Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-17


Violet Daverel the beauty; and least OF ali
OF Miss Dayerel. the heress; and, in fact. Miss
while for the beauty and the girl he cared nothing
at all.
Like poor Daddy, Sir Piers Trevor had a very
was but modestly blessed with wealth OF this
world; like poor Daddy. he was big and strongly
gre a nu,Slng brute one Or Two bad been known
Deauty, out, on the contrary, a decidedly ugly
man. Not so ugly In feature, perhaps for his nose
anu cast OF head were perfect, but In the lowering
LOOK OF the hard eyes, and in the cruel set OF the
rather large mouth. not made less pronounced by
lhe heayy, square chin Yes, IL was ugly face,
yet one which might have been charming had the
expression been pleasing
But the expression was bad: and ugly the face
was. even wnen he was making the most efforts TO
show at his best, and t is exaggeration 10 say
thaI While she encouraged him, Violet Daverel
Not always, Sometimes-when she had for
moment forgotten the vision OF Willie Okedon's
orave gray eyes shining through a mist OF tears,
nsd forgotten that last choking "GOd bless you
dsring.-she found Sir Piers Trevor a fairly
pleasant companion Certainly after he began TO
painful CONDOLENCES about that other one, who had
gone away without a word which could compro-
mise himself.
IL was very hard on poor Daddy that his self
remuneration had been 50 entirely misunderstood
by the lady OF his love, 1t would have been 50
much more TO his liking and his comfort, poor lad
him instead OF hanging on q hope which seemed
almost hopeless, while he knew shat scoundrel,
course. he did not know IL, and very soon, Tor We
all have those kind friends who let US hear OF those
annoy ances and sorrows, which the heart could
not grieve about IL IL did not know.
Thus some time passed before poor Daddy felt
/ able 10 write the line or two for which Violet
Daverel had asked; then an incident happened
one evening In the streets OF Alexandria which
served to give him the necessary excuse for recall
/ ing himself-for that was how he put Ito her
memory
! He was loafing In one OF the cafes with several
other officers and a lot Of Europeans, when. find
ING "a he q m nni no
/ he went out to smoke a cigarette on the veranda
until the others should be ready TO go back to
their quarters at Remleh. As he stood leaning
against one OF the supports OF the veranda he saw
a very old negro woman come lettering along
carrying bag In her hand
Poor old girl" said Daddy to himself, and feel
/ ing In his one pocket found bit OF silver and
tossed II TO her with careless "H old lady, here's
something for you"
The old woman mumbled out what Daddy sup
posed was stream OF thanks, and eventually
went on her way. Not unobseryed, however, for
supple, shadOw-like individual in the dingiest OF
white garments slid from the shade cast by a
house opposite and darling down the road She
had taken, fell upon her, and scuffie for the
| Daddy Longlegs never thought of the danger into
which he might be going, but just gave shout TO
his comrades within the cafe, and sst OF down the
noonlit road as last as his long legs could carry
him.
dingy person, who. being troubled with no fine
OF honor about respect due to the feminine
began to belabor the old negress Soundly. And,
useful riding whip, without which he never went
out when of duty. began to play vigorously upon
the softer parts OF the dingy persons body.
The effect was miraculous, The dIngy person
dropped his victim and hOwled what the half
dozen officers, who came racing down the street,
afterward graphically described as "blue murder"
And Daddy, when he had giving him good drub-
bing, gave him q shake and u parting kick and
sent him flying back whence he had come like
shot from catapult yelling "blue murder still.
When the old woman realized that the great
gentleman who had given her the money had
come to her rescue, and had thoroughly logged
the cowardly thief, who had hankered after her
hit OF fortune, into the bargain, she fell down in
the dust at mis- feet. and passionately embraced
his long legs In a way most embarrassing to him.
Take the Old girl on" he cried "She1l throw
me DOWN 10 certainty. Confound 1t, don't stand
in mat idotic way gisglins like lot OF school,
Unfortunately the officers were too thoroughly
amused at the sight OF Daddy In his dilemma TO
help him, even II they had wanted to do so, which
they didn't: and the old woman began to change
her tactics and to sway backward and forward,
uttering Kind OF Sing-song chant In an exceed
ingly croaky and cracked voice.
