The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20


He hunted up new clothes and hung
them on the shaking fgure-an over
coat and a soft hat. 1t seemed n
charitable thing to clothe him with
warmth. In due time someone stole
the overcoat, and Evans found the
poor thing stripped. It gave him a
sense of shock to find two crossed
sticks where once had been the SEM
blance of man. But he tried again.
This time with an old bathrobe and
a disreputable cap. "It will keep
you warm until spring, old chap"
The scarecrow and his sartorial
changes became a matter of much
discussion among the Negroes. Since
Evans visits were nocturnal. the
whole thing had an effect of mys-
terry until the bathrobe proclaimed
its owner. Mist Evans done woh'
dat e'vy day." old Mary told Mrs.
Toilette. "Whuffor he dress up dat
OF sca'crow in de fel'?"
what scarecrow?"
Old Mary explained, and that
night Mrs. Toilette said to her son,
"The darkies are getting supersti-
tions. Did you really do it?"
His somber eyes we're lighted for
a moment. "It's just a whim of
mine, Mumsie. had sort of fell
low feeling"
"How queer!"
mot as queer as you might
think" He went back to his book.
No one but Jane should know the
truth.
And so he played the game. Work
ing in his office, dancing with Edith
and Baldy, Cumming with the
boys, dressing up the scarecrow. It
seemed sometimes a desperate
game-there were hours in which he
wrestled with doubts. Could he ever
get back? Could he? There were
times when it seemed he could not.
There were nights when he did not
sleep. Hours that he spent on his
knees.
So the December days sped, and
it was Just a week before Christmas
that Evans read the following in
his little book. 'Dined with the
Prestons. Told fathers ham story.
Great hit. Potomac frozen over.
Skated in the moonlight with Flor
ence Preston.-Great stunt-home
to hot chocolate"
Once more the Potomac was fro
zen over. Florence Preston was
married. But he mustn't let the
thing pass. The young boy Evans
would have tingled with the thought
of that frozen river.
It was after dinner, and Evans
was in his room. He hunted I'D
Baldy. "Look here, old chap, there's
skating on the river. Can't we take
Sandy and Arthur with us and have
an hour or two of it? Your car will
do the trick"
Baldy laid down his book. ''I have
no philanthropies on a night like
this. Moonlight. I'll take you and
the boys and then I'll go and get
Edith Towne" He was on his feet.
"A (14A ftCA 0P
The small boys we're rapturous
and riotous over the plan. When
they reached the ice, and Evans
lame leg threatened to be a hin.
drance, the youngsters took him be.
tween them, and away they sailed ir
the miraculous world-three muske
teers of good fellowship and fun.
Badly having brought Edith, pu
on her skates, and they few away
like birds. She was all in warn
white wool-with white furs, anc
Badly wore white sweater anc
cap. The silver of the night seemed
to clothe them in shining armor.
Badly said things to her that made
her pulses beat She found herself {
little frightened.
you're such a darling poet. Blu
life isn't in the least what you thinl
| it,
what do | think it?"
"Oh, all mountains and peaks anc
moonlight nights."'
| well, it can be-"
Dear child, it can't. I have M
| Illusions"
"You think you haven't"
1t was late when at last they tool
off their skates and Edith invited
them all to 60 home with her. "We'l
have something hot. I'm as hungry
as dozen bears"
The boys giggled. $50 am T.
said Sandy Stoddard. But Arthu,
said nothing. His eyes were occu
pied to the exclusion of his tongue
Edith looked to him like some ange
straight from heaven. He had neve
seen anyone so particularly lovely.
/ ITO he Continuedl