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again。 II was feeling a little out of tune myself to…day； and I thought； by
the way you looked； that you were； too。 So I asked you to go to walk。〃
〃Humph！ Well； IThat will do； boy。 No impertinence； you
understand！〃 And he had turned away in very obvious anger。
David； with a puzzled sorrow in his heart had started alone then； on his
walk。
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JUST DAVID
CHAPTER VII
〃YOU'RE WANTEDYOU'RE
WANTED！〃
It was Saturday night； and the end of David's third day at the
farmhouse。 Upstairs； in the hot little room over the kitchen； the boy knelt
at the window and tried to find a breath of cool air from the hills。
Downstairs on the porch Simeon Holly and his wife discussed the events
of the past few days； and talked of what should be done with David。
〃But what shall we do with him？〃 moaned Mrs。 Holly at last； breaking
a long silence that had fallen between them。 〃What can we do with him？
Doesn't anybody want him？〃
〃No； of course； nobody wants him；〃 retorted her husband relentlessly。
And at the words a small figure in a yellow…white nightshirt stopped
short。 David； violin in hand； had fled from the little hot room； and stood
now just inside the kitchen door。
〃Who can want a child that has been brought up in that heathenish
fashion？〃 continued Simeon Holly。 〃According to his own story； even his
father did nothing but play the fiddle and tramp through the woods day in
and day out； with an occasional trip to the mountain village to get food
and clothing when they had absolutely nothing to eat and wear。 Of course
nobody wants him！〃
David； at the kitchen door； caught his breath chokingly。 Then he sped
across the floor to the back hall； and on through the long sheds to the
hayloft in the barnthe place where his father seemed always nearest。
David was frightened and heartsick。 NOBODY WANTED HIM。 He
had heard it with his own ears； so there was no mistake。 What now about
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JUST DAVID
all those long days and nights ahead before he might go； violin in hand； to
meet his father in that far…away country？ How was he to live those days
and nights if nobody wanted him？ How was his violin to speak in a voice
that was true and pure and full； and tell of the beautiful world； as his father
had said that it must do？ David quite cried aloud at the thought。 Then he
thought of something else that his father had said： 〃Remember this； my
boy；in your violin lie all the things you long for。 You have only to play；
and the broad skies of your mountain home will be over you； and the dear
friends and comrades of your mountain forests will be all about you。〃
With a quick cry David raised his violin and drew the bow across the
strings。
Back on the porch at that moment Mrs。 Holly was saying：
〃Of course there's the orphan asylum； or maybe the poorhouseif
they'd take him； butSimeon；〃 she broke off sharply； 〃where's that child
playing now？〃
Simeon listened with intent ears。
〃In the barn； I should say。〃
〃But he'd gone to bed！〃
〃And he'll go to bed again；〃 asserted Simeon Holly grimly； as he rose
to his feet and stalked across the moonlit yard to the barn。
As before； Mrs。 Holly followed him； and as before； both involuntarily
paused just inside the barn door to listen。 No runs and trills and rollicking
bits of melody floated down the stairway to…night。 The notes were long…
drawn； and plaintively sweet； and they rose and swelled and died almost
into silence while the man and the woman by the door stood listening。
They were back in the long agoSimeon Holly and his wifeback
with a boy of their own who had made those same rafters ring with shouts
of laughter； and who； also； had played the violinthough not like this； and
the same thought had come to each： 〃What if； after all； it were John
playing all alone in the moonlight！〃
It had not been the violin； in the end； that had driven John Holly from
home。 It had been the possibilities in a piece of crayon。 All through
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JUST DAVID
childhood the boy had drawn his beloved 〃pictures〃 on every inviting
space that offered；whether it were the 〃best…room〃 wall…paper； or the fly
leaf of the big plush album；and at eighteen he had announced his
determination to be an artist。 For a year after that Simeon Holly fought
with all the strength of a stubborn will； banished chalk and crayon from
the house； and set the boy to homely tasks that left no time for anything
but food and sleepthen John ran away。
That was fifteen years ago； and they had not seen him since； though
two unanswered letters in Simeon Holly's desk testified that perhaps this；
at least； was not the boy's fault。
It was not of the grown…up John； the willful boy and runaway son；
however； that Simeon Holly and his wife were thinking； as they stood just
inside the barn door； it was of Baby John； the little curly…headed fellow
that had played at their knees； frolicked in this very barn； and nestled in
their arms when the day was done。
Mrs。 Holly spoke firstand it was not as she had spoken on the porch。
〃Simeon；〃 she began tremulously； 〃that dear child must go to bed！〃
And she hurried across the floor and up the stairs； followed by her
husband。 〃Come； David；〃 she said； as she reached the top； 〃it's time little
boys were asleep！ Come！〃
Her voice was low； and not quite steady。 To David her voice sounded
as her eyes looked when there was in them the far…away something that
hurt。 Very slowly he came forward into the moonlight； his gaze searching
the woman's face long and earnestly。
〃And do youwant me？〃 he faltered。
The woman drew in her breath with a little sob。 Before her stood the
slender figure in the yellow…white gownJohn's gown。 Into her eyes
looked those other eyes； dark and wistful；like John's eyes。 And her arms
ached with emptiness。
〃Yes； yes； for my very ownand for always！〃 she cried with sudden
passion； clasping the little form close。 〃For always！〃
And David sighed his content。
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JUST DAVID
Simeon Holly's lips parted； but they closed again with no words said。
The man turned then； with a curiously baffled look； and stalked down the
stairs。
On the porch long minutes later； when once more David had gone to
bed； Simeon Holly said coldly to his wife：
〃I suppose you realize； Ellen； just what you've pledged yourself to； by
that absurd outburst of yours in the barn to…nightand all because that
ungodly music and the moonshine had gone to your head！〃
〃But I want the boy； Simeon。 Hehe makes me think ofJohn。〃
Harsh lines came to the man's mouth； but there was a perceptible shake
in his voice as he answered：
〃We're not talking of John； Ellen。 We're talking of this irresponsible；
hardly sane boy upstairs。 He can work； I suppose； if he's taught； and in that
way he won't perhaps be a dead loss。 Still； he's another mouth to feed； and
that counts now。 There's the note； you know；it's due in August。〃
〃But you say there's moneyalmost enough for itin the bank。〃 Mrs。
Holly's voice was anxiously apologetic。
〃Yes； I know〃 vouchsafed the man。 〃But almost enough is not quite
enough。〃
〃But there's timemore than two months。 It isn't due till the last of
August； Simeon。〃
〃I know； I know。 Meanwhile； there's the boy。 What are you going to do
with him？〃
〃Why； can't you use himon the farma little？〃
〃Perhaps。 I doubt it； though；〃 gloomed the man。 〃One can't hoe corn
nor pull weeds with a fiddle…bowand that's all he seems to know how to
handle。〃
〃But he can learnand he does play beautifully；〃 murmured the
woman； whenever before had Ellen Holly ventured to use words of
argument with her husband； and in extenu