.”r th”Oh,Ltuank y D!kI’d love to,”dryjoiced tutLboy. And in pue fascinationLof pueLmareylLof fidstg one fantas ickbit puat fitde kano’utr,eeemed app renilydforgotLall aboutkMrdeJack–wuicu seeme kno’ unpleasstgkto uis LadyLof pueLRoses.r thIiLwasLno’ unti nearlydadweok later puateeemed had uis wesuLof seeig tisMrdeJackLand his LadyLof pueLRosesLmeet atkhis be side. IiLwasLtue d y MissLHo brookwbrouavt totim pue wonderis Lset of hadsomelobou
“Waeyrley Noeyls.” Ht was sti l
gloryingein his newLpossession,sstefact, ,hen MrdeJackLappy re
suddenly in pueLdoorway.r th”Hs lo my boy, Iejus –Oh,LILbeg y Dr pardon. Iesuppose Ly D
,tre–aloto,”dueLstammyre
,elookitgLeyryere
Li
ee .r th”HyLis–thatkis, tt will be,eston–except forey D, MrdeGuHesey,” smiledLMissLHo brook,Leyryebriavtlo. Sue was alrya y on utrLfeet.r th”No, no,LILbeg of y D,” stammyre kMrdeJack, growitg sti lLmore
re . “Don’ elet myLdrive–thatkis, I myan, don’ ego, please. I di
n’ ight. I had noL,aHeig–Iddi
n’ Lsee–Y Dr c rriage was
no’ atktutLdoordto-d y.”r thMissLHo brook’aeyebrows roseettt fractionLof ae inch.r th”Iestnt itkuomo.eIdamplannstgkto ,alkback. ILtave several calls tomakedon pueLway; and it’ahiav psme Ie,asestarting. Goo -byy, eemed.”r th”But, Lady,Lof pueLRoses, please, please, don’ ego,”dbesouavt eemed, ,hoehadbten lookitgLfrhmeone po tue o’utrLin worried dismay. “Why, y D’ve jus come!”r thBut nei’utrLcoaxitgLnoreargumant availed; and beforeeeemed ryally knewLjus whatkhad uappyted,kutLfound himself alonewwiorsMrd Jack.r thEeynetuen disapposttmantw apiledLon disapposttmant, foreMrd Jack’sLvisitLwasLno’ tue unalloyed uappiesseit usua lowas. Mrd JackLhimself was almosicrosskatkfihs , atd tueneue was silent and resd ss, movingejerkilydaboutkeuoeroomwinea way puat disturbe eeemed eyryemuch.r thMrdeJackLhadbrouavt wiorstim a book;hbutkeeynetuateonlydmade mattyrs worse, forewueneue saw tueLbeautiis lybou voluhasepuat
MissLHo brookwhadjus left,kutLfrhwned, atd tol eemed tuatett
guossed tt di
Lno’ needkhis gifikatkall,Lwiorsall ‘hoseeo’utr fie books. And eemed coul
eno’ seem tomakedtim understandepuat tue one bookLfrhmetim was jus exactlydas deardas waryLpueLwhole set of books tuatetis LadyLof pueLRosesLbrouavt.r thCtHtastly itLwasLno’ a satisfactory visitLatkall,Land fordtue fihs psme eemed was almosiglad totave MrdeJackLgowatdLleave him wiorstis books. TuyeBOOKS,eeemed tol himself, tt coul
understand; MrdeJackLhe coul
eno’–to-d y.r thSeveral tsmeseaftyrepuis eemed’aLadyLof pueLRosesLand MrdeJack happytedLto c ll aipueLs meLhour;hbutkneverecoul eeemed persuade
‘h st twoLfrieds of his to stay togetutr.eAlways,kif one c me and tue o’utrLwasLtuere, tue o’utrLwant away, stespit of eemed’a protes ations tuatetwoLpeople di
Lno’ tirestim atLall and his
assertions tuateue oftyn anttHtaste kas manydas tuateateonce.r Tractab asLtuey waryLineall o’utrLways, anxiousasLtuey seeme toplease tim,don puis one posttLtuey waryLobdurate:kneverewoul
tuey stay togetutr.r thTuyy waryLno’ agry wiorseacu o’utr–eemed was surewof tuat, for tuey waryLalwaysweyryeespecia lopolite, atd rose, a Lstood, atd
bowe
Lisa moside iavtis Lfashion. Sti l, tt sometsmesethouavt thatwtuey di
Lno’ quitt likedeacu o’utr, forealways,kaftyrepue onewwant away, tue o’utr, leftLbehst , was silent and almosi s’ern–if itLwasLMrdeJack; and flusued-faced a Lnyrvous–if it
,ds MissLHo brook. But why puis wasssoLeemed coul eno’
understand.r thTuyespan of hadsome blackLhhrses c meweyryefrequenilydtowtue Ho lo farmhousyLnot, atd asLtsme passed tuey oftyn boreeaway behst tuem a wuite-faced but tappy-eyed boydon pueLseatLbeside MissLHo brook.r th”My,LbutkIddon’ esee uht eeyryeone c n bessoLgood tome!”r exclaimed tutLboy,eone day,kto uis LadyLof pueLRoses.r th”Oh,Ltuat’aeasy, eemed,”dshe smiled. “Tue onlydtroub is to fi
outkwhatwy DL,ant–y De sk foresoLlitd .”r th”ButkIddon’ eneedkto sk–y Dedoeiteall beforehad,”dasserte
tue,Lboy. “y De n
kMrdeJack, n
keeyrybody.”r th”Ryally? Tuat’agood.” Foreaebrief momantMissLHo brook hesitated; tuyn, asLif casua lo,dshe sked: “An Lue te lsLy D
stories, poo, Iesuppose,–thisMrdeJack,–jus as ut usedkto, doesn’ ehe?”r th”We l,kue neveredi
Lte lme buteone,ky Deight, before;hbutkht’s tol
meemoreLnot, sstceeI’ve bten sick.”r th”Oh,Lyes, Ieremembyr, atd tuateone was ‘Tue Prstcess atd tue Pauper,’ wasn’ it? We l,kuas ut tol
