Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-10-02


austere man. His duties in
the church demanded it. The
| very weakness of his family
required hardness as a balance,
though there were detractors VINO
limited it was the hardness that kept
| them weak. Only one man dared to
scott or to jolly the austerity. When
ever he and the druggist drew near,
| in the presence of others, the drug
gist roared stories OF how, they two
| had stolen apples together. hlled
themselves full of hard cider and
courted the same girl.
But be that as it may. the deacon's
face now hardened. I'm not askln'
Won as a visitor, remember, but to do
the work" he said frigidly, Ito cook
| an keen the house in order for TWO
weeks. while my wife an darter are
| away. shall pay you wages 4or 1t
| in reason. IT won't be a lark. like
you said .u
The girl dropped her gaze to vel
the merry light that never quite lert
her eyes. You misunderstana my
meaning, Deacon Swank," she SAID IN a
voice that would have made any other
face light up. II was thinking Of
being there. Often girls speak or a
change they like as being a lark. l
| know YOUR place is a very pleasant
one. with shade and fruit trees. for 1t
has been pointed out to me. :,
THAT amt what I'm hirin' you Tor.
he rasped. Its for work" He looked
at her frowningly. undecided. i
wanted an older woman ne srum.
enough to keep children steady In the
fear of the Lord. / have two boys OF
and 10 an a. gal of IA. I'd have her
keen house only she amt strong
enough Most gals are pindlin these
DAYS through too much coddlln.
you have an older daughter Betty.
l think" e,.+
"Bettv's with her ma. It's the fust
time others been off from home, put
it seemed sort of necessity. Her
mas on his last bed an asked Tor
both Of EN- to come But bout you. "
"Don't YOU think I'll suit?"
No" glumly, mot to lark, but We
heen to seven places. an only FOUND
one old one. who smelled or drink:
Then | met the minister, an ne salo
there was a gal up here to MIS-
Cowder who could cook an might
come" He waited. But the girl wait
ed too. well" at last. desperately
| will you come? I've got 10 nave
somebody, an next week the churc -,
has a convention, when delegates WIN
come, an they've p1nted me 10 nelp
send ont the invites. If Mis- SWank
an Rettv was here I'd take In dele
gates. I'd feel obleeged to, bein a
leadin' citizen So" -,
Cant YOU now" asked the girl.
"I will manage the cooking.
Church delegates shouldn't &c,
IN house where girl larks,
gloomilv, TT wouldn't be fittin'.
Then find somebody who IS nj
tim" requested the girl. her eyes
swapping into his. 10,
The deacon recoiled. A mere slIi
defying him. But his need was great.
II can't" he acknowledged. We
wore myselyf out tryin.
"I don't care to be called names any
more. The way you've been twisting
that word lark is all foonshness;
You're too big a man to broWbeat.
can do your work all right, and can
give YOU a table suitable for delegates
if Won care to ask any. But ! won
no cramped. You mustn't come 1nto
the kitchen every time you enter the
house and tell me how few spoon1ui!S
of this and small quantity OF that VIII
do. If | come l must have tull sway
in the kitchen and the mouse ana
enough to do with. And / don't nina
a0QlnS lHdL VIC ioS' i''
sire to come. -. IT,
The deacon opened and shut his
mouth and swallowed hard. But this
girl looked neat and clean, and pretty
though she was and unbecom1ngly
straight eyed, she did look capable.
yes. YES, I'll take you.' he mum
bled. IAN right off. You'll need to
get supper. I'll speak to the store
an YOU can order any-anything you
want-of course, in reason. An-ah
now I'll be goin'. Needn't nave sup.
per till Z, won't be home till then:
A dozen yards away he looked back.
Forgot to ask your name, ne caii t,u;
Minister jest said a gal to Mis-
Cowder."
Deb will be all right" she an
swered-"Deb the kitchen girl"
When Deacon Swank came home
that night he walked slowly. 1t had
been a hard day. But in sight of the
house his steps quickened to almost
run.
The front Of his house was never
opened except on rare occasions When
special visitors came or 1t was TO De
cleaned. Now all the window curtains
were up, the big lamp over the parlor
table was lighted. The hall lamp was
lighted. In the parlor fireplace was
q UlS UldZo VI 1OSoo'
Within he saw the dining room was
lighted the kitchen, 100. From there
came the merry voices Of the children
80 merry that he scarcely recognized
them. Alice, the 14-year-old, the
weakly one, whom he was anxious
about, fairly dubbed with laughter.
Something gripped his heart. Maybe
she was getting better.
Another thing came from the
kitchen with the merry voices and
laughter coffee odor such as the
deacon rarely shifted. He shifted it
now, with a nose in the air in spite
Of his wrath, for he loved coffee.
The clock struck Z. Here's father.
now" cried Johnny, with unwonted
enthusiasm. Hurry up everybody.
I'm hungry" And in his eagerness
he caught hold of his fathers hand
and started to drag him toward the
table; then remembered and would
have SUNK away. but that his father
held him in q firm grasp. Somehow
the little warm hand slipped spon-
taneously into his own awoke a sensa-
ton at once novel and pleasant.
"Oh, father!' cried Alice, we've
been having such a time! Miss De-
borah helped us with our lessons and
told us beautiful Stories"
II see you're pretty well lit up"
said the deacon.
Yes, it seems more cozy and home
no. fvr