Evening star., 1924-09-20
Continued from Yesterdays Star.)

Teresa congratulated herself on a
bright stroke of business and all
went on as before.
Eli and Bohemia worked out early
and late; the weather could not have
been bettered and the crops promised
wonders. Eli, surveying the propi-
tiouS fields, was relieved to think
Ortho would be, back for harvest, else
he did not know how they would
get it home.
No word had come from the wan
derer. None was expected but he
was sure to be back for August; he
had sworn to be. Ortho was back on
the 4th of July.
Eli came in from work and, to his
surprise, found him sitting in the
kitchen relating the story of his ad-
ventures. He had a musical voice,
Gallo trick of gesticulation and no
compunction whatever about laugh
ing at his own jokes. His recital was
most vivaciouS.
Even Teresa guffawed-in spite of
herself. She had intended to haul
Master Ortho over an exceedingly hot
bed of Goals when he returned, but
for the moment she could not bring
herself to it He had started talking
before she could, and his talk was
extremely diuerting; she did not want
to interrupt it. Moreover, he looked
handsomer than ever-tall, graceful,
darkly sparkling. She was proud of
him, her mother sense stirred. He
was very like herself.
From hints dropped here and there
she guessed he had met with not
few gallant episodes on his travels
and determined to sit up after the
others had gone to bed and get de-
tails out of him. They would make
spicy hearing. Such a boy must be
irresistible. The more women he had
ruined the better she would be
pleased, the greater the tribute to
her offspring. She was a predatory
animal herself and this was her own
cub. AS for the wigging, that could
wait until they fell out about some
fly at him in cold blood she could
not. not for the moment.
Ortho jumped out of his chair
when Eli entered and embraced him
with great warmth, commented on
his growth. thumped the boys deep
chest. pinched his biceps~ and called
to Bohemia to behold the coming
champion.
MY Lord, but here's a chicken
thatll claw the breast feathers out
o thee before long, old fighting
or Cornwall-eh, them"
Bohemia grinned and wagged his
grizzled poll.
"Stap me, little brother, I'd best
keep a civil tongue before thee, SEEM
me. Well, as l was saying"
He sat down and continued his
narrative.
Eli leaned against the settle, listen
ing and looking at Ortho. He was
\ l. -.
he had not the appearance of a man
with $500 in his possession. He
wore the same suit of clothes in
which he had departed and it was
in an advanced state of dilapidation;
the braid edging hung in strings, one
elbow was barbarously patched with
a square of sailcloth and the other
was out altogether. His high wool
stockings were mere network and
his boots lamentable. However, that
was no criterion; gypsying was 4
rough life and it would be foolish
to spell good clothes on it. Ortho
himself looked worn and thin; he
had a nasty. livid cut running the
length of his right cheek bone and
the gesticulating palms were raw
with open blisters, but his gay laugh
rang through the kitchen, melodious
inspiring. He bore the air of sue
cess; all was well, doubtless.
Eli fell to making calculations.
Ortho had five hundred pounds, Teresa
still had a hundred; that made six.
Ortho would require a hundred as
capital for next year, and then. if
he could repeat his success, they
would be out of the trap. He felt
d rush of affection for his brother,
ragged and worn from his gallant
battle with the world-and all for
his sake. Tregors mattered com
paratively little to Ortho, since he
was giving it up and was fully pro-
vided for with Bosula- Orthos gen
erosity overwhelmed him. There was
nobody like Ortho.
The gentleman in question finished
an anecdote with a clap of laughter,
sprang to his feet, pinned his tenn
porarily doting mother in her chair
and kissed her, twitched Martha's
bonnet strings loose, punched Bo-
henna playfully in the. chest, caught
Eli by the arm and swung him into
the yard.
Come aLross to the stable, my old
dear; I've got something to show
you
"Horse?"
Lord, no, I've got no horse.
Walked from Padstow.
"You!-walked"
"Yes, heel and toe :. two days.
God, my feet are sore"