Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-29
".Bs you goin' with them,. he asked, in low

oe you goIn Win tnem?" ne asked, In a low
mNmno, the girl faltered, family. "rn go
A muf1ed remark Of profane nature was
violently closed, and the vehicle rolled rapidly
had kept discreetly aloof, although an inter-
ested spectator OF the scene. Picnic, after one
swift glance In my direction, had not raised her
m sMs go! &c " With hy you where you're goln
peared, but would not permit this
'h %sa times Obliged to you-good evenin
doWn-cast face,-a look made up of pain. ten.
derness and reproach,-h put her hand through
his arm, and they went away.
| me, after this, more carefully than ever. was
| glad that she did SO. l was also glad when. a
week OF Two later, Mrs. Angel presented herself,
| that Picnic had received her discharge In vain
reminded her that Phenie's position had been
from the beginning, temporary one
| II don't keerl" she persisted. 'I'd like ter
know what difference it would "a made to the
| government-Jess that little bit o. money! An
| me a-needin Of it so! Why couldn't they have
| discharged some O. them women as sets all day
| In but readin story-papers? Phenie's seen ,em
a-do.n' OF 1t, time an ag1n-an' she a-workin'
| at old greasy machinel"
to In b vain basn to prove that
ward the United States government remains. to
this day, infiextbly hostile.
~ columbus had let alone interferin be-
tWteu fnenle an them that was intendin' well
by her, reckon she'd "a been settin' on one o.
them velvet cheers herself by this time y she
remarked, mysteriously," '.or a-doln' be ter
| STILL"
looked at her sharply.
"Ihey's gentleman" she went on with a
foolish smile, "a gineral, as is all taken up with
Phenie. He's great friend O. the President,
KNOW In, Ubatl ,o
40 i for the gal, ef Columbus d let alone inter-
quaintance?" said, much relieved.
Mrs. Angel looked at me bankly
i-oTd no sne answered, she never let on !!
No. indeed! But knowed it, knowed it ali
along. sam Weaver'S gal, she told me about it.
kind o." -'
And you said nothing to Phenie7"
No to[d. no Gals Is bashful, Mis- Lawrence,
IN Nor say word of all this to Columbus "
/" What furs said Mrs. Angel, tmperturbably
He Amt got no call ter interfere, eli she kin do
better"
was silent moment in sheer despair.
"DO you imagine, for one moment" I said
finally, THAT If this general, as he calls himself
Is really what he pretends to be, gentleman
and friend Of the Presidents, that he means
honestly by Phenie?"
Mrs. Angel regarded me with fixed stare, in
Wnlcn dlScerned wonder at my 1ncredulity and
Indignation at the implied dlsparagement OF her
daughter.
why not?n she asked, with some heat.
"Phenle was a-readtn me story, not so long
ago, about man, lord or Somethin' like as
married mar a miller's daughter. The name was
.Ihe Secrit Marriage, or Whereabouts. I'd like
to know eff she amt as good as natlle1's daugh-
ter, any time o. day?''
gods strive in vain.''
A month later, perhaps, Mrs. Angel, whom
had not seen since the interview Just related,
came toiling up the stairs with her arms piled
nigh with suggestive-looking, packages, and
Deamlngly and unceremOnfOuSly entered my sit
tng-rOom. With rather more than her custom
airy ease of manner, she deposited herself and
parcels upon the lounge, and exclaimed, pant
wall! Picnic an Columbus is goin to be
married Sunday week."
All" | responded, with sympathetic
thrill; 80 they have made it up again 20
eyes, indeed" she answered. "they've done
made it up. They tras one time l was most
afeared Columbus was gOin' to back out though.
Twas after that time when he come down here
after Picnic, an found her a-goin' out long O.
gineral"
$50 you found out the character of Phenle's
Columbus, he found it out I'll tell We
how twas Ye see, him an Picnic was
a.; OF 1t that night after they got home.
smart OF a crack 'rOun' the do, an you kin hear
right smart eft you sets up clost enough she
explained. nalEely.
-" Picnic says Columbus. kind O. humble,
Ike, L don't want no Wife as don't like me
better n airy other man in the world. Ell you
likes that man. an he's good man, an means
right by ye, amt one ter stan In your way:
but says he, 4 don't believe he's no good re
seen them kind befo', an don't have no conf
dence into him..
columbus, says Picnic, kind O. spirited. fur
her. you amt got no call TO talk agin' him.
He's gentleman, he ISL
.'AlI rightr says Columbus, chokin' up. all
right. Mebbe hets-but don't like this meetin'
OF him unseknownst, Picnic. 1t amt the
th1ng: Now want you ter promise me not to
meet him any more unbekl,O1chSt Till you KIN ows
more about him, an you give me leave ter find
out all about him, an see eff don't.
O. fiery.
81 wont tell We no lies, Picnic, he says. 4
never has, an amt goin' ter begin now.'
"Then he got up an showed his cheer back,
and had ter 60 way from the crack
wall, Picnic looked real white an sick after
that, an, felt right down sorry fur the gal,
but l didn't, let on 1 knew anything, cause
tWarent myplace to speak fttst, We know! Wall
she dragged round fur three four days-that
was after she was discharged, you see-an' one
stirred up, an him an her went inter the
room. an sat up ter the crack. AM Columbus
".Pnenie,' says he, his voice all hoarse an,
shaky, 'PheGie. what would you say eff | was
ter tell We your fine gineral afasnI no gineral
an was married man at that?'
'''Prove it. says Picnic.
II had ter laugh ter hear her speak up so pert
like. didn't think twas in her, and She not
much more'n a Child.
'''Wall, says Columbus, sef can't prove If. 7
knows them as kim
WALL says Picnic. when he tells me 50
hlsself, I'll believe it, an not befoH'
''Then Columbus went away, an could see
he was all worked up an mad. His face was
white as cotton. Picnic, She went to bed, an
heeTd her a-cry1n' an a-snubbin', all night.
She couldn't eat no breakfast nuther, though
made griddle-cakes, eXtry fur her; an
she dressed herself an went off some
Wheres-I didn't ask her, but l reckon she
went down ter the city ter find out about
that man. Wall, towards night she come
home an never see gal look so-kind O.
Wild, like, an her eyes a-shlntn' an her cheeks
as red as pinies. She sot an looked out o. the
Winder, an looked, an bimeby Columbus he
come in, an they went into the room I
couldn't hear rightly what they said, the
| chilfen was maxim such noise but | heared
Picnic h bust out acryin' fit to break her heart,
an then Columbus, he-wall, Lord! l never
ara see SIGH Teller! he Jess loves the groun'
| that gals feet walks On!'
| He must be very forgiving,"I said. "Phe-
| ME has used him badly"
| wall do know" she replied, with per-
feet simplicity. 81 do know as she was be-
holden to Columbus eff she could adone better.
| The child didn't mean no harm"
Although aware OF the impract1cabllity of
| trying to render Mrs. Angels comprehension
| OF maternal duty clearer could not help say
| ing: