Just David

d to do with entrancing music where once was silence; delightful companionship wh

d girl, and it was not to be expected, perhaps, that she would care to spend all the bright sunny hours shut up with her sorely afflicted and somewhat fretful brother. True, at noon she never failed to appear and prepare something that passed for a dinner for herself a

) had been a "powerful hand for music." It was from him, presumably, that Joe had inherited his passion for melody and harmony; and it was no wonder that David recognized so soon in the blind boy the sp

o drawing a timid bow across the strings. In an incredibly short time, then, he was picking out bits

cause it was daddy's, you know; and when I see it, it seems almost as if I was seei

o transport himself into another world, for wi

he doughnuts and the cookies. Very early in his visits David had dis

to the store and buy someth

d-pieces the next time he came; but upon second thoughts David decided that he did not dare. He was not wishing

n to the few strangers that found their way to the cabin door. So now David had no hesitation in

und him merging from the pantry with bo

the world does this

and Betty," smi

ghnuts and cookies don't b

. I told them you had

owing indignation. "That doesn't mean that you can take-

and Betty are. They don't have half enough to eat. Betty said so. And we've got more than we want. T

opped him with a

LAD to have you," she finished, in a desperate attempt to drive from David's

did try to regulate it. She saw to it that thereafter, upon his visits to the house, he

Very frequently it was in quite another direction. He had been at

he main highway. Beyond these, as David soon found, it ran between wide-spreading lawns and flowering shrubs, leading up the gentle slope of a hill. Where it led to, David did not know, but he proceeded unhesitatingly to try to find out. For

t known it, Miss Holbrook was not celebrated for her graciousness to any visitors, certainly not to those who ventured to approach her otherwise than by a conventi

e minute he could only stand like a very ordinary little boy and stare. At the end of the minute he became himself once more; a

nowy white against the green, where the roses rioted in luxurious bloom. He had meant, also, to tell of the Queen Rose of them all-the beauteous lady with hair like the gold of sunrise, and a gown like the shimmer of the moon on water-of all this h

does this mean

mpatiently as he came f

," he remonstrated, "and yo

ling

understand?" appealed the boy wistf

as if

surprised when HE did. But I was just s

e glanced about her as if contemplating

u here? Who are

le path back there. I didn't know where it

ed the lady, with sli

way there he might occupy himself in finding it home again, when th

here, down here, there was a

iness sent a swift excla

y that? You speak as if you came

quite like this,"-with a sweep of his hands,-"nor like you, O Lady of th

ughed outright. She e

r compliments quite so broad. I am no Lady of the Roses. I am Miss Holbrook; and-and I am not in the ha

d again to the beauties about him, and at that moment

orward. "It isn't exactly pretty, and yet

ndial. It marks th

d. The next instant she found herself staring at the boy in amazement. With unmistakable ease, and with the trained accent of the scholar, he was reading aloud the Latin inscription on the

ook rose t

, and what are you?" she dem

With a disdainful gesture M

?" she demanded a

id. I to

who? Where

's face

rmer Holly's now; but I did live on

broke over Miss Holbrook's face

the story. So THAT is who you are," she added, the old look of aversion coming back

, please,-those words,-'I count

tirred in her s

adow the sun throws, and when there is no sun there is no shadow; hence it's only

ce radiate

ike that!" h

lik

ike to be one my

ite of herself a faint gleam of inte

ily to the ground at her feet. He was

and remember only the nice, pleasant ones. Now for me, there wouldn't be any hours, really, until after f

rook star

murmured. "And what, may I ask, is it that you do e

d si

picking up stones, lately, and clearing up the yard. Then, of course, there's always the woodbox to fill, and the eggs to hunt, besides the chickens to feed,-

lbrook

eyes; "now wouldn't it be nice to be like the sundial, and forget everything the su

arily David looked about for something that might have cast upon it so great a shadow. For a long

forget them every one-thes

voice quivering with shocked dismay. "You don't

rook wearily, her eyes on the sombe

id the chill and the gloom of the lady's words-more real the day that had no sun. After a time the boy picked up his violin and began to play, softly, and at first with evident hesitation

the boy sat thus in the twilight. The

ly. "I must go in and you must go home. Good-night." And she