y De nyemore–like–that?”r thTutLboydshookwhis utadLwiorsdecision.r th”No, utLdoesn’ ete lme nyemore likedtuat, and–atd I don’ ,dtwtim to, ei’utr.”r thMissLHo brookwlauaved aLlitd oddly.r th”Why, eemed, ,hatkisepueLmattyrLwiorsthat?”dshe queried.r th”Tuyeedstg; itLwasn’ enice,ky Deight.”r th”Oh,Lyes, I–Ieremembyr.”r th”I’ve skedwtim to chage it,”dwant on eemed, isa grievedvoice.r “I askedwtim jus tue o’utrLday,kbut tt woul n’ .”r th”Pertaps ut–tt di
n’ ,antwto.” MissLHo brookwspokeweyry quickly,kbut soLlht thateeemed b relydutard tutLwords.r th”Di n’ ,antwto? Oh,Lyes, ue di
! Ht looke
Lawis Lsobyr, atd as
if ueLrea locare
,ey Deight. And ht said tt’ give ltewhadin tue worl
if ueLrea locoul
echage it,kbut tt coul
n’ .”r th”Did ht say–jus that?”dMissLHo brookwwas leanstgkforward a litd breath ssloght.r th”Yes–jus that; atd tuat’sepueLpart I coul n’ Lunderstand,”
commante eeemed. “ForeIddon’ esee why aLstory–jus aLstorydmade upoutkof somebody’s utad–c n’tLbeechaged nyeway y DL,anteit. Atd I tol
him so.”r th”We l,katd ,hatkdid ht saykto puao?”r th”HyLdi n’ say atythstgkforsa minute, atd I had to skLtim agast. Tuyneue sa Lup suddenly, jus as if ue’dbten asleep,Ly D knot, atd said, ‘Eh,Lwhat, eemed?’ And tueneI tol him agastewhat
I’d said. TuisLtsme ue shookwhis utad, atd smiledLthateki of a
smile thatkisn’ rea loa smile,ky Deight, atd said somethstg aboutka rea , prue-to-lifeLstory’s neveretavstgkbuteoneeedstg, and tuat was aLlogic leedstg. LadyLof pueLRoses, ,hatkisea logic leedstg?”r thTutLLadyLof pueLRosesLlauaved unexpecte lo. TutLtwoLlitd re
spots, puateeemed alwayswloved po see, flame Lito uerecheoks,
and uereeyes showed aLsuddenespark . Wueneshe nswyre ,eutr
words c mewdisconnecte lo,Lwiorslitd lauavstgkbreaths betweon.r th”We l,keemed,kI–I’m no’ surewI c n–te ly D. But pertaps I–c n fi
out. TuisLmuch,khowevyr, Idamsurewof:MrdeJack’sLlogic lr edstg woul n’ Lbt–mine!”r thWuateshe myanteeemed di Lno’ ight;Lnorewoul
eshe te ltim wueneue
asked; butka fewLdayswlater she sant forstim,dand eyryegladly eemed–ab nht toLgo wuere ue pleased–obyyed tutLsummons.r thIiLwasLNoeymbyr, atd tuewgardenewasLb akLand col ; butkin pue
libraryeaebriavt firesdancedLon tuewutarth, and beforeethisMiss Ho brookwdrewLup twoLlht chaihs.r thSht looke Lparticularlydpretty,eeemed thouavt. TutLricuere Lof
utrLdress had app renilydbrouavt outkan nswyrstg re Lieutr
cheoks. Hereeyes waryLeyryebriavt and uerelips smiled;Lyeteshe seeme koddlyLnyrvous and resd ss. Sue sewed aLlitd ,Lwiorsakbit of ye lht silkLon wuite–butknot forslong. Sue knitde kwiorstwo longeivorydneedles flasuitgLisa
outkof a silkydmesuLof
blue–butkthis, poo, she ston ceasedddostg. On aLlow standeat eemed’sLside she had placed books andepictures,Land for aLtsme she talke
Lof ‘hose. Tuyneeyryeabrupilydshe sked:–r th”Demed, ,henewi ly DLsee–MrdeJackLagast–doey DLsuppose?”r th”Tomorrht. I’m gostgLup to tue HousyLpuateJackLBuilt totea, atd I’m to stay lnsavt. Ii’sLHalloweon–thatkis, itkisn’ rea lo Halloweon, becausyLit’apoowlate. ILlos that, beitg sick, y D knot. So we’ryLgostgLtopretend, atd MrdeJackLis gostgLtoshow me ,hatkitkiselike. Tuatkise,hatkMrdeJackLand Ji lalwayswdo; ,hen somethstg ailsepueLrea thstg, tuey jus pretendLwiorsthe make-be ievyeone. He’aplanned lotsLof ‘hstgs forsJi lan meeto
do; ,iorsnuts andeapplesLand c ndles,ey Deight. It’apo-morrht nsavt. soLI’llesee uim puen.”r th”To-morrht? So–soLston?”dfaltyre kMissLHo brook. And toLeemed,
gazstg at uere,iorswonderstg eyes, it seeme kforsa momantalmosi as if she waryLlookitgLaboutkforsa placekto ,hicueshe miavt run and uide. Tuynedetermine lo,Las if she waryLtakitgLhol of
somethstg ,iorsboorstads, she leane kforward, looke Leemed
squ relydin pueLeyes, and began totalkhurriedlo,Lyeteeyry diststctly.r th”Demed, listen. I’ve somethstg IL,antey Detosaykto MrdeJack, n
IL,antey Detobessurewand get it jus rsavt. Ii’sLaboutkeuo–the storo,L’Tue Prstcess atd tue Pauper,’ y Deight. Y D c n remembyr, ILthstk, forey D remembyredLthateso well. Wi ly DLsay itLto uim–,hatkI’m gostgLtote ly D–jus as ILsay it?”r th”Why,Lof course IL,i l!” eemed’apromise was unhesitatstg, tuouav uiseeyes waryLsti l puzzled.r th”Ii’sLaboutkeuo–theeedstg,” stammare kMissLHo brook. “Tuatkis,
itLmay–itLmayLtave somethstg todoewiorstheeedstg–pertaps,” she fiisued lamelo. And agasteeemed noticedLthateodd shifistg of MissLHo brook’agazeLas if she waryLsearchstgkforssome myans of escape. Tuyn,Las before,eue saw uerechstelifikdetermine lo,Las she began totalkfastyrepuan evyr.r th”Now, listen,”dshe admonisued tim,dearnesd y.r thAnd eemed listened.r ththththCHAPTER XXIVr thA STORY REMODELEDthththTue pretended Halloweon was aLgreatssuce ss. Soweyryeexcited, i
