Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-29
Besides" she added, naively, "the store

4
| she's got learnin'. She only left of school a
year ago come spring, an she can do right smart
There's Sam Weayers gal, as lives mex to Us,
arms her twenty five dollars month, an she
never seen the day as she could read like Picnic
an she's ugly as sin, too.''
1t occurred to me just here that had heard
OF an additional force being temporarily required
| In the Printing Bureau. resolved to use what
| influence possessed with prominent Official
for pbs U tar uay a 9 t employment
| faults and weaknesses, knew that her distress
was genuine. Work was scarce and there were
many mouths to feed In that forlorn little house
| at the Navy Yard.
Il will see If can find some employment fol
| your daughter" 1 said, after rejecting a few
moments mon , Come here Saturday evening, and ]
Will let you know the result
knew, by the sudden animation visible In
Mrs. Angels face, that this was what she had
hoped for and expected.
when came from the Office on Saturday even
ing, found Mrs. Angel and her daughter await
Ing me. She had often alluded to Picnic with
maternal pride as ''gcOd-lOOkin' GAL" but /
was entirely unprepared for such a Vision as, at
her mothers bidding, advanced to greet me. 1t
occurred TO me that Mrs. Angel herself must
nave once looked somewhat as Picnic did now,
except as to the eyes. That much-contemned
velvety black eyes which met mine with suc1 a
timid, deprecating glance
She was small and perfectly shaped and
there was enough Of vivid coloring and graceful
nary society bellies. Her hair fell loosely 70 her
waist In the then prevailing fashion, a silken.
Wavy, chestnut mass. A shabby little hat W IS
perched on one side of her pretty head and
the tightly fitting basque of her dress of cheap
and faded blue exposed her white throat almost
too freely: was glad that could answer the
anxious pleading OF those eyes in manner not
disappointing: The girls JOY was pretty thing
TO witness as told her mother that my appl-
cation had been successful. and that Picnic
would be assigned to work on Monday
q % 6pf
Mrs. Angel triumphantly, IAN as fur Column
bus, he didn't want her to git In no how
on mar" interrupted Picnic, blushing like
''Oh, what's the use ~ continued her mother.
columbus says he wouldn't low 1t nohow eff
he'd got good STAN. He says as soon as ever
he gifts inter business fur hiSself-"
"Oh nl0ar!" tnterpOSed Picnic again, going
to the window to hide her bushes.
columbus Is butcher by trade" went on
Mrs. Angel; in confidential whisper IAN Phe-
ME, she don't like the 1dee of it. reckon les
readin' them story papers all about counts, an
lords, and SIGH, as has set her agin butcherin'
But Columbus, he jess loves the groun' she
walks on, an he's a-goin' ter hucksterin' as soon
as ever he can git a good stan'.'
expressed deep interest In the success Of
Columbus, and rescued Picnic from her agony
OF confusion by some remarks upon other themes
of less personal nature. Soon after. mother
and daughter departed.
Eight o'clock Monday morning brought Phe-
nile, looking elated, yet nervous. She wore the
VI
OF rose-pink was perched in her shining hair.
and another was at her throat. AS we entered
the Treasury building, saw that She turned
passed on through the lofty, resounding CORR.
doris, and up the great flight Of steps, she pantei
like hunted rabbit.
At the bureau presented the appointment
card had received. The superintendent gave
1t aglance, Scrutin1zed Picnic closely, beckOned
10 minor power, and in a moment the new
eDploy6 was conducted from my sight. just
rNVnQ rod hl1r
me gr1my, noisy world Of printing presses,
Picnic gave me glance over her shoulder.
Such trembling, scared sort OF a glance, |
felt as If had just turned young Lamb into a
den of ravening wolves.
