Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-21
BERT MONOGRAM.

We were Just fairly established at Aunt Rsb-
hes tor tine summer, and / was waiting tor
Rob 90 come down on the evening train from
the CITY. my hands folded in delicious i1lencSs,
with nothing 10 10 bat watch the evening shad-
Cws GarkeH over the fields OF blue timothy.
AUnts Eeb1ie nodded over her knitting in the
corner, while the kitten played with the ball OF
yarn. ard Rite sat at the table slowly shading
the I raj Mountains on the map she had drawn
Tor the geography lesson at school next day.
here were voices out on the veranda ut the end
where the tTumpet-CT5SpeT grew thiCkeSt; and
moving nv chair a little, could see Bert Nor
ley lOungIng lazily on "a bench, with Miss Kate
Deyine, at a distance of about two feet OF noon
light, entertaining him. Bert was smoking his
cigar, but some girls seem 10 take pride in ma
king man free TO do that after an hours ac-
quaintanCe, and Miss Deyine was no prUde. /
smiled a. I thought how becOmngly she had ar
rayod herself that morning after she heard that
Bert Morley was expected by stage, with rifle
and fshIng-tackle, TO spend two weeks vaca-
ton. She had previously confessed to me that
she found the country horribly dull. And as for
Bert, when lie came, 1ancied look OF not I'M
pleasant surprise IN his eyes as he bowed to
Miss Deyine, for he had heard of her in society
and he need not fear stupid evenings with town
belle. and No other man near for a rival.
. 1t is a case OF diamond cut diamond" said
lightly 10 myself; and just then the step / had
been listening for sounded on the walk, and /
ran to meet Rob, who came in with his pockets
fun of magazines and papers. making me feel
a. II we were not in the country. after all
Next morning Rob was of to the city again by
SIX O'Clock. and even earlier than that Bert
Morley had betaken himself TO the lake for a
long forenoon of fishing. i heard him whistling
as he went down the lane. Miss Devine and
met about nine O'Clock at a delicious late
BREAKFAST and as We slipped our creamy coffee
together gave her an the glances could
spare, admiring her little sliPpered feet, the
dainty tiuting on her white wrapper, her mag
nifiCent hair and long laShes and her lauguid
grace Aunt Robbie was busy in the kitchen
aud Kite had gone of TO school; so we two had
all the coo. part of the house to ourselves real-
ing little, prscticing little and talking lit
tie. Miss Deyine was very atfable: but alter
ward, thinking II over, tried in vain to recall
any charm deeper than the charm OF manner. of
attitude. Of glance, and infection.
- But ! am not very brilliant myself" I
thought. humbly, ''and, Of course, she wouldn't
like me-
In the afternoon she put on a bewitching gypsy
hat, and went strolllng down the lane, while
wandered cut among the raSpbeTry-busheS, and
stumbled upon Rite, who was there STUDYING
long review lesson In history. / liked Rite-she
was such bright, honest little school girl-SO
sat down by her, and by-and-by took the book
10 hear her lesson. II was Roman history, and
Rite JeCited in her own words, with original
comments really felt, for the first time in my
life, that was getting clear idea of the stately
line Of Caesars. We had Just got down to Con-
stantine when there was the sound of laughing
voices in the lane, and, looking over the rasp-
berry bushes, we saw Bert Morley and Kate De-
vine coming home. She had met him and
turned back with him. He had had good luck
as the long string of fish he carried bore witness
: on dear do think it l. too bad" said Rite
with a frOwn. - So many pretty perch and
mullet dragged out of the blue lake in an agony
Just 10 make sport for a man,
"And far below, in the coral grove
The purple mullet and goldfish rove"
sang Bert, in triumphant tenor, as he came
through the gate and laid down his trophies.
