Jewels Story Book | Page 9

up and laughing as she flung herself
upon her big playmate, and a small scuffle ensued in which the wide
leghorn hat brim sawed against Mr. Evringham's shoulder and neck in a
manner that caused Mrs. Evringham's heart to leap toward her throat.

How could Harry be so thoughtless! A street lamp showed the grim
lines of the broker's averted face as he gazed stonily out to the street.
"Come here, Jewel; sit still," said the mother, striving to pull the little
girl back into her seat.
Harry was laughing and holding his agile assailant off as best he might,
and at his wife's voice aided her efforts with a gentle push. Jewel sank
back on the cushion.
"Oh, what bores he thinks us. I know he does!" reflected Julia,
capturing her child in one arm and holding her close. To her surprise
and even dismay, Jewel spoke cheerfully after another yawn:--
"Grandpa, how far is it to the ferry? How long, I mean?"
"About fifteen minutes."
"Well, that's a good while. My eyes do feel as if they had sticks in them.
Don't you wish we could cross in a swan boat, grandpa?"
"Humph!" he responded. Mrs. Evringham gave the child a little
squeeze intended to be repressive. Jewel wriggled around a minute
trying to get a comfortable position.
"Tell father and mother about Central Park and the swan boats,
grandpa," she continued.
"You tell them to-morrow, when you're not so sleepy," he replied.
Jewel took off her large hat, and nestling her head on her mother's
shoulder, put an arm around her. "Mother, mother!" she sighed happily,
"are you really home?"
"Really, really," replied Mrs. Evringham, with a responsive squeeze.
Mr. Evringham sat erect in silence, still gazing out the window with a
forbidding expression.

There were buttons on her mother's gown that rubbed Jewel's cheek.
She tried to avoid them for a minute and then sat up. "Father, will you
change places with me?" she asked sleepily. "I want to sit by grandpa."
Mrs. Evringham's eyes widened, and in spite of her earnest "Dearie!"
the transfer was made and Jewel crept under Mr. Evringham's arm,
which closed naturally around her. She leaned against him and shut her
eyes.
"You mustn't go to sleep," he said.
"I guess I shall," returned the child softly.
"No, no. You mustn't. Think of the lights crossing the ferry. You'll lose
a lot if you're asleep. They're fine to see. We can't carry you and the
luggage, too. Brace up, now--Come, come! I shouldn't think you were
any older than Anna Belle."
Jewel laughed sleepily, and the broker held her hand in his while he
pushed her upright. Mr. and Mrs. Evringham looked on, the latter
marveling at the child's nonchalance.
Now, for the first time, the host became talkative.
"How many days have you to give us, Harry?" he asked.
"A couple, perhaps," replied the young man.
"Two days, father!" exclaimed Jewel, in dismay, wide awake in an
instant.
"Oh, that's a stingy visit," remarked Mr. Evringham.
"Not half long enough," added Jewel. "There's so much for you to see."
"Oh, we can see a lot in two days," returned Harry. "Think of the little
girls in Chicago, Jewel. They won't forgive me if I don't bring you
home pretty soon." He leaned forward and took his child's free hand.
"How do you suppose father has got along without his little girl all

these weeks, eh, baby?"
"It is a long time since you went away," she returned, "but I was right
in your room every night, and daytimes I played in your ravine. Bel-Air
Park is the beautifulest place in the whole world. Two days isn't any
time to stay there, father."
"H'm, I'm glad you've been so happy." Sincere feeling vibrated in the
speaker's voice. "We don't know how to thank your grandpa, do we?"
A street lamp showed Jewel, as she turned and smiled up into the
impassive face Mr. Evringham turned upon her.
"You can safely leave that to her," said the broker briefly, but he did
not remove his eyes from the upturned ones.
"It is beyond me," thought Mrs. Evringham; "but love is a
miracle-worker."
The glowing lights of the ferry passed, Jewel did go to sleep in the train.
Her father, unaware that he was trespassing, took her in his arms, and,
tired out with all the excitement of the day and the lateness of the hour,
the child instantly became unconscious; but by the time they reached
home, the bustle of arrival and her interest in showing her parents about,
aided her in waking to the situation.
Mrs. Forbes stood ready to welcome the party. Ten years had passed
since Harry Evringham had stood in the home of his boyhood, and the
housekeeper thought she perceived