Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-14

Hwas very seldom that Ann asked for "a day
out Her father and mother were dead and
sne had few acquaintance that she cared to
visit; but she never seemed TO feel the lack of
companionship. II she Glanced to have few
spare moments in the morning she was usually
70 be found seated on the wood pile, engaged
either with her knitting work or in reading her
blDle, choosing that prosaic spot evidently for
the sake OF being near the kitchen; but her
1avorlte resort in fair weather, when work was
over for the afternoon. Owl Rock. an iso-
lated bowlder just outside the garden fence the
garden sloping almost to the waters edge 1t
was pleasant place to sit a summer day.
| for u wide-branched brook willow overshad-
owed it. and at high tide the waves ripplei
across the shingles at its base, while in the dis
lance could be seen the passing ships and
steamers.
Ann was so plain and practical that we won
dered at her fondness for this romantic out
| look. but neighbOr one day gave possible
| clew to the mystery.
| "A good girl. but little queer" he said.
tapping his forehead. Her young man went
off to sea two or three years ago, an amt never
| been heard from"
ITO think of Ann Dorners having loved
and lostr' / said to John. "The last person
In the world that one would associate with a
| love affair"
1T only proves" replied John, "that the
l humblest lives may have their romances and
their tragedies"
| Whatever the motive was that took Ann so
| often to Owl Rock, whether she went to watch
! for the return of her lover or merely to read
| and mediate. promptly, as rule, at o'clock
| she came back to the kitchen to prepare sup
per. But one afternoon, for the first time. she
was little late; and l was on the point of
starting out to call her when saw her coming
| through the garden, attended by broad
shouldered sturdy looking young fellow, whose
| rolling gait at once revealed the fact that he
was a sailor.
1t was easy to see that Ann was happy, and
suddenly made the discovery that she was
| something more than pretty In place of her
sun bonnet she wore three-cornered hsndker-
chief tied under her chin. The wind had
roughened the hair about her forehead and
her cheeks seemed to have caught their color
| from the red glow in the west. She carried
her Bible in her hand, and with her shining
face she looked at the moment, in her prim
dark gown, like sort of TRANSPORTED nun.
When they reached the door step the young
man said goodnight and hurried back to the
beach
"Its Jason, ma'am," Ann explained, as she
came into the house. Il hadn't seen him for
most three years, an that's what made me
late. We used to be friends" she added,
shyiy
Nearly every afternoon for the next fortnight
Jason joined her at Owl Rock. Evidently they
found enough to talk about, and sometimes the
young man. who at O'Clock always came with
her up the garden path, fingered for a farewell
word at the kitchen door.
Ann during these days went about her work
with preoccup1ed air.
Did you ever think, ma'am." she asked one
morning, as she was busting the dining room,
''that you'd like to be a missionary
L confessed to having had III my younger
days vague aspiration in that direction.
"Oh, think it would be beautiful said the
girl 'Jasons been tellin' me about an island
he's been to; they were shipwreckcd there;
that's why he was gone SO long, an the people
are all heather. told Jason it was shame
somebody didn't go out there an teach EN-
Do you s'pose a sailors wife would have any
chance to do that sort of work. ma'am? You
know sometimes the ships stop there for
water"
Before could answer her John called to me
from his sanctum. and the subject did not
come up again, but guessing the trendof AIMS
thoughts L began to school myself to the
thought of losing her.
A day or two later, however, the girl came
back from Owl Rock alone.
Hes gone, ma am" she announced gravely
''Goner' cried Why, Ann, 1 thought you
were going to marry him."
''Ann shook her head. NO, m; l can't He's
too worldly minded He smokes, an always
when he's ashore he wants to wesr-starched
buZsoms."
But what of that, Ann if you love him." 1
said
AIMS chin began to culver. 1t was pretty,
sensitive chin. That's Just it, ma am; love
him too well, she said brokenly. Il don't dare
I'm afraid he'd be stumbin' block to me-"
There was nothing more to be said. Jason
had sailed that afternoon, and there the matter
rested
We had expected to go back to town in the
fall, but John became so infatuated with this
calm retreat" that we decided to take the
mousse Tor another year, and to our supreme
Ann agreed to remain with US.
Meanwhile Cousin Helen had made us
another visit and Ann. though she still grieved
that : good lOyahla
Helen should be guilty of wearing founces,
became again her ardent admirer. In fact SO
great was Helen's influence over her that she
eventually prevailed upon her to wear a white
apron and a linen collar. The Improvement
made IN her appearance by these simple
adjuncts was delight to the eye, and though
at first she wore them evidently under protest
regarding them still as ''vanities of the world"
her love for Helen finally conquered all
scruples, and the apron and collar came to be
regarded as an indispensable part of her toilet.
Jason mad gone on ten months cruise. and
as the time drew near for the ships return,
Ann grew restless and absent-minded She
went oftener to Owl Rock, and more than once
she became so absorbed in watching the far-off
sails as to forget when ) O'Clock came Some
times she would wander back to the rock after
tea. and sit there during the twilight
This went on for several weeks and then one
morning she blushingly informed me that
Jason was home again.
But you ought not to let him keep on COM
ing to see you, Ann" said, IF you are not
gong to marry him."
But perhaps l can do him some good,
ma am" SAID the girl, gravely. He hasn't any
folks OF his own. you know, to help him..
Poor, deluded Ami week or two later,
with much hesitation and embarrassment, she
succeeded In telling that she had re-
newed her promise to Jason.
And you are really going to marry him,
ANN" l exclaimed, sorry chiefly on my own ac-
count.
We'll. Won see, ma'am, he's agreed to give
up smokin' an'-an'-"
And starched bosoms," ventured to add,
hoping to help her out
well, no m" said Ann, in a wavering voice
"Maybe I've been too yieldin', but SEEM I've
taken to wearin' starched collars it don't seem
moren fair for me to give in to his wearin'
starched buZsoms."
Consequently few weeks later we lost our
faithful Ann.
A Designing Young Thing.
Arlo Bates Boston Letter in the Chicago Tribune.
chanced TO meet In the horse car not long
since lady who is one of the active visitors
for the Associated Charities and who baa co,