Under this new expression OF gratitude, poor
Daddy had less hold or the ground than ever, but
the Old woman held on TO him and he perfOrce
had 10 hold on the old woman, while his brother
officers stood around the odd combination and
reared simply roared with laughter.
And. at last, In spite OF his anger and his unut-
terabie disgust the Infection or the jolly laughter
proved too strong for Daddy to resist and he be-
gan 10 laugh also. IL was fatal to his equilibrium.
Tor he went over promptly, and after a moments
struggle parted company with the old lady, and
with scramble got himself together in tailor's
heap and sat laughing UNTIL as he said afterward,
ne thought he should have died OF laughing.
The only one who did not IN any way seem to
see the humor OF the situation was the cause OF It
ALL The old negro lady sat back on her heels
after she had gathered herself together again. ana
besOught Daddy in tones OF abect fear not TO visit
his fan upon her miserable head.
what does she Say?" asked Daddy, still sitting
on the ground like tailor, with hand on either
knee. 'Jack, you understand that sort OF lingo,
don't you: What does she saye'
..Sne says that you are her lord and MASTER" the
officer who answered TO the name OF JACK replied.
''GOd forbid" exclaimed Daddy piously. NAnd
grant 1 be lord and master TO something better
than that when my time comes"
a fresh roar OF laughter followed, and Jack Des-
pard explained further. "And she says you are
not 10 punch her head for tumbling you over which
she didn't mean to-"
night By-tne-by, have any or you chaps got a coin
or TWO 10 spare? You might hand them over to the
old girl II you have"
As he spoke he dropped the few shillings he had
about him into his white sun-hemet and handed
IL round for further contributions, with the result
OF shower or silver such TO the old negro ladyS
eyes meant wealth-wealth untold, riches for the
rest OF her life.
TO say that she expressed gratitude is to put 1t
so mildly as to convey no real idea OF the scene
which followed. She delivered long and pas
sionate harangue, accompanied by every gesture
OF which her W1theTed Old arms were capable
What's she cussfng about now, JACKIE asked
Daddy OF Despard.
''sne says, will you tell her where she can find
you then she Will give you a powerful charm
in the morning which Will give you happiness
for all the rest OF your life. 1 suppose you don't
want to hear all the fowery gratitude and such
like
Not quite. Tell her to came to Ramleh. SUD-
pose IL won't do To discourage the old girl She
might try the evii-eye dodge on one-deuced un-
pleasant that, You know
Eventually one or the officers produced small
note book and wrote Daddy's name and address
on blank leaf, which he tore out and handed
over 10 the Old woman Then the officers went or
10 IN ir quarters, and the old negress went her
way rejoicing
AS matter OF fact, not one OF them expected 70
hear or see any more OF the heroine OF the In
cldent, nor any OF them being blessed with faith
In the honesty or gratefulness OF any natives
or SoJOurners in that delightful country But
toward noon, when they were thinking OF lunch
DeSpard came into the yeranda OF the mess hut
where Daddy was smoking cigarette and reading
regiment.
81 say, Daddy" he said, shat old dusky beauty
that you re lord and master TO Is asking for yOun
"She has brought the charm" said Daddy nut
ing up bis correspondence in heap. ''Where is
shP:"
..Out here. Come along.n
They found her sauatting on q big stone lust
around the corner, looking as much dead as alive
Tor naturally, at her age, a sound belaDOring fol.
lowed 10y an exciting rescue by great gentleman
ending In complete downfall TO mother earth.
have their effect. Al the sight OF Daddy She
reused up little, however, and tried to get on TO
her feet.
.stay where YOU are" shouted Daddy. Then.
nndng that she did not underst and even the plain.
est and loudest OF English, said TO Despard: "Tell
the old girl 10 sit STILL"
Finally, after good deal OF gesticulation and a
long harangue, "Daddy'S beauty as the Officers
by common consent called her, produced her
wonderful inner recess OF her truly wonderful ar
lnentS-lI was wrapped I'm many folds or cofton