Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-09

suppose most girls nowadays would just
Taught at him, but can't. 1t isn't his
being angry I mind-it would hurt his
feelings so frightfully, If let him down
and went fraternizing with the enemy.
So have to come here on the sly; and,
If there's one thing in the world hate,
it's doing things on the sly. So do rea-
son with that old pig OF an uncle OF
yours, Johnnie. Talk to him like a
mother
Pat" said John fervently, Il don't
know how it's going to be done, but, if
1t can be done, I'll do it,"
That's the stuff You're funny
old thing, Johnnie. In some ways
you're so slow, but believe, when you
really start out to do anything, you
generally put 1t through
Slow" said John, stung. How do
you mean, slow?"
We'll, don't you think you're Slow"
I'm what way?"
ooh, just SLOW"
John piled the paddle wrathfully, and
the boat shot forward.
Don't go so fast" said Pat.
ct thought was SLOW" retorted John.
Pat gurgled in the darkness.
Did I wound you. Johnnie? I'm
sorry. You aren't slow. It's just
prudence, expect"
"Oh, just prudence. I can't ex-
plain"
Prudencel John sat and stared
through the darkness in a futile effort
to see her face. Prudence! Was she
referring =. =? Had she meant e. g?
He came to life and dug the paddle
into the water. OF course she wasn't.
Of course she hadn't. OF course she
didn't n fhot 1ittla m 40
path, he had behaved exactly as he
should have behaved. If he behaved
as he should not have behaved, If he
had behaved as that old flint-ax and
bearSkin John of the stone age would
have had him behave. he would have
behaved unpardonably. The swift in
take of the breath and the "Oh, why
must you spoil everything like this?"-
that was what would have been the re-
suit of listening to the advice of
bounder OF an ancestor who might have
been a social success in his day, but
naturally didn't understand the niceties
of modern civilization.
Nevertheless, he worked with I'M
necessary vigor at the paddle, calling
down another rebuke from his pas
senger.
Don't race along like that. Do you
want to get this over quickly and send
me home to bed?"
NO." was all John could find to say.
We'll, I suppose ought to be think
ing of bed. I'll tell you what Well
do the thing in style. The return by
water. You can take me out into the
SHRINE and down as far as the bridge
and drop me there. Or is that too big
program? You're probably tired
John had motored 200 miles that
day. but he had never felt less tired.
'All right" he said
Push on, them said Pat. "Only do
go slowly. I want to enjoy this.
don't want to whizz by all the old land
marks. How far to Ghost Corner?"
Its just ahead"
well, take it easy"
The noat proper encircled the Hall.
With the gradual spread of peace
throughout the land its original pur-
poses had been forgotten, and later
members Of the family had broadened
it and sprinkled it with little islands,
with the view of converting it into an
ornamental lake. Apparently, it came
to an end at the spot where a mass of
yew-trees stood forbiddingly in gloomy
row, that haunted spot that Pat as a
child had named Ghost Corner; but. If
you approached this corner intrepidly
you found there a narrow channel.
Which navigated. you came into a
winding stream that led past meadows
and under bridges to the upper reaches
of the Shrine.
How old were you, Johnnie, when
you were first. brave enough to come
past Ghost Corner at night, all by your
self?" asked Pat.
II did it on my sixteenth birthday"
What made you such a hero that
particular day."
you had bet me wouldn't, If you
remember"
And you went and did It? Oh, dearl
It's funny to think Of you and me as
kids on this very bit of water, and here
we are again now, old and worn and
quite different people, and the waters
Just the same as ever"
John stopped padding. "I'm not
different at ALL" he said. ct -"
He broke off. He had been on the
verge Of saying that he had loved her
then and that he loved her still-which,
he perceived, would have spoiled every
thing. I'm just the same" he con-
cluded lamely.
Then why don't you sport with me
on the green as you did when you were
a growing lad? Have you been back