Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29


Long days of work, When black dust
rose from the pLotU. Spring came, and
Summer, and he could feel the sea.
John David and Lii sitting in the hammock
that swung across the porch. They were talk"
ing And something cold and heavy filled the
heart Of the listening man as he heard whis-
pered words
"Iill LII"
ooh Jack"
There was the sound Of a kiss
Then, after moment.
"Jack?"
"Yes?" came the answering whisper.
'Do you love me, Jack?"
A pause. silence. Memory was stirring in
the heart Of the man who sat above
Kisses Wild, passionate kisses. Young
kisses.
"IiI, Lill!"
ooh, Dayey-Jack, Oh Jack dear
Another moment:
'"Then-then we're engaged, Jack7"
Another silence. A long silence.
"Lill-" The boys voice sounded older.
changed
ILL I'm going away this month"
"Going away" A harsh little voice. A
hard voice. selfish voice. "Why-why, Jacki"
Eyes"
"But, but Jack, thought thought you'd
De nelping your 1aLner on the Iarm. III pc3CAA~
ing or something :"
The humble OF an answering voice.
Then: why, Davey-JackI There w@g q
cold edge to that soft voice "Jack-you foolish
boy Go to seal Why, you-you-oh, Jack, be
sensible"
ct am, Lii"
"But go to sea! AS common sailorP oh.
Jack, be SeriouSl"
LII, don't laugh Lii, mean it. want
to go. I can't explain It's like q voice
calling me, It's"
frantic note in the answering voice. "JackI
You can't go. JackI Life is serious, Jack why,
Jack, you'd be crazy. Jack, don't you love me2
Don't you want to marry me?-"
ILL, Lii want you. I love you. Lii.
You're so soft and sweet and golden. But ILL.,
II have to CO."
Tears now. Slow sobbing tears. Horrible
conquering tears.
Jack, love you. Jack, you can't leave me-
I'd just die. You can't do this crazy trick.
JackI Life IS serious, Jackl Why, you're o
man now! A grown man, Jack.
Hold me close-close, JackI Kiss me,
Jack"
Silence Conquering silence. The Mttsp
sounds Of a triumphant woman. Shifts Kisses
Murmurs.
John David. John for the Franklin who haA
left his bones on the ice. David for Living
stone. John David.
She had won. She would hold him witt
her baby eyes and her baby face she would
hold him. Him-John David, his son. Hold
him with her wet cheeks and her little cries
and her snif1eS. Hold him with her phrase
Life Is serious Life Is seriousl"
THE man who sat by the open window above
seemed curiously old, curiously gray Life Is
sedious. Life is serious. She had won. The
girl had conquered the dream.
His hands clenched on the sill Of the window.
Was his son to fail as he had failed to miss
what he had missed? Was The night
breeze pulled against his face.
He pondered moment. light grew upon
his face. Yes, it was the way the only way.
He rose slowly 1uxuriously as If suddenly
some great and wonderful realization had come
to him. A slave lifted from chains. Raising
his arms over his head he breathed in the clean
night air. Ah-h-h. Then, slowly, hts stocks
inged feet making no sound on the floor, he
crossed to dresser. He fumbled with layers
OF clothing. When he withdrew his hand q
held something dark, that g1ittered.
The door to his sons room was open. H6
pulled down the blind and turned on the eleO-
tz40-hght that hung over the desk his sOnH