Evening star., 1923-08-26

even me- I says, because they don't
spare nobody! Why. look. says.
Amt they goin' after Milo Carter
almost as much as they are you and
Henry 1 says. 'on account of what
happened to Milo's store" 1 says.
And look at z. ]. Fuller, l says.
Amt the name Of Gran'mammy
Tipsytoe perty near fastened on him
fer good? He don't go all up and
down pickin' at his best friend
says. 'E. J. Fuller's got little COM
mon sense" I says"
Mortimer sighed. and prepared to
conclude the interview.
Yes. sir, them two chuldern, Maud
and Bill. have perty much got our
whole little city buffaloed! They's
quite some talk goin' on about the
brain work you been showin', Lu.
expect your reputation never did
stand no higher in that line than
what it does right today. l shouldn't
wonder it'd bring you a good deal
extra law practice, Lu! Mrs. Rolfo
Williams says she always did know
you were the smartest man fin this
town"
Now what are you talking about"
Lucius demanded. sharply.
Coin out O. town" said Mortimer
admiringly. "Keepin' out the way o
them chuldern and lettin' other fell
lers take the brunt of 'em. Yes, sir;
there isn't soul raises the question
but what their mother is the finest
nr
but what she does every last thing
any mortal could do in the line o
disciplinn; but much as everybodyd d
enjoy to git better acquainted with
her and begin to see somep'n OF her.
they all think she's liable to lead kind
of lonesome life in our community
unless" Mortimer paused with his
hand upon the knob unless
somep'n happens to Maud and Bill.
He departed languidly, his farewell
coming back from the stairway: so
long, Lu."
x*
Mr.. Allen pushed aside his work
and went to a locked recess beneath
his book shelves. Therefrom he took
the blue parasol, and a small volume
in everything dissimilar to the heavy
calf bound legal works that concealed
all the walls of the room; and, re-
turning TO his swivel-chair, placed the
parasol gently upon the desk. Then.
allowing his left hand 10 remain
lightly upon the parasol. he held the
little book in his right and read mu-
singly.
Some portions of the book he read
over and over. and there was one part
of it in which his interest seemed
quite unappeasable. Again and again
he turned back to the same page: but
at last. as the room had grown dark
er, he let the book rest in his lap,
took off his glasses and used them to
beat time to the rhythm of the ca
dences, as he murmured, half-aloud: ::
The lamplisht seems to glimmer with
flicker of surprise,
AS / turn it low to rest me OF the dazzle In
And light my pipe in silence. save sigh
that seems to yoke 80
Its fate with my tobacco and 10 vanish Win
the smoke.
'Tis fragrant retrospectiOn-fOr the loving
thoughts that start
And TO dream the old dreams over is a lux
ury divine
When my truant fancy wanders with that eld
sweetheart of mine.
He fell silent: then his lips moved
again:
And thrill beneath the glsnces Of a pair
As glowing as the summer and as tender as
the skies.
! can see
Suddenly he broke off, and groaned
aloud: MY SOUL" he said all in
breath And thirty-fve years old
blame near thirty-six"
He needs Interpretation, this unfor-
tunate Lucius He had never been
afraid Of anybody else's children. NO;
II had to be hers! And he knew ne
was afraid of them because they were
hers. He was a man who had always
got on" with children beautifully;
but he was afraid of Maud and Bill
of what they would do to him and OF
what they would think of him.
At last he bestirred himself. He
knew that Saruly, his darky cook,
must be waiting for him with impa-
thence. Having glanced down into the
square and found II virtually devoid
of life, for this was the universal hour
Of supper, he set his brown straw hat
upon his head and took the parasoi
under his arm-merely for the pleas
ure of it's society.
Upon the bottom step OF the flight
of stairs that led down to the street,
he found seated a small figure in.
white sailor suit" This figure rose
and spoke politely.
How do you do?" it said. Are
you Uncle Lucius?"
who What's your name?'
"Blll, Bill Ricketts," said Bill.
Luclus made'a hasty motion to re-
ascend the stairs, but Bill confidingiy
proffered a small, clean hand that Mr..
Allen was constrained to accept. Once
having accepted 1t. he found himself
expected to retain it.
Mamma lef me sittin' here to wait
till you came down stairs" Bill ex-
planned. THAT man that came out
said he was pretty sure you were up
there. She told me to wait till either
YOU came downstairs or she came
back for me. She wants her parasol.
Come on!"
Come on where?"
up to your house." said Bill. "She
lef' Maud waitin' UP there for you
x
TT was the truth. And after a
j rather hurried walk, during which
the boy spoke not once unless spoken
to, but trotted contentedly at Luctus'
side. confidingly hand-in-h hand with