Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-01

Pom.r.. .;s suS siEor OF mat vs8aoona
sordid caresl Outwardly, Milly WAS . pro-
sale, silent, industrious little body, no longer
young, as southerners count youth; yet In
ner waxing dreams shs led another life,
painting visions - sweet and shy q they were
vague, wherein walked an impossible hero
with his fsce) who wrote poetry to her, wore
. tail hat to church and eventually went 10 the
legislature. On such ideals stumbles poor
NIX. NIKE Asee, Who has made eso. 900 out Of square
child, himself barely able to read writing"
ana taxing his ease evenings and Of Sunday
In an undress uniform Of shirt sleeves and
stockings.
Nevertheless she married Mils. She married
MIN because the Allertons wanted her to marry
HIM. She went to him as she would have run
into house afire or jumped into the river. to
please them, and, dare say, with not 90 heavy
heart; Tor her fantastic bereavement was real
When her day-dreams were gone abe re-
ailzed now precious. how dangerously sweet
tney mad been. But she resolutely kept her
fancy (the fancy OF Mike Agees wife) from
grant roaming into those disloyal paths. She
was an honest little thing. poor Milly and she
burned up, with many tears, her sole relic of
the past, three silk handkerchiefs that she had
nemmed most neatly for-well not for Mike
since she stuffed them into the flames. and
held them there until the last wrinkle Of the
cinders was still. Her conscience reproacbed
her for the waste, but il could not hold her
hand.
But, although she resented her new condi-
tons and was indescribably afraid Of her hus-
band at nrst. she found herself growing less
miserable all the time. Mike was one Of ma
lures gentlemen. he was gentle to her in A vay
that she did not know enough of men and the
world to rate at it's real value, but that did
soothe her bruised nerves. When within a wear
OF her marriage he fell sick her heart yearned
over his weakness and his patience; when he
died she mourned him sincerely She did not
go back to her dreams: rather, she blushed to
remember them. But q year after Mikes
death she met Judge Kline at a church fair
She had never seen him before, he living in an
other town, although not ten miles away. For
the first time in her life she came near swoon-
ing. Judge Kline WAS the unknown hero of
her dreams.
high hat, black frock coat. a stiff white
linen Shirt with frayed collar and blue neck
scarf, rather too much cologne. and a florid
manner, these may not cut splendid figure in
the imaginations of girls in another social rank
but they did in Milly 8. He is a perfect gem
tleman," she thought. Here was the imper-
sonation OF her youthful dreams, the splendid
lover for whose appearance she had ceased to
hope, feeling herself too worn and old and I'M
attractive.
OF course she had heard the gossip. Mike.
half jocularly, had narrated the Kline family
quarrels (Which had their ludicrous phases)
to her; but 1t was impossible for unworldly
voiced, sOtt-eyed man could have pulled his
wife around the room by her hair or slung a
cup of coffee at his daughter. And when he
quoted poetry and gave her the blue-and-gold
volume that decked the center table she felt
that 1t was atrocious to suspect such a noble
minded being OF accepting brides. As for the
worst stories about Kline, honest Mike would
not have dreamed OF telling them to . good wo-
man.
Yet, in fact, her second marriage was as much
q IN aft mir of hn ann spf.a, No..
married Mike Agee because she felt it her duty
to her kind friends, the Allertons: she was abous
to marry Elmer Kline because she wed that much
to her owr ideals. 1t was not that Elmer Kime's
melodlous voice awakened novel rapture in her
heart; it was because she had always pictured
such q voice thrilling her. 1t was not that she
found his flamboyant gallantries SO sweet
to her soul; 1t was because she thought
that she ought to find them sweet She
ran to klmes defense eagerly; she shut
her eyes to any weak places in his cause and a
fictitious glow of kindness and partisanship
showed to her fancy like love. As she gazed
with heavy heart out Of the window she told
herself that he was worthy any sacrifice She
could see Gather playing with the old horse
that had been hers for five years. She remem-
bered how kind Mike had always been to the
horse because she loved it, and because its in
stinct had once saved her life. Mike was as
kind and gentle with animals as a woman; he
was the sweetest tempered man in the world,
ton and begun earlier to dress himself up and
shave every day any. woman might
havo loved him. And TODAY. for Ihe
first time, she knew how well be had
loved her. Her heart perversely yearned
after her dead husband and perversely oues-
toned the rights of the lover that she had
chosen. Would Elmer be SO kind to WORKOUT
animals? There he came riding down the
street on his beautiful new horse. She had not
expected him She ought to feel glad to see
him. Ihv1 I,,'t ahaD L. IL III
ure, with his coat buttonei up and his black
curtis Wiz wasn't she prouder of him? Il
will marry him now, no matter what lies folks
tell about him." said she; butt wish had
known about Mike trusting me SO and-loy-
ing ME SO, before"
horse. Instead of greeting him the child ran
round the house.
Elmer Kline was a tall man, with dark, thin
face and fine eyes; his manner was very pleas
ing and his voice soft At first sight he looked
thirty. but II one examined his face the fine
wrinkles about his eyes showed his fifteen ad-
ditional years.
After the first words there was q pause that
Kline found pleasant enough, with his arm
about Millys waist and the mocking bird trill
hoatlng on the cool breeze. He eyed the neat
garden with approval; perhaps 1t might be bet
ter to rent his own farm and come here to live.
He whispered In Mildred's ear: ''Say, honey,
you won't let Col Allerton do me a meanness
behind my back, will your
"Oh, Elmer, he was here today; he wanted
me to do like yon saitfhe would about Gather
And You told him"
Il told him I could trust You to do right by
Gather and me, too"
That's my brave grill You know whv.
dearest; you understand the reason for NV
asking this mark of confidence. l can't en-
dure to have my enemies jeering ut me and say
ing you bargained with me. After we are mar
ried then you shall see ii will be stingy with
dear little Gather! But you know the poets
words, honey:
""'Trust me al in al.
Yes" said Mildred. And she wondered
why she did not feel more impressed; and
she wished Elmer would not hold her so tight.
well, let old Allerton Co." Kline continued:
The can r'ar and charge as much as he likes.
he shan't bother us. But I've come to see YOU
about something. What do you reckon. Milly?
I've found out how to make some money for
your
All my money is in Col. Allerton's hands"
This is some money that you will get;
can get you III per cent for it, sure, and maybe
more, ,'-smiling-''you amt afraid to let me
have it,
Il amt afraid; but where's the money?"
"Weli, what would you say to getting hun
dred and twenty for old Spike2 Wouldn't you
call that pretty sharp job of fnanciering2"
Who wants old Spike9 But it doesn't mat
ter; wouldn't sell him."
Isl Hurd."
'Sell Spike to q livery stable and that crual