Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-02

well. he amt a amin for the
poor farm, is he? 1t amt none of
our business If an old sailor wanders
past. Lord knows, enough of 'em
wander in. Trouble with you, Rudy,
Is your hearts too tender"
The stopped young man still fol-
lowed with his. dim gray eyes the
ragged figure that stumbled its un-
certain way up from the beach.
There" Rudy's voice had a tri-
umphant ring. Hes fallen down,
Mrs. Casey, I'll bet he's hungry"
oh. pshaw.' clustered the ample
lady. who was matron Of the poor
farm. but Rudy knew that she was
relieved at an excuse to bring in the
derelict. We'll. go on and fetch him.
You generally get your way"
1t was. indeed, a pitiful figure that
Rudy ushered into the hospital kitch-
en-one of that fraternity of the sea
who often fall upon evil days.
He pulled his battered cap from
his head and Strengthened with an
attempt at dignity as he met the
bright gaze OF Mrs. Casey.
Madam, I AMI am" A fit of
coughing seized him and be would
have fallen but for Rudy's thin arm
about him.
Mercy sakes. Coming down with
pheumony or I'm no guesser. Rudy.
take him into old Sipes' room and get
him into bed and We'll sweat him
good --e<'.
Two hours later Rudy called his
employers attention again to the
wind-swept road.
The puckered face of Mrs. Casey
softeped ineXpressibly as she looked.
Fay Evelyn-bless her. Flowers.
poor as she iS?'
Poor" echoed Rudy. roundeyed.
Don't she live In the big house and
ain't she got---everything?"
Mrs. Casey gt-unted.
Il got to consider you're a fair re
cent conner. That big house is all her
mother left Fay Evelyn. What you
'spoSe that girls clerkin' in the post
Office for?"
why. why" stammered Rudy,
feeling his striney muscles swell with
sudden strength. For Rudy wor-
SHIPPED from afar.
Mrs. Casey brooded over the bright
figure flashing up the path.
Just one thing wrong with Fay
Evelyn. Shes ambitious. Wants
more thal III e can give.
Amt = amt ambition proper"
asked Rudy. swallowing, He had
dreamed Of owning a little farm some
day, with horse and two cows
three cows, possibly.
They ,were interrupted by the en-
trance OFF, the girl. She shook her
hair out of her eyes and hug
ged Mrs. Caesy and handed her flow
erS to tho dumb Rudv
Put them In the little cups. will
you. Rudy? There's q dear. And I
want to take them around myself,
"BZut, dearie." Mrs. Casey still held
the girl. You bring them so often
and you can't Afford"
Fay Evelyn laughed and Rugged
the older woman again.
Don't you worry. I work i'm the
an hour a day for old
Mr.. Beasley and he pays me in flow.
ers. And then / am paid again by
the light in these old faces. And in
yours. Mother Casey"
The girl.added the last in a whisper
and clung for a moment. For the
longing for her dead mother swept
over Fay Evelyn often these days.
The duties .of the late afternoon
Rudy to the barns. SO Fay Evelyn
was alone as she distributed, her flow
ers and her smiles through Che rooms
and the big ward. q
Let's see..' d. She paused in the !
hallway, one last cup Of flowers in
her hand. Mother Casey said there
was a new man in poor old Sipes'
room"
AS she opened the door she heard |
the weary ntutter of delirislm. She |
did not hesitate, for she was used to
that. AS she set the flowers on a
stand beside the window the voice |
cleared and the shrunken )
figure on the bed spoke in the ringing
tones of a young man In his strength.
Evelyn, Evelyn, Evelyn"
Astounded, half frightened, the girl
c1asped the bed rail and stared down.
Rudy had accomplished a good deal
with a safety razor and a pair of
shears. \ subtle line of strength lay
along the jaw of the derelict. There
was even a hint of. hauteur in the
srching brows.
Fay Evelyn pressed her hand to her
side and wondered if she had dreamed
hat ringing cry.
The man on the he'd spoke again |
ships. The lights OF home"
The voice softened with indescrib- |
able sadness upon the last word. |
Then. very gently:
Evelyn, you knew.
Evelyn. Her mothers name. that /
deep-eyed mother who had sat at the !,
window to watch whenever a rare !
ship rode at anchor in their tiny har /
bor Her mother had never watched =;
for the fishing fleet since the far-off
day when 10 men out Of the so who
had gone away had beached their
boats in a flood tide. and Fay Evelyn's