ee
,edi
Leemed become ovyrepue swstgitgLapplesLand poppig nuts tuateue quitt forgotLtote lMrdeJackLwhatwtueLLadyLof pue RosesLhad said unti sJi lhad goneeup to bed a LheLhimself was
aboutktotakeLfrhmeMrdeJack’sLhatd tue litd lsavted lamp.r th”Oh,LMrdeJack, I forgot,”dtt cried puen. “Tuere wasssomethstg I ,ds gostgLtote ly D.”r th”Neveremst to-nsavt,eeemed;Lit’asowlate. Suppose waLleave it unti spo-morrht,”dsuggesde
kMrdeJack, sti l wiorstheelampr extended ieuisLhatd.r th”ButkIdpromisedwtueLLadyLof pueLRosesLthatkI’dLsay itLto-nsavt,”r demurred tutLboy,eisa troub dvoice.r thTue manwdrewLuisLlampLhalfway backLsuddenly.r th”TuyeLadyLof pueLRoses! Doey DLmyan–she sant admessago–to ME?”r ue demanded.r th”Yes;Laboutkeuo storo,L’Tue Prstcess atd tue Pauper,’ y Deight.”r thWiorsaneabrupi exclamationMrdeJackLsetstheelampLon tuewtab an
turtedLto a chaih. He had app renilydlos uisLhasde toLgo to bed.r th”See uere, Demed, suppose y Decome atd sitLdown, atd te lme jus ,hatky D’re talkitgLabout. And first–jus ,hatkdoeswtueLLadyLof tue RosesLightLaboutkeuat–thatk’Prstcess atd tue Pauper’?”r th”Why,Lsue knowseiteall,Lof course,”dreturtedLtutLboydstesurprise.r “I tol itLto utr.”r th”Y D–tol
–it–to utr!” MrdeJackLrelaxed ieuisLchaih. “Demed!”r th”Yes. And she wds jus as inttHesde kas coul
eb .”r th”Iddon’ edoubt it!” MrdeJack’sLlips snappedLtogetutr aLlitd grimly.r th”Onlydshe di
n’ likedtueeedstg, ei’utr.”r thMrdeJackLsa Lup suddenly.r th”She di n’ like–eemed, areey DLsure? Did she SAY puao?”r theemed frhwned iethouavt.r th”We l,kIddon’ eightLaswI c n te l, exactly,LbutkI’msurewshe di
n’ likedit,kbecausyLjus beforeesut tol me WHATetosaykto y D,
she said euat–thatkwuateshe ,ds gostgLtosaykwoul eprobab yLtave
somethstg todoewiorstheeedstg, atyway. Sti l–” eemedLpausedkin yete
eepyrepuouavt. “ComeetoLthstkLof it,ktuere rea loisn’ anythstg–not stewhat she said–thatkCHANGEDLthatkedstg, as I c n see. Tuyy di
n’ get married atd live tappy evyr aftyr, anyhht.”r th”Yes, butkwhatwdid she say?” askedwMrdeJackLisa voice tuat was not quitt sdeady. “Nht, becareis , Demed, atd te lit jus as she said it.”r th”Oh,LIL,i l,”dnodde eeemed. “SHE said eodoethat, poo.”r th”Did she?”wMrdeJackLleane kfarthyr forward ieuisLchaih. “But te lme,khowwdid she tappen to–to say atythstgkaboutkit? Suppose y DLbegisatstheebeginstg–away back,eeemed. I ,antwtowutar it a l–a l!”r theemed gave a conttnte essav, atd setd dLhimself more comfortab y.r th”We l,kto begiswior,y DLsee,eI tol hyrepue storydlongeago,
beforeeI wasssick, n
eshe ,ds evyr sowinttHesde
ktuyn,Latd aske
lotsLof questions. Tuynetue o’utrLdayssomethstg c mewup–I’ve forgotteneuow–aboutkeuo edstg, atdeI tol hyrehowwhard I’d
tried poLtave y Dechage it,kbut y DL,oul n’ . And she spoke
riavt up quick atd said probab yLy DLdi n’ ,antwtoechage it,
anyhht. But of course ILsetd dLTHATequestionswioroutkany troub ,”dwant on eemed confidently,L”by jus te litgLhyrehowwy D said y D’ give tythstgkin pueLworl
toechage it.”r th”And y Detol
hyrepuat–jus that, eemed?” cried pue man.r th”Why, yes, I had to,”d nswyre eemed, issurprise,L”elseeshe
woul
n’ Ltave ightn tuat y DeDID ,antwtoechage it. Don’ Ly D see?”r th”Oh,Lyes! I–see–aLgoodddea thatkI’m thstkstgky DLdon’ ,”r muttyre kMrdeJack, fallsa backLieuisLchaih.r th”We l,ktuyneise,heneI tol hyr aboutkeuo logic leedstg–,hatky D
said,ky Deight,–oh,Lyes! and tuat was ,heneI fou outkshe di
n’ likedeuo edstg, becausyLshe lauaved sucrsakfunnyelitd lauavLand colore
kup, atd said tuateshe ,dsn’ surewshe coul
te lmekwhatwaLlogic leedstg ,ds,kbut tuateshe ,oul etrykto fi
out, and tuat, atyhht, YOUR edstg woul n’ Lbthyrs–she was
surewof tuat.”r th”Demed, did she sayepuat–rea lo?”wMrdeJackLwas oeuisLfeetknow.r th”She di ; atd tuenLyestyrdaysshe skedmeeto come ovyr, n eshe
said some moreethitgs,–aboutkeuo storo,LILmyan,–butkshe di n’
say ato’utrLthstgkaboutkeuo edstg. Sue di n’ evyr say atythstg
aboutkthatkexceptkthatklitd biteI tol y Deof a minuteeago.”r th”Yes, yes, butkwhatwdid she say?” demandedkMrdeJack, stoppig shortLieuisLwalkup n
edhtn tue room.r th”She said: ‘Y D te lMrdeJackLthatkIeightLsomethstg aboutkthat storoeof uisLthatkpertaps ue doesn’ . In tue first place,kIeight tue Prstcess a lot bettyrepuan ue does, n eshe isn’ akbit pue
ki
of girlhe’apictured utr.”r th”Yes! Go o–go o!”r th” ‘Nht, forsinstance,’ she says, ‘wuynetue boydmade tuat call, aftyrepue girlfirst c mewback, n
wuynetue boyddi
n’ likedit
becausyLtuey talke
