Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-21


be less able to bear them One might hate her
In ones jealous pain; but-was she comfortable
out there. IN Nathans big new barn?
Slowly Sarah raised her aching, weary body
from its cramped position, dashed cold weser
from a pitcher on her swollen eyes and tear
stained cheeks draped her rich mourning ven
over her disarranged hair and stepped softly
out into the passageway.
The sp1endOr Of the great star overhead
fairly took Sarah's breath as she emerged from
the court yard It cast her shadow sharp and
black ON the hard-tr0dden ground and seemed
to have dropped even lower than before.
Closing the gate softly behind her, she hurried
toward the huddled outbuildings.
Everything was stiI as she entered the
stable, clean and warm, and sweet with the
scent Of the high-piled hay. The beasts IN
their stalls were unwontedly quiet. No restless
movements no lowing whinnying greeted
her as she passed along in q hush more perfect
than she had ever experienced, to where, ut
the further end, an old man stood just outside
q kind Of shallow grOtto in the rock wall
against which the stable was built.
At the sound Of her almost noiSeless steps
he turned, laying cautionaTy finger to his
lips. Through an opening in the roof the light
Of the star poured with the silVery brilliance
Of the fun moon, and as Sarah tiptoed closer
she saw that the girls time had indeed been
nearer than Nathan knew. Her eyes were deep
In shadows Of exhaustion, but her pale face
seemed to shine with q kind Of inner radiance
as she moved o corner Of the blanket, disclos-
ing IN the curve Of her arm baby. And at
the sight Of the baby Sarah fell TO her Knees
beside them.
For In that tiny just-bOrn child every beazty.
every charm and grace Of infancy seemed to
have been concentrated Rosy and sturdy and
as beautifully formed a much older infant,
he lay awake, but contented, his eyes seeming
TO smile upon the black-robed visitor bending
TREMENDOUSLY ever him, his little golden head
shining in the light from the star, so that it
seemed to CLEAN of itself.
Surely even the cherubin could not be half
so beautiful as thisl And miracHlously the
mere gazing upon him soothed the broken heart
Of Sarah instead Of stabbing it.
TREMBLNG, she slipped finger into one
W Of the little folded Asts and - the tiny
hand closed and held there swept through her
. wave Of utter happiness. what manner Of
child was this she found herself wondering,
Whose grasp could comfort Q hereaved mother2
Had she No woman with her?" whispered
Sarah 10 the man. For the worn young mother
had once more closed her eyes.
He shook his head. mo-" he answered, 1--WE
had not expected II 20 soon and we are strangers
here"
"she needs warm miIk," sarah said practi-
cally, land extra covering" And wrapping her
Vel about her ne hastened hack 70 the inn ana
into the Kitchens where the servants were
huETying about the mAdnisht orders q lAAe
eOmeEs into the town.
There b . new hahy IN the stable" she sid.
And the astUnishe6 WuEaem saw that she wns
smiling. '8eAt me milk - once 40r the m0Ehe1
while fetch msre blankets. No, need No
help other than that-T am going back myself"
faint color eFept into the cheeks Of TIE
g1El in the stable after she had drunk the cupful
Of milk. and Sarah with deft hands had 81
tusted the thicker cOVeT3et upOn her.
And al the while the baby lay beside her,