Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-16


farce repeated, and many were the minutes
wasted. Meantime the sky had become over
cast, and thunder was muttering In the dis
tance
my mother has been very ILL., II she is caught
In the shower she may get her DEATH" cried
Miss Lila in distress. "Oh, what shall we do3"
"If you'll pardon the suggestion, might
drive you to the Eyrie, II that is your destina-
ton, said Harvey, with q deprecatory glance
at his masquerading costume.
cart?"
81 could come back for them"
land with all mammals shawls and pillows,
the phaetOn Is hardly wide enough for us two"
THAT is true; 1t Is Lilliputlan affair."" The
youth was gravey testing its light springs and
braces.
sis there danger Of breaking DOWN. Then
you go with mamma, and I'll drive the cart"
Lila Lavender! The ideal" expostulated the
tom Cavender's mother and sister. by the
ashes of my uncle! COnfOund it, what scrape"
was the young soap merchants inward ejacula-
ton as he awaited the ladies' pleasure.
What better can do, mammaS I shall ride
with your horse" the young lady added, with q
glance toward Harvey.
mot in the least. He's far from being fiery
Bucephalus."
Struck with the incongruity of the remark
from such source. Miss Lila lost all control Of
her dimples
That seat is suspended between the heavens
and the EARTH like MOhammeds coffin, man.
ma" she TESTED: by way Of cloaking her untimely
mirth "One ought to be shot into 1t out of q
catapult."
To aid the young lady in mounting, Harvey
silently extended hand, whose exceeding smut
tiness was Intensified by q seal ring that gilt
tered upon the little finger. Miss Lila glanced
curiously at the fine cameo with ITS quaint set
ting. Who was this anomalous being who
EDOrtp6 costly n from ho
classics? And where, where had she seen that
peculiar cameo before, or one Just like itl All!
now she recOllected: Tom had worn 1t home
last vacation, when he and his chum had ex-
come possessed of 1T Could it be that he and
Harvey Vance were identical Tom had said
that Harvey was spending the summer in the
neighborhOOd. This must be he. Yes, she was
sure of it.
Obedient to the young mans WILL that unac-
countable pony darted away on the wings of the
wind. Close behind, head down, tail up, fol-
lowed old DObbin in heavy canter which
seemed to shake the very leaves on the trees.
Charged upon by the empty soap barrel, Miss Lila
slipped to the other side Of the seat, and chung
to the ash-bin. mile was passed, two miles,
The gable-roofed Eyre doomed in the distance.
On sped the pony. on numbered old Dobbin; on
swooped the storm-coud. dozen guests
crowded out upon the hotel piazza to witness
the exciting race.
chow white Mrs. Lavender looks !" cried
one. "Where did she pick up that fantastic
drlver?"
''Is that Miss Lila in the cart ?" exclaimed
the gentleman addressed "Well, she's O girl
of mettle! Ha, here comes the rain! !"
AS the phaeton dashed up he rushed out with
an open umbrella to escort Mrs. Cavander into
the house. In mounting the steps she turned
toward Harvey
you have done us great service, sir. as
sure you we are grateful. My daughter will see
that you are recompensed for your time and
trouble"
1.-The dickens she will" thought the deacon's
indignant substitute.
Standing beneath the dripping caves, with
rivulets of I've coursing down his cheeks he
assisted the moist young lady to alight. ~ am
we are deeply indebted to YOU" she STAN
mered, blushingly. my mother"
, Has taken no cold, tfdst, said he, loftily.
And horse, cart and driver disappeared kitch-
onward.
In putting the cart to rights that evening
Harvey discovered grimy object caught be-
tween the seat and the ash-bin 1t proved to
be ladys pocket handkerchief, bearing in one
corner the name Of ella Lavender" He
handed it to his aunt for bleaching purposes,
and received in return letter from Tom.
"My mother and sister have perched at the
Eyrie. on Emden Hill" it ran. ':My mother is
high up as she can. If you're anywhere near
their secluded nest, do peep in upon them.
ance."
81 believe TIL take that handkerchief to Miss
Lavender tomorrow, auntie, and have it off my
mind, remarked Harvey, carelessly, as he folded
the letter.
"Well-or you might send it by the stage"
But Harvey was deaf to the suggestion.
The next evening, faultlessly attired, and
Eyre, and was cordially welcomed by both Mrs.
Lavender and her daughter. Convinced that he
was not recognized as squire Of the soap cart
he saw no necessity for proclaiming himself
such. In making his first call why should he
introduce himself as clown?
you've made quite VISIT" was his aunt's
salutation when Harvey entered the sitting
room: "Was the girl glad to get her handker-
chief?"
''To tell the truth, auntle, didn't give 1t to
her."
'Humph! Strange how q handsome young
woman will weaken chaps memory, observed
the deacon, slyly, as his wife bandaged the Of
Tending ankle. ~ don't see but Harvey IL have
to call again."
He did call again, and again, and again. In
deed, his rides to the Eyrie grew SO frequent
that his uncle one day teasjngly counselled him
to buy second saddle-horse.
"Or get carriage that will hold two "amend-
ed his aunt. At which the youth flushed guiltily,
confirming Mrs. Clutter in her private opinion.
that he was very far gone.'
He went further yet that evening-even to the
length of proposing to Miss Lila.
The little eoquette only laughed, and babe him
not to Re absurd.
Absurd? He would really like to know what
she meant.
"Oh, they were both so young.
Harvey looked hurt, and intmated that he, at
least, was nearing the dOwn-hill of life.
And he didn't know her well enough
The youth eagerly protested that he knew her
well enough to love her.
Besides, I'm not sure but I like another
young man better"
''Oh, If you care for somebody else, why.
then-why, in that case" Harvey found the
English tongue terribly intricate, and rose with
precipitation.
81 met him first, you know" said Miss Lila,
dropping her eyes apologetically, and am I'M
der great obligations to him."
"Oh, it's all right. You're all right, mean;
but think Tom might have told me-"
"Told you what? 2"
"About this other fellow"
There isn't much to tell, +" said Miss Lila, de-
murely. "He hasn't come forward" Harvey
drew on his glove with mystiaed air. "But T
am looking for him any day now, for the Eyre is
nearly out of SOAP"
"YOu bewitching little tease!"
Miss Lia's cheeks were eddying with dimples
deep enough to drown mans heart. Perhaps