Part 32 (2/2)

If the Reverend John Hapgood grieved for his wayward son the members of his household knew it not, save as they might place their own constructions on the added sternness to his eyes and the deepening lines about his mouth. ”Paul,” when it designated the graceless runaway, was a forbidden word in the family, and even the Epistles in the sacred Book, bearing the prohibited name, came to be avoided by the head of the house in the daily readings. It was still music in the hearts of the women, however, though it never pa.s.sed their lips; and when the little mother lay dying she remembered and spoke of her boy. The habit of years still fettered her tongue and kept it from uttering the name.

”If--he--comes--you know--if he comes, be kind--be good,” she murmured, her breath short and labored. ”Don't--punish,” she whispered--he was yet a lad in her disordered vision. ”Don't punish--forgive!”

Years had pa.s.sed since then--years of peaceful mornings and placid afternoons, and Paul had never appeared. Each purpling of the lilacs in the spring and reddening of the apples in the fall took on new shades of loveliness in the fond eyes of the twins, and every blade of gra.s.s and tiny shrub became sacred to them.

On the 10th of June, their thirty-fifth birthday, the place never had looked so lovely. A small table laid with spotless linen and gleaming silver stood beneath the largest apple-tree, a mute witness that the ladies were about to celebrate their birthday--the 10th of June being the only day that the solemn dignity of the dining-room was deserted for the frivolous freedom of the lawn.

Rachel came out of the house and sniffed the air joyfully.

”Delicious!” she murmured. ”Somehow, the 10th of June is specially fine every year.”

In careful, uplifted hands she bore a round frosted cake, always the chief treasure of the birthday feast. The cake was covered with the tiny colored candies so dear to the heart of a child. Miss Rachel always bought those candies at the village store, with the apology:--

”I want them for Tabitha's birthday cake, you know. She thinks so much of pretty things.”

Tabitha invariably made the cake and iced it, and as she dropped the bits of colored sugar into place, she would explain to Huldy, who occasionally ”helped” in the kitchen:--

”I wouldn't miss the candy for the world--my sister thinks so much of it!”

So each deceived herself with this pleasant bit of fiction, and yet had what she herself most wanted.

Rachel carefully placed the cake in the center of the table, feasted her eyes on its toothsome loveliness, then turned and hurried back to the house. The door had scarcely shut behind her when a small, ragged urchin darted in at the street gate, s.n.a.t.c.hed the cake, and, at a sudden sound from the house, dashed out of sight behind a shrub close by.

The sound that had frightened the boy was the tapping of the heels of Miss Tabitha's shoes along the back porch. The lady descended the steps, crossed the lawn and placed a saucer of pickles and a plate of dainty sandwiches on the table.

”Why, I thought Rachel brought the cake,” she said aloud. ”It must be in the house; there's other things to get, anyway. I'll go back.”

Again the click of the door brought the small boy close to the table.

Filling both hands with sandwiches, he slipped behind the shrub just as the ladies came out of the house together. Rachel carried a small tray laden with sauce and tarts; Tabitha, one with water and steaming tea. As they neared the table each almost dropped her burden.

”Why, where's my cake?”

”And my sandwiches?”

”There's the plate it was on!” Rachel's voice was growing in terror.

”And mine, too!” cried Tabitha, with distended eyes fastened on some bits of bread and meat--all that the small brown hands had left.

”It's burglars--robbers!” Rachel looked furtively over her shoulder.

”And all your lovely cake!” almost sobbed Tabitha.

”It--it was yours, too,” said the other with a catch in her voice. ”Oh, dear! What can have happened to it? I never heard of such a thing--right in broad daylight!” The sisters had long ago set their trays upon the ground and were now wringing their hands helplessly. Suddenly a small figure appeared before them holding out four sadly crushed sandwiches and half of a crumbling cake.

”I'm sorry--awful sorry! I didn't think--I was so hungry. I'm afraid there ain't very much left,” he added, with rueful eyes on the sandwiches.

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