Cur1Ously enough, from this day the fortunes
OF the mouse OF Angel began to mend ''He"
was reinstated In 1.-The yard " the oldest boy be-
gan thriving business in the paper-selllug
line, and Mrs. Angel herself being plentifu!ly
supplied with plain sewing, the family were
suddenly plunged into state of aftluence which
might well have upset a stronger Intellect than
that CT its maternal head. Her lunacy took the
mild and customary form of shopping Her
trips to the Avenue 10y which Pennsylvania
avenue is presupposedl and to 5th street became
OF Seml-WeekIy occurrence. She generally
dropped in TO see me On her way home, in quite
friendly and Informal manner cher Changed
circumstances had not made her proud. and
with high glee exhibited to me her purchases.
Ihey Savored strongly of Hebraic fnfiuen ceS.
and included almost every superuouS article
OF dress known to modern times. She also sup
design, and Informed me that she had bought a
magnl1lcent 'bristles' carpet at auction, for a
mere song.
1.-The GristleS is wore off In some places - She
acknowledged, but it's most as good as new"
Her grief for the lamented Mr.. Lawson found
new expression In mourning jewelry OF a
massive massive and somoer character, including ear
rings of size which threatened destruction to
the lobeS of her small ears. Her fadgelings
were literally provided with new feathers of a
snowy and fragile nature, and even her feel
finn hca1
TO allow the purchase OF a purple ne ;ktie and
an embroidered shirt bosom for his adjournment.
tie amt not ter say so ugly of a SUNDAY,
when he gifts the smudge washed of" she re-
marked. In connection with the above
1t must have been great satisfaction IN
you" | suggested mot without Slight tinge of
malice), ito be able to pay off the grocer aud
the dry goods merchant"
MIS-. Anglers spirits were visibly damDene1 by
TINS unfeeling allusion. Her beaIning face dark
ened.
They has to take their resks," she remarked,
sententiously, after long pause lingering her
hard-fu0ber bracelets and avoiding my gaze.
once met her on the Avenue. She was is
suing from popular restaurant, followed by
1Our or i've young Angels, all In high spirits
and beaming with the consciousness of we'll
hlled stomachs, and the possession of divers
promising, CHOOSING paper bags: She greeted me
with an enuSiveneSS which drew upon me the
attention of the passers-by.
We've done had Oys1tteTs!" remarked John
Henry;
nelia.
The fond mother exhibited, with natural pride
their tln-ty pes. taken individually and cOilec-
lively, sitting and standing, with hats and with
out. The artist had spared neither carmfne nor
gllt1Ol, ana The effect was UNIQUE and daz-
cling.
i've ben layin' off to have 'ern took these
Two years, she loudly explained, can Fye done
IL! lie De mad as hornet. but don't keer
He don't pay fur 'em.''
A vision OF the long suffering grocer and mer-
chant rose between me and those trlumphs of
the MINERS art, Dat then, as Mrs Ange herself
nad phllosophically remarked, they has 10 take
Picnic, too, in the beginning was a fire. luent
VlSltOr, and was pleased to note that her pain-
ful shy ness was wearing OF little. ana 20 see
marked improvement In her dress. There was
with all her childiShneS5 little trace OF cOuuet,
~ ABOUT her,-lhe innocent coqueIry OF ORD
preenlng It's feathers In the sunshine She was
simply soft-hearted, ignorant little beauty.
whose great, appealing eyes seemed alwaYs ask
Ing lot something, and In way one might find
II hard TO refuse.
In spite OF her rich color, / saw that the girl
was 1ra1l. and knowing that she had long walk
aIler leaving the cars, arranged for her TO STAY
with me over night when the weather was Sc
we're, and she often did so, sleeping On the
lounge In my sitting room.
AT first l exerted myself to entertain nv
young gueSt,-youth and beauty have great
chalmS Tor me,-but beyond some curiosity at
the slglt OF pictures, met with no encourages
Inent. the girls mind was vacuum. she 50 mt
the hours before retiring In caressing aud roinp.
m ON IN rr1o11