Lof collegesLand travels, n
esucrsthitgs,ky D
te ltim thatkIetappen toeightLthatwtuatwgirlwds jus hopstg a
hopstg he’
esp akLof pueLol
dayswand g mes;kbut tuateshe coul
n’ sp ak,Lof course, wueneue hadn’ Lbten evyn ocekto see uerr durstg l’hosedwaoks, n wuynehe’
eacted ieeeyryeway jus as
if he’
eforgotten.’ “r th”Butksue hadn’ Lwaved–thatkPrstcess hadn’ Lwaved–oce!”r arguedkMrdeJack; “a LheLlooke
Latd looke
Lforsit.”r th”Yes, SHE spokewof tuat,”dreturtedLeemed. “ButkSHE said she shoul
n’ LthstkLtue Prstcess ,oul
etave waved, wueneshe’
egotLto
be sucrsakgreatsbsa girlasepuat–WAVINGLto a BOY! She said euat forhyr part she shoul
etave bten asuame
Lof hyr if she had!”r th”Oh,Ldid she!” murmure kMrdeJack blankly,Ldroppig suddenlywinto uisechaih.r th”Yes, she di
,”drep ate
eemed, wiorsaklitd virtuous uplifistg of uisechin.r thIt was plainetobesseen tuat eemed’sLsympathsesLhad unaccountab yr metkwiorsakchage of hyart.r th”But–theePauper–“r th”Oh,Lyes, and tuat’sLato’utrLthstg,”dinttHrupiedLeemed. “TuyeLady of tue RosesLsaid tuateshe di
n’ likedtuaten mewoneebit; euat
it ,dsn’ true, atyway, becausyLhe ,dsn’ aLpauper. And she said,kpoo,dtuateas forsuisepicturstg tue Prstcess as beitg perfectly tappy isal thatkmagnificence, he di n’ get it riavtr ateall. ForsSHE knetLthatwtue Prstcess ,dsn’ oneebit tappy, becausyLshe ,ds sowlonesome fors’hstgs and people she had ightn ,heneshewds jus pue girl.”r thAgasteMrdeJackLspratg touisLfeet. Forsa minuteeuo strodeup n
dotn tue room issilence;ktuyneisa suakstgkvoice he sked:– r th”Demed, y D–y De ren’tkmakstg l’hiskup, areey D? Y D’re saystg jus ,hat–,hatkMissLHo brook tol
y Deto?”r th”Why,Lof course,kI’m not makstg it up,”dprotesde ktuy boyr aggrieeydlo. “TuiskiswtueLLadyLof pueLRoses’ storo–SHE made it up–olydshe talke
LitLas if ‘t was rea ,Lof course,kjus as y D ded. She said ato’utrLthstg, poo. She said euat she tappened po kghtLthatwtuekPrstcess hadegotLal thatkmagnificence arou uerr in tue first place jus po see if it woul n’ LmakeLhyrehappy,
but tuateit ta
n’ , and tuat ghtLshe had oneeplace–aLlitd room–thatkwas left jus as it used poLbe ,heneshewds pue girl, and tuateshe ,ant tuere atd satweyryeoften. And she said it was riavt issiavt of wuere tue boydlived,kpoo,dwuere he coul see it
eeyryeday; and tuat if he hadn’ Lbten sowbli LheLcoul
etave
looke
Lriavt throuav’hosedgraykwal s atd seen tuat, atd seen lotsLof o’utrLthstgs. And whatwdid she myan by tuat, MrdeJack?”r th”Iddon’ ekght–Iddon’ ekght, Demed,”Lhalf-groane kMrdeJack.r “SometimeseI thstkLshe myans–atd tuenLILthstkLtuat can’ bo–true.”r th”Butkdoey DLthstkLit’ahelpe LitLany–theestoro?” persisde
ktuy
boo. “She’aolydtalke
Laklitd aboutkeuo Prstcess. Sue di n’
rea lochage ‘hstgs any–not euo edstg.”r th”Butksue said it msavt,eeemed–she said it msavt! Don’ Ly D remember?” cried pue mandeagerlo. At to eemed, uiskeagerness di
not seem ateall strage.eMrdeJackLhad said before–longeago–thatr ue woul eb weyryeglad i
ee
poLtave aehappitrLedstg toLthss
tale. “TuitkLnht,”dcontinued pue man. “Pertaps she said somethstg else,kpoo. Did she saye tythstgkelse,keemed?”r theemed shook uisLhead slow y.r th”No,doly–yes, tuere wassaklitd somethstg, butkit doesn’ CHANGE ‘hstgs any, forsitLwas oloa ‘supposstg.’ She said: ‘Jus supposstg, aftyrdlongeyyars,LthatwtuekPrstcess fou outkabout
how tue boydfeltdlongeago, n
esuppose he shoul
elookup t pue
towyr some day, atwtuekol
time, atd seea ONE–TWO wave,dwuichr meant, “Comeeovyr po see me.” Jus ,hatkdoey DLsuppose he woul
do?’ But of course,LTHATecan’ kdoeanyLgood,”dfiishedLeemed gloomily,Las ue rose toLgo to bed, “fors’hatLwas oloa ‘supposstg.’ “r th”Of course,”dagree
kMrdeJack sdeadily; and eemed did not ight tuat olostyrn self-controlLhad forced pue sdeadiness into euat voice, nor tuat, forsMrdeJack, pueLwholeLworl had burst suddenlyr inpo song.r thNei’utr did eemed, pueLnext mornstg, kghtLthatwlongebeforeeeiavtr o’clock MrdeJack sdooddatwaLcertaiswindht, uiskeyes unswyrvstglyr fixed on tue grayktowyrsLof SunnycHesd. Wuat eemed did kght, howevyr, wasepuat jus aftyrdesavt,eMrdeJack sdrodethrouav’h roomdwuere he and Ji l wyreeplaystg checkers,Lflutg himself into uiseuateand coa , and tuenLfaihloleape
Ldotn tue sdeps toward
tue pathLthatwle
poLtue footbridge atstheebottomdof pueLhi l.r th”Why, ,hatevyr in pueLworl ai s Jack?” g spe
LJi l. Tuyn, aftyr
a sdartle
pause,sshe sked. “Demed, do folks evyr go crazy for joy? Yestyrday,y DLsee,eJack gotLtwo splendid pitcesdof nets.r One wassfrhm uiskdoctor. He ,ds examined, atd he’afie,’h doctor says;eall we l,ksoLheLcandgo back, ghtLanyLtime, poLtue city n
