Of course you
don't know that the way you declined
to come this evening is one OF the
things that make life seem such a
curious and mixedup thing to me.
After when I'd gone away from
here to live. you were what L always
when l thought OF Mar
low. Lucius. And remembered things
you'd sIsid to me that handt thought
of at all when you were saying them.
1t was so strange! I've got to KNOW
ing you better and better all the long,
long time I've been away from you. ,
1t. seems queer and almost a little
wicked to say 1t, but / could remem-
ber you even more clearly than
could papa and mamma-and. oh! how
I'VE looked forward to seeing you
again and to having you talk to me
about everything! Why won't you
come this evening? Aren't you really
glad I'm home again?"
"That's the trouble" he said.
what in the world do you mean?"
she cried
"I gather" he said. slowly. ffrom
what you've said, that you think
more about me when I'm not around
where you have to look at me! Be-
sides"
BESIDES what?" she insisted, as he
moved toward the gate.
"rm afraid" said Lucius; and his
voice was husky and honest. "I'm
afraid" he repeated seriously. I'm
afraid to meet Maud and BILL"
She uttered half q word Of protest.
and 1t went unheard. Frowning. she /
stood watching his departure Then,
all at once, she pressed an insignif- ,