The Tin Soldier

ts. At the breakfast table her father told her that Hilda would stay on Gen

you alone at night,

avenly, Daddy,

n? She had resolved that if Derry came, she would tell her father aft

Shop in high feather. "You

ou know that I can

will, d

ms with a touch of inspiration which resulted in a row of

them in the window on Christmas mor

above the blue apron, was

e Hilda is aw

wh

-rapt

Hilda is away, and other thin

by her secrecy, she flew to kiss

or at least her heart ran, and when she

And I want Lady-bread-and-butter, and oh, Ell

She felt, however, that even Mr. Hoover might sanct

had been kept by her mother for intimate friends. There was a wide window which faced west, a da

n this room-of blue to match the bowl, with

y-Ann to watch proceedings,

tty, Polly-Ann," she sai

ped into it, she surveyed herself wi

d the mirror. "Why

discerned something which made her change her gown. Quite soberly she got herself into a little nun's froc

and stupendous occasion. Throughout the world the emotions of men and women were being quickened to a pace set by a mighty conflict. Never again would Jean McKenzie laugh o

wn early with her knitting, and sat on the deep-rose Davenport. The curtains were not drawn. There

voices. Jean sat tense. Then as her caller e

the door was

puffed-out as to trousers, his cheeks red with the cold, his brown e

luck," he said,

nds with him

ck to Bay Shore. You said

e. We are to go to Key West. I am t

w s

avenport. "In three days, and an

e going to propose to her again, in this room wh

she asked, desperately. "I'

ather

d-and-butter, and the little pound cakes with the nuts and white frosting which had been meant for Derry, and then he

e you." She was

what love is-I

want to b

w what it mean

eat green tree bending down to crush he

ence a bel

saw Ralph Witherspoon towering insolently in his aviator's green. He saw Jean, b

Julia brought more tea for him, more Lady-bread-a

his millions, was formidable. Ralph's idea of a man's attractiveness for women was founded on his belief in their admiration of good looks, and their liking for the possession of, as he would himself have expressed it, "plenty

llions meant nothing to Jean. Had he remained the shabby son of the s

d. He stayed until five, until hal

d of the glo

dow. It was a silk tassel, and he pulled at one strand of it until it was flossy and frayed. He was unconscious of his work of destr

t none the less it was Ralph they saw, poised like a bird at incredible heig

g back, as if he expected that Derry might go with him. But Derry,

ry was alon

ment of coldness and of languor which had seemed to enshroud Derry had drop

el

orry-," her voice breaking. "Daddy told

tend that he

he couldn't break his word. But he knew that you were brave. That the thin

te, her eyes dee

uld be on my knees-do you know what it

ht to write. To some men

think of what this day would have been for me if you had not written. Everybody is calling me-a

he disposed of him. "Ralp

tried to laugh. But they wer

ring himself again to the silken tassel. "Now that you know a part," he

but there came moments when she laid it down and looke

n conclusion, "but-but if you will

as if by a strong wind, and he

ng," he said, and was

the tide of that mighty wave

rself, he was again anchored

until that night in the Toy Shop of anybody-like you. Of anybody so-adorable. When your note came this mo

t that moment-for his eloquence was a burning

trictly tailored and pra

Mr. Drake, don

ee him here. She held out her hand. "I remember tha

ay that he said it took Miss Emily's breath away. "Please don'

something which touched the stars-something which all her life

n my line," she said. "You

. "I'm starved. And if I e

r, Emily, and there are

d dress. Your father sent for my ba

heerful good-bye,

took Jean's hand. He stood looking

,-y

anything, if we could go to church together-to

the shi

e you c

it is s

you'

lov

young, so divinely innocent. He felt that he must n

. Remembering the nun's dress, he sent violets in a gr

's place, a quiet contrast in her slenderness and modest blac

o busy,

on't you? I can't imagine you

I could push it away a

t Dr. Richards went

nvy

flowers came, and she

a set the basket in front o

a card. A wave of self-conscious color swept over her

ow did th

ea, and Ralph, and Emily-only Emi

u've m

ake up much, Daddy,

o the rescue. "He

want him sending flowers to my daughter.

as always been a garden where you have wandered at will. And now

rs that I shouldn't ca

to understand that she'll pluc

d face. "Yes, thank God. And than

is cigar, Emily on the other side with her knitting. Jean between them in a low chai

u knitting?" t

o set a good ex

a?" He threw back h

ugh. Isn't it c

was still feeling the fineness of the thing she had

Dad

If you had Emily all the time you'

re teasing," Jean told him, "I'll forgiv

doesn't deserve to be forgiven. Some day he is going to be devoured b

. There was no doubt that there was a spri

hter, Emily. Isn't j

in

y n

s reluctance, "you'

han he was willing to admit

om them, came back with, "I am g

? Wh

, and may I bring h

g for invitations? He has probably been a

, Daddy. And anyhow I should like

millions is

inding, whirling revelation. He had said, "I wanted some one-who cared-." Not for a moment since then had the world been real to her. She had seemed in the

that Miss Jean was wa

the Eye and Ear Hospital? The President and his wife would be there-the only ball they had attended this season-every

es. But she was not s

you-y

ll

ed feet and expl

? Tonigh

, Da

at time

He'll come

t leave Emily

ind-darling-wi

not. I am o

that she should sit alone by an empty hearth while he and Jean frivolled. He had never thought of Hilda by an empty hearth-and she had been often alone-but there was thi

turesqueness at the dinner table, her trim

Emily. "You can tell Drake we wi

or, I'd ra

y n

luded in the

e self-c

n't anythin

is moment. And Jean can get you that scarf

es, Daddy." Jean danced

nclude Miss Bridges. "Br

ozen. I want just

d m

urse-s

along the wire.

o change

hour,

es

elieve that we ar

get