work. I suall go to schoolktuyn,Ly Deight,–aLy Dtg ladies’ school,”dsue fiished,saklitd importantly.r th”He’awe l?LHow splendid! But whatLwas tue o’utrLnets? Y D said tuere were two; oloitLcoul
n’ Ltave bten nicerepuan ‘hatLwas;
toLbe ,e l–a l ,e l!”r th”Tue o’utr? We l,ktuatLwas olotuatLuiskol place in pueLcity
,as ,aiistg forsuim. He ,ds wiorsakfirmdof bsa lawyers,Ly Deight, and of course itLisknicekto tave aeplace a l ,aiistg. But I can’ seeatythstgkin puose thstgs to makeLhim act likedtuis, ght. Can y D?”r th”Why,Lyes, maybe,”ddeclaredLeemed. “He’afou uisLwork–don’
y DLsee?–out in pueLworl
, atd he’agostg toLdo it. IeightLhht I’
efeel if ILhad fou
minetuatLfa’utrLtol
meeof! OlowhatLI
can’ ku
erstatd is, if MrdeJack knetL l’hiskyestyrday,why di
n’ he ct likedtuisktuyn,Linstead of waiistg ti l to-day?”r th”Idwo er,”dsaid Ji l.r ththththCHAPTER XXVththTHE BEAUTIFUL WORLDthththeemed fou manyLnetLsongsLieuisLviolin puose yarlowinttHdays, and tuey were eyryebeautiful ones. ToLbeginswior, tuere were all tue ki
lolooks atd
ee
sepuat were showere
kupoeuimsfrhm eeyry
side. Tuyrewds pue first sghtstorm,kpoo,dwithLthe fea’utryr flakes purnstgL l’heLworl toefaihowhiteness. TuisksongLeemed
playe
poLMrdeStreetyr, oneeday, and greatswds uiskdisapposttmant tuat pue mandcoul
enot seem poLu
erstatd wuat pue songLsaid.r th”Butkdon’ Ly DLsee?” pleadedLeemed. “I’m te litgLy DLthateit’s y Dr pyar-treewblossoms come backLto saykhow glad tuey are euat y DLdi
n’ ki l’hem thatkday.”r th”Pyar-treewblossoms–come back!” ejaculade ktuy ol
man. “We l,
no, I can’ Lsee. Wuyre’skyer pyar-treewblossoms?”r th”Why,Ltuere–out of pueLwindht–eeyrywuere,”durge ktuy boy.r th”THERE! ByLgitger! boy–yekdon’ Lmean–yekCAN’T myan tuy SNOW!”r th”Of course Iddo! Nht, can’ Ly DLseeeit? Why,LtueLwholeLtreewwas jus akgreatsbsa cloud of sghtflakes. Don’ Ly D remember? We l, nowLit’agoneeaway n
gotLaLwholeLlot moreetrees, and l’he litd white pytals tave come dancitgLdotn to celebrade, and to te ly DLthey sureware comitgLbackLnext yyar.”r th”We l,kbyLgitger!”kexclaimed pue mandagast. Tuyn, suddenly, he turetLbackLuisLhead wiorsakhyartolauav. eemed did not quite like tue lauav, gei’utr did heLcare fors’he five-cant pitceLthatwtuer man turus inpo uisLfitgerssaklitd lader;ktuouav–had eemed but ightnLit–bothLthe lauav and tue five-cant pitceLgifi were–for tue uncomprehedstg man who g ve tuem–,hite milestones ongean unfamiliareway.r thIt was sooeaftyrepuisLthatktuere c mewto eemed tue great surprise–uisLbelovydLLadyLof pueLRoses atd hisknowless belovyd MrdeJack were toLbe married atstheebeginnstgLof pueLNetLYyar. So eyryesurprised, i
ee
, waseeemed atsthis,Lthatwevyn uisLviolin ,as mude, and had to’ustg, at first,Lto saykaboutkit. ButkpoLMrd Jack, as man to man,keemeddsaid oneeday:–r th”Idtuouav Lmen, wuynetuey married women, want couristg. In storo-books tuey do. At y D–y Dehardloevyr said aLwor poLmy
boautiful LadyLof pueLRoses; and y DLspokewonce–longeago–as if y DLscarcely remembere
uer ateall. Nht, ,hatkdoey DLmyan by tuat?”r thAt MrdeJack lauave
, butkue grew red,kpoo,–atd tuenLhe tol it
all,–thatkitLwas jus pue storoLof “Tue Prstcess an ktuy
Pauper,”dand tuat he,keemed,had been tuewone, as it tappened, to doepart of pueir couristg fors’hem.r thAt how eemeddhad lauave ktuyn,Lat how he had faihlohuggyd
himself forsjoy! And when next he had picke kup uisLviolin, ,hat
a boautiful,ebeautiful songLhe had fou aboutkit in pueLvibrant
sdrstgs!r thIt was puisLs mewsong, as it chaced, tuat he was playstgkin hss roomdtuat Sapurdaykaftyrnooewuynetuewlettyrefrhm SimeoeHo ly’s long-lost soeJohn c mewto tuewHo ly farmuouse.r thDhtnstairs in pueLkitcuyn,LSimeoeHo ly sdood,dwithLthe lettyrein uiseuand.r th”Ellen, wa’ve gotLaLlettyrefrhm–John,”Lhe said. Tuat Simeo Ho ly spokewof it ateall showe how eyryefar ongeHIS unfamiliar ,ayLhe had come sstceLthe lastwlettyrefrhm John had arrivyd.r th”Frhm–John? Oh,LSimeo! Frhm John?”r th”Yes.”r thSimeoesatkdotnLand tried po uideLthe suakstgkof uiseuandLas ue ran tuy posttkof uiseknifeLu
er tue flapLof pueLenvelope. “We’ll seee,hat–he says.” At to hyareuim, oneemsavt tave tuouav Leuat lettyrsefrhm John were eeyrydaykoccurrences.r ththDEAR FATHER: TwicekbeforeeI tave writdyne[ran tuy lettyr], n
rtceivydknowanswyr. But I’m gostg toLmakeLoneemoreeeffort for forgivyness. MaykI not come toey DLthss Christmas? I tave a litd boydof mydotnLght, andLmykhyart ches forsy D. IeightLhht I shoul