There was no coral grove, but l am sure these
are the genuine purple mullet, Mrs. Hathaway
Tor look az the splendid cOlOrs'''
And he pointed to the flashes of red and pur-
PIE on the still quivering scales. Kate DeVine
bent 10 examine them, " .Jh smiling admiration
but little Rite, turning her back in girlish dis
gust, walked away TO the house. We had some
81 the mullet brOiled for supper, but l am bound
10 say that their flavor did not equal their color
and when saw the rest thrown carelessly away
wished, with Rite, that they were alive and
happy again in the blue lake. But, dear mo-
when Rob came he entered right into Bert's en-
thusiasm. and wished he could have gone fishing
He had his chance the next morning however
not being obliged To 20 10 the city. He and Bert
were OF by dawn, with a big lunch in their
basket, and singing Hke Ministries. The rest of
being left to our devices, Kate Devine Sc
CludCd herself TO write letters, and I, most un
eXpectedly, got my treasure out Of the day by
discovering something new in Rite. had taken
book, and was going across the fields TO pic
tuTeSgue old Oak-tree that shaded a corner of
the pasture. / kept along by the wall, carefully
SkTung the tall timothy, with its bluish-purple
heads, not to spoil the moving, when sud
denly, nestled down in the grass, came upon
lite; and she was making asketch-the daintiest
thing YOU ever saw! She had her sitters; and
they were patient ones, all but One-a great blue
dragOn-fiy, who scared uneaSily just over the
soaring in her sketch natural as life. She
was drawing a single cluilp of grass, with its
feathery heads gOld-belted spider weaving her
web from stem to stem, and patient caterpil-
lar Intellectually climbing At the base
e. Oh, Rite, kIte.' cried, watching her pen
Gil, .hoT did you ever learn 20 do ito For she
was only little ftteen-year-Old schoolgirl YOU
know going 70 country district school
She threw back her hair. and looked up.
- suppose take il from my father" She
said, simply: 'he was an artist" And then [
remembered how Aunt Robbie had told me of
the poor artist who died young, and. quickly
followed by his wife, had LETT this child an or
Ihau- H. had never attained 70 any emjnence,
hut that there was something genuine in him
was proved by this heritage Of his child. She
Lad lad 20 training; her eyes and fingers
seemed 10 travel right Of themselves. The
short vi il was / took her over TO the pasture
with me, where she made me a drawing OF nv
tay0rite gnaTly old oak, with the empty crows
nest in IL, and then another Of the gray messy
rock behind i was in an ecstasy.
. VIII make you my little cOmrade,' / told
her, ''and you shall 20 with in all our sails
and rides. and make me gems of pictures 70 re-
member the summer BY; and when Rob and
30 % Europe we will take you TO sketch Us An
album III of delights"
.. will 20 IL YOU viii take me-" said little
Rite, eve and cheek kIud.ug.
II waS past noon when We got back to the
farmhouse. and found the fishermen had re-
turned. Rel Was cleaning perch in a corner OF
the yard, but Bert and Miss Devine sat at case
in the veranda earnestly discussing mOnograms
IL was when monographs were first the rage.
hook 10 show. lie had made few scrawlinga at
tempts 10 weave together his own initials, bat in
vain.
81 wish some one would design me a mono
gram" he exclaimed, aUghing-..something
really original and artistic, YOU know. Come,
Miss Kate, isn't that the sort Of thing Won ladies
are supposed 70 do? Make me a monogram,
and III give you anything you like"
That's a dangerous promise, Sir" she said
bending her lustrOus eyes meaningly upon him.
" Can't help it," he replied. reckiessfy; - I'm
periShing for monogram. Take my name NV
purse, my hfe, but give me a mOnOg gram! The
truth II, Miss Kate, believe IL 70 be an inpOs-
sible combination just listen, Bertram De
Witt Morley! Who could ever make any thing
Of such a set Of initials? Could you? / wish
YOU could"
g I'm afraid have not the POWER, !" said Mi 5
Devine. with what sounded like real sigh; but
she made quite a show nevertheless OF writing
his fun anne down upon her ivory tablets.
had stopped, with Rite, few minutes to
glance over the mOnOgrams; but just at this
Point Rob called, and we went TO watch his
amateur performances.
Two days after, as was passing through the
arior, Bert Morley stopped me with a very
Pleased face, and said he had something pretty
10 show o. me- 10 Was a slip of paper with a
-onosTar on this own, Il. ID. W. Mas
pretty and graceful a design as yCu can imagine
\ can really describe hur r.arb.vs yor, On :,