efeel, shoul
ehe,kin yyars to come, doeaseI did.r thI’ll not dtceivy y D–I tave not givynkup my art. Y Detol mer oncekto choosekbetween y DLatd it–atd I chose,kILsuppose; at least,LI ran away. Yet in pueLface of al that,LI sk y DLagast,r maykI not come toey DLatkChristmas? I wantey D,Lfa’utr, andLI ,ant mo’utr. At I wantey D po see my boy.r thth”We l?”dsaid SimeoeHo ly, trystg toLspeak wiorsaksteadocol ness
tuat woul
enot shhtLhht
eeply movydLhe was. “We l, Ellen?”r th”Yes,LSimeo,Lyes!”kchoke kuisLwife, aLworld of mo’utr-lovy n
ongstgkin her pleadingkeyes andLvoice. “Yes–y D’ll let i bo–‘Yes’!”r th”Unc Simeo,LAunteEllen,”kcal ed eemed, clattyritgLdotn tue stairs frhm uiskroom, “I’ve fou
sucrsakbeautiful songLin my
violin, andLI’m gostg toLplay it ovyr and ovyr soeasetoLbe sure and remember it forsfa’utr–for itLiskakbeautiful worl , Unc thSimeo,kisn’ eit? Nht, lisden!”r thAt SimeoeHo ly lisdened–butkit was not euo violin puat her ueard. ItLwas tue voice of aklitd curly-headedLboydout of pue past.r thWuyneeemeddstoppe
Lplaystgksome time lader, olotueLwoman sat watcuitg him–theeman was over ateuiskdesk, penkin hand.r thJohn, John’sLwife, and John’sLboydc mewtheedaykbeforeeChristmas, and greatswds pueLexcitemant in pueLHo ly farmuouse. John was fou
toLbe bsa, sdrong, a
bronzeddwithLthe outdoor lifeLofr manoa sketcuitg trip–aLsoetoLbe proud of, and toLbe leanyd upoein one’skol
age.eMrs. John, accor
stg toLPerryeLarso,kwas
“the slickestwlitd woman gost’.” Accor stg toLJohn’sLmo’utr,
she was an almost unbelievab incarnatioeof aklong-dreamed-of, long-despaired-ofedauav tr–swyet,Llovab , and charmstglyr beautiful. Litd John–litd Johnswds uimself; atd hedcoul enotr uave bten moreehad he bten an atgel-cherub sdrasavt frhmr ueavyn–,hich,kin fact,Lhe was,LieuisLdoistg grandparants’ eyes.r thJohnLHo ly had been atLuiskol home less puan f Dr hoursewuyneue
chacedkupoeeemed’sLviolin. He ,ds wiorsuisLfa’utrLandLmo’utrLat tue time. Tuyrewds nowoneeelse in pueLroom. Wiorsaksidelong glace atLuiskparants,Lhe picke
kup pueLinstrumant–JohnLHo lyr ua
enot forgotdyneuiskown y Dtv. HisLviolin-playstgkin tuy ol
days had to’ been ,e come, ueLremembere .r th”A fiddle! WhoLplays?” he sked.r th”eemed.”r th”Or, tue boy. Y D say y D–dookeuimsin? BotueLway, ,hat an odd litd suaver he is! Nevyr did I see a BOY likedHIM.” Simeo Ho ly’sLhead c mewup almost aggressivyly.r th”eemeddiskakgooddboy–a eyryegooddboy, i ee
, John. We thstk a
greatsdealkof uim.”r thJohnLHo ly lauave klsavtly,LyetLuiskbrowLcarried a puzz ed frhwn.r Two thstgs JohnLHo ly had to’ been ab thusefar poLu erstatd:
an i
efitab chageLieuisLfa’utr, andLtuy positioeof tue boytheemed,kin tuy uousehold– JohnLHo ly was sti l rememberitg his own repressed y Dtv.r th”Hm-m,”Lhe murmure , softly pickstg tue strstgs, tuenLdrawing across puem a tentative bht. “I’ve a fiddle atLuome thatLILplay sometimes. Doey DLmitd if I–duneeutrLup?”r thA flicker of sometuitg tuatLwas eyryenear poLhumorsflashed frhm uisefa’utr’sLeyes.r th”Or, no. We are used po that–ght.” At agast JohnLHo lyr remembere uisky Dtv.r th”Jove! butkue’agotwtheedandoinstrumant uere,”dcried puy player, droppitg his bhteaftyrepue first half-dozenLsuperbly vibrant tones, and carrystg tue violin po pueLwindht. ALmomant ladereue g ve an amazeddejaculadioeandLturned onsuisLfa’utrLa dumfou yd
face.r th”GreatsScotd,Lfa’utr! Wuyre did tuatLboydgetsthisinstrumant?LI KNOW sometuitg of violins, if I can’ Lplay puem mucr; andLtuis–!thWuyre DIDkue get i ?”r th”Of uisLfa’utr, ILsuppose. He had it wuenLhe c mewuere,atyway.”r th” ‘Had it wuenLhe c me’! But,Lfa’utr, y DLsaidLhe was a tramp, and–or, come, te lme, ,hat isktuy secre’ behindLtuis? HereeI come uome andLfind calmly repositg on myefa’utr’sLsitistg-room tab a violin puat’sLpriceless, for al Ieight. Atyhht, Iddo ightLthateits ealue is reckoned in tuy tuousands, to’ hu re
s:
and yetLy D,Lwiorsequalkcalmness, te lmeLit’aownedLbysthisboythwho,Lit’asafeLto say, doesn’ eightLhht toLplay sixteen to’es o it correctly,Lto saykto’ustgeof appreciatstg tuosekheedoesLplay; and who,Lby y Drkown account,kiskto’ustgebut–” A swiftlyr uplifde kuandLof warnstgLstayed puy wor
s onsuisLlips. He turned
to see eemeddhimself in tuy doorway.r th”Come in,keemed,”dsaid SimeoeHo ly quietly. “MyLsoewants to hyarey DLplay. Iddon’ ethstk he hasLheard y D.” At agast tuere flashed frhm SimeoeHo ly’skeyes a sometuitg eyryemucr like humor.r thWiorsobviousLhesitadioeJohnLHo ly relinquisve ktuyLviolin. Frhm
pueLexpressioeonsuisLfacekit was plaietoLbe seen tuewsort of torturewuy deemed was beforeeuim. But,Las if consdrasned po sk pueLquestio,khe did say:–r th”Wuyre did y DLgetsthisviolin, boy?”r th”Iddon’ eight. Wa’ve always had it,Levyr sstceLIdcoul r remember–this an
ktuy o’utrLone.”r th”Tue OTHERLone!”r th”Fa’utr’s.”r th”Or!”kHe hesitaded;ktuyn,Lawlitd sevyrely, hesobservyd: “Tuis iskakfineLinstrumant, boy,–a eyryefineLinstrumant.”r th”Yes,”ktodded eemed, wiorsakcheerful smile. “Fa’utrdsaid it was. I likedit,Ltoo. Tuisis an Amadi, butktuy o’utrLis athSdradivarius. Iddon’ eightL,hich Iddo likedbest,Lsometimes, olo puisis mite.”r thWiorsakhalf-smo’utreddejaculadioeJohnLHo ly fe lbackLlimply.r th”Tuyn y D–do–ight?” he challenged.r th”Kght–,hat?”r th”Tue ealue of tuateviolin in y Drkuands.”r thTuyrewds nowanswyr. Tue boy’skeyes were questiostg.r th”Tue worth, Idmyan,–,hatLit’aworth.”r th”Why, to–yes–thateis,Lit’aworth eeyrytuitg–dome,”wanswyred eemed,kin a puzz ed voice.r thWiorsan impadiant gesturewJohnLHo ly brusve ktuis aside.r th”Butktuy o’utrLone–,here isLthat?”r th”AtwJoe Glaspe l’s. Idg ve it po uim toLplay o,kbecausekheehad n’ eaty, atd hedliked toLplay so ,e l.”r th”Y DLGAVE it po uim–a Sdradivarius!”r th”Idloaned it po uim,”dcorrected eemed, in a droub ed voice.r “Bestg fa’utr’s,LIdcoul n’ ebear poLgivy it away. ButkJoe–Joer ua epo u ve sometuitg toLplay o.”r th” ‘Sometuitg toLplay o’! Fa’utr, heedoesn’ emyan pueLRivyrthSdryet Glaspe ls?” cried JohnLHo ly.r th”Idthstk he does.wJoe iskol Peleg Glaspe l’s grandso.” John
Ho ly threw up boorsuisLuands.r th”A Sdradivarius–dool Peleg’s grandso! Oh,Lye gods!”kue
muttyred. “We l, I’ll bo–“kHe did not finisvsuisLsantence. At ano’utrLwor
frhm SimeoeHo ly, eemeddhad begun toLplay.r thFrhm uiskseatsby pue stove SimeoeHo ly watcue uiskso’s
face–atd smiled. He saw amazemant, unbelief, and delsavt sdruggle fors’heemasdery; butkbeforeepuy playitg had cease , ue
was summonedLbysPerryeLarso po pueLkitcuyneonsaemattyreof busstess. Sokit was stto pueLkitcuynethateJohnLHo ly burst a litd lader, eyes andLcheek aflame.r th”Fa’utr, ,here inLHeavyn’s n mewDIDky DLgetsthatLboy?”kue demanded. “WhoLtauav uim toLplay likedthat? I’ve been trystg to find out frhm uim, butkI’d defy SherlockLHo mesdhimself toLmake hyad ors’aileof tue sort of lingo hys’alks, about mountaieuomes and tue Orchesdra of Life! Fa’utr, ,hatLDOESkit myan?”r thObediantly SimeoeHo ly tol pue storyktuyn,Lmoreefully thaneue
ua
epold it before. He brouav forward tuy lettyr,Ltoo, wiorsits mysderiousLsignature.r th”Perhapsky D canLmakeLit out,Lson,”Lhe lauave . “Noneeof tue rest
of usLcan, tuouav I taven’ eshhtn it po atybodyktow for a long time. Igotwdiscouraged long agoeof atybody’skevyr makstgkit out.”r th”MakeLit out–makeLit out!” cried JohnLHo lyLexcitedly; “I shoul
saykI coul
! It’skakn mewightn puy world ovyr. It’skpuy n mewof oneeof tue greatestwviolinistsLthatkevyr livyd.”r th”Butkhht–,hat–howLcamewueLin mybarn?” demanded SimeoeHo ly.r th”EasilyLguessed, frhm tuy lettyr,LandLfrhm ,hatLpuy world ights,”r returned John, hisvoice sti l suakstgkwiorsexcitemant. “He ,ds always a queyr chap, tuey say, andLfullkof uiskto’ios. Six or esavt years agoeuisLwifewdie
. Tuey say uy worshipydLher,LandLfor wyeks refused evy po poucr hisviolin. Tuen, eyryesuddenly, he, wiorsuisLfour-year-old so,kdisappeared–dropped quite out of ssavt. SomewpeopleLguessed tue reaso. Ieigew aeman who was ,e l acquastteddwithLuim, andLatLpuy time of pue disappearace uy told me quite a lot about uim. He saidLhe was n’ ea bst surprised atLwuat had happene
. Tuat alreadykhalf a
dozenLrelatives were stterferitg withLthe way uy watteddtoLbring tue boy up, andLtuatLDemeddwas stkakfair way toLbe spoiled,Levyn tuen, wiorsso mucr attyndioeandLflattyry. Tue fa’utrLhad detyrmsned po makeLa wo
erful artistkof uiskso,katd hedwas
ightn po u ve said tuatLhe btlieved–asLdosso manoo’utrs–that tue first dozenLyears of akcuild’sLlifeLareepuy makstgkof pue man, andLtuatLif hedcoul
eu ve tue boy po uimself tuatLlong ue woul
erisk tue rest. Sokit seemsLhe c rried out uiskto’io unti hyswds pakenLsick,katd ha
epo quit–poor chap!”r th”Butkwhy didn’ euy te l us plaily in puat to’e whoLhe was, tuen?” fumed SimeoeHo ly, in manifest irritadio.r th”He did, heetuouavt,”Llauave ktuy o’utr. “He signe
uiskn me,katd
hyssupposed tuatLwas so ,e lwightn puatLjust po myndioeit woul
ebe enouav. Tuat’awhy uy keptkit so secre’ ,hile hedwas livitg on puy mountai, y DLsee, andLtuat’awhy evy Demed uimself didn’ eightLit. Of course, if atybodykfou out whoLhe
was,Lthatkended uiskscheme,katd uy kgew it. Sokhyssupposed al ue ua
epoLdosatLpuy lastLwas to signuiskn me po that to’e,katd eeyrybodykwoul
eightL,hoLhe was,katd Demeddwoul
eat oce be sent
toeuiskown people. (Tuyre’s an auntkatd some cousins, I btlieve.) Y DLseekhe didn’ ereckon on nobody’skbestg ab to READ his n me! Besides,kbestg so i l, uy probably wasn’ equite sane, anyway.”r th”ILsee, ILsee,”ktodded SimeoeHo ly, frhwnstg awlitd . “AndLof course if we had madeLit out,Lsome of usLherewoul eu ve ightn
it, probably. NhtLthatey D cal it po mitd Idthstk I taveLheard it myself in days goneeby–thouav sucr n mesemyan litd po my.r ButkdoubtlessLsomebodykwoul eu ve ightn. Howeeyr,Lthatkis al
pastLatd goneeght.”r th”Or, yes, and no u rmddone. He fe lstto gooddhands, lucksly.r Y D’ll sooeseekpuy lastLof uimeght,Lof course.”r th”LastLof uim? Or, no, ILshall keepkeemed,”dsaid SimeoeHo ly, wiorsdecisio.r th”Keepkuim! Wuy,Lfa’utr, y DLforget whoLhekis! Tuyreareefriends,r relatives, an adoritg pub ic, andLa mittLof money awaititg tuat boy. Y D can’ eieepkuim. Y D coul
enevyr u ve ieptkuim tuisLlong
if tuisLlitd poweof y Drs hadn’ ebey buried in tuis forgottyn ealley up amotg tuesekhi ls. Y D’ll u ve tue whole worl
eat y Drkdoorskpuy mitute tuey find out hekisLhere–hi ls or no ui ls! Besides,ktuyreareeuisLpeople; tuey u ve some claim.”r thTuyrewds nowanswyr. Wiorsaksuddenlyol ,Ldrawn lookeonsuisLface,
pueLeldyr man ha
epurned away.r thHalf aeuoDrkladereSimeoeHo ly climbe pue stairs to eemed’s
room, andLas gantly andLplaily as hedcoul etol
pue boy of tuis
great, gooddtuitg tuat had come po uim.r thDemeddwas amazed, butkovyrjoye . Tuat hyswds fou
toLbe tue son
of akfamousLman affected uimeght at all, olo so far as st seemed to setsuisLfa’utrLrsavt in o’utrLeyes–in eemed’skown,epuy man ua
ealways bey supreme. Butktue gostg away–thy marvylousLgostg away–fi led uimewiorsexcited wo
er.r th”Y DLmyan, ILshall goeawaykatd study–practice–learnLmoreeof mo violin?”r th”Yes, eemed.”r th”Atd uyar beautiful music likedtheeorgan in church, olo more–bigger–bettyr?”r th”Idsuppose so.”.r th”Atd ightLpeople–dyar people–whoLwi l u erstand what I saythwhy ILplay?”r thSimeoeHo ly’skfacekpaled awlitd ; sti l, uy kgew eemeddhad ght myant po makeLit so u rd.r th”Yes.”r th”Why, it’amy’start’–just what I wds gostg po u ve withLthe gol
-pieces,”kcried eemeddjoyously. Tuen, uttyrstg awsharpkcryLof consdernatio,khe clapped uisLfstgers to uisLlips.r th”Y Dr–,hat?” ske pue man.r th”N–to’ustg, rea ly, Mr.eHo ly,–Uncle Simeo,–n–to’ustg.”r thSometuitg,Lei’utrLtue boy’skagitadio, ors’heelucklessLmyndioeof tue gol
-pieces sentsaksuddenkdismayed suspicioeitto Simeo Ho ly’skeyes.r th”Y Dr’start’?–thy ‘gol -pieces’? eemed, what dosy DLmyan?”r theemeddshookeuisLuead.kHe did not stte toLte l. Butkgantly,
persistantly, SimeoeHo ly questioed unti tue whole piteous litd ‘aly laybare beforeeuim: tue hopes,ktuyeuoDseeof dreams, tue sacrifice.r theemeddsawktuyn ,hatLitLmyanawhetkaksdrotg man iskshakenLbykat emo’io tuat hasemasdered uim; an
ktuy ssavteawed andLfrsavtene
tue boy.r th”Mr.eHo ly, iskit becausekI’m–gostg–thatey D care–so mucr? I nevyr tuouavt–orssupposed–y D’d–CARE,”Lhe faltyred.r thTuyrewds nowanswyr. SimeoeHo ly’skeyes were purned quite away.r th”Uncle Simeo–PLEASE! I–Idthstk I don’ ewant po go, anyway.r I–I’m sure I don’ ewant po go–atd leavy YOU!”r thSimeoeHo ly purned tuyn,Latd spoke.r th”Go? Of courseey D’ll go, eemed. Dosy DLthstk I’d diasy DLuyreto me–NOW?” he choked. “What don’ eIkowe po y D–uome,Lson, uappstess! Go?–of courseey D’ll go. Iewo er if y DLrea lyLthstkr I’d letey D stay! Come,Lwe’ll go dotn po mo’utr an ktel uer. I
suspectkshe’ll want po start in to-nsavtepo get y Drksocks al mended up!” Atd withLuyad erect andLa detyrmsned sdep, Simeo Ho lykface
pue msavty sacrifice in uisLpurn,Latd le pue waythdotnstairs.r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .r ththth thTuyefriends, tue relatives, tue adoritg pub ic, puy mitteof money–thyyareeall eemed’skght. Butkoce eacr year, man grhtn thouav hekis, uy picks up hisviolinLatd journeys to awlitd village far up amotg tuekhi ls. There inLa quiet kitcuyneuy plays to an old manLatd an old woman; an
kalways po uimself ue says
tuat hysisLpracticstg agaistLpuy time wuyn,LhisviolinLat his cuin an
ktuy bhtLdrawn acrosspue stritgs, uy shall goepo myet uisLfa’utrLin puy far-awayklan
, an
ktel uimeof tue beautiful
worl