Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-10


who occasionally expended penny on apublica-
ton known the ''Atheis.ic. Communistic,
Anarchistic Scorcher." In spite of the listless
and rather deliberately blase expression with
which Figson, as usual. regarded the frivolous
scene, it was not assumed until he had looked
sharply round the room in search of some one,
that some one being girl.
Having assured himself that she was there
and not dancing he presently turned his back
indifferently on the madding crowd and began
to study notice board which hung on the wall
just inside the door.
The notice board afforded much information
about the club. Ii announced that the fee for
members was si1pence a month, mentioned
various classes for arithmetic, wood carving,
part singing. &c, which had been formed, and
gave the names of ladies and gentlemen who
were at the head of affairs on the different
evenings, well other items of general
information.
Figson had time to read notice of the next
meeting of the Green Lion Foot Ball Team, a
| list of members who were gently reminded that
their subscriptions would be thankfully received
and an announcement of q Sunday concert
before the music stopped.
The polka was over, but hardly a moments
! interval was allowed before n spruce young
man. with hair neatly parted in the middle and
| brushed up stiffiy on each side. shouted: Take
| your partners for the lancers, please" This
exhortation was followed by a considerable
/ uproar.
the dancing room with rush
"Lancers? I'm there shouted Joe. "Jine."
reckoning in lordy fashion to one Of the
girls, engaged for lancers? Come on, then;
wen ave tops. Clear out there. AIRY! Take
yer lady somewheres else; Jine and / are
tops
''Stop that step dancing, joel called the dis
tracted VI. c. as Joe INDUCED in double shuttle
of seemingly dangerous description, lodging
round the shrinking and loudly protesting
/ rirh rl,,a hao1 riv,-
ton.
Now, ma am. pleaser' when something like
order was at length restored and the music
struck up once more.
The girl Figson had looked for on his entrance
into the room was now leaning against the wall
at some little distance from him deliberately
gazing at nothing.
Look ere at this notice. Liz" observed
Bill. putting finger at random on one Of the
papers pinned to the board.
"Were?' said the girl, advancing with
great show of interest.
I'm wife outside. Slip out in minute" he
whispered under cover of the noise and confu-
sion OF the lancers.
"'Ullo. Liz? Not goia', are yer?" called one
Of the girls she waltzed back to her place.
"Only ter git drink Of water" replied Liz,
closing the door after her.
Figson stood in the little passage leading to
the reading room. leaning up against a cup
board. When the door shut he promptly
put his arm round the girls waist and kissed
her.
'Doan'tr said Liz perfunctorily, but with
out moving.
Il shall said Figson, doing it again. Look
ere. my disy," he observed after q moment, II
want ter ave talk with you"
Talk ANY," answered Liz who was sitting
on high stool, swinging her feet.
She was pretty girl of. perhaps. eighteen.
There was about her an air Of considerable re-
finement. and her barbarous accent struck one
Immediately with its incongruity. She was
neatly dressed, with q not wholly unsuccessful
attempt at fashion, though the materials OF
which her things were made were poor and nm
durable. Her hair curled very prettily under
her close-fttirS hat. Her eyes were deeply
blue and fringed with long lashes. Her colCr
was fresher th.l that of most girls who work
all day in factories.
Figson looked at her admirinsly.
''Yo're a real disy,'' he exclaimed.
'Git along with yerr' she returned, giving
him push. ''Is that all yer was goin' to s'y?'
NO. but it's true all the saime,' said Figson,
CALAMITY. LIZ. want ter know when yo're
goin' to nairle the dy."
Liz shot hasty glance at him from under
her eyeIashes, and began playing nervously with
the end of her scarf.
"W'y-where's the money to come from?"
she asked. hesitatingly.
Never you moind the brass" returned Fig
son, loftily. That's all roght. Not but what
I'm workin' for nothink, so ter speak, and
always shall till the roight men git at the cad
of government" he added, darby, relapsing
into his usual air Of Byronic gloom. still
emerging from it for q moment-"Pve got a
roise. Liz, an l don't see no use in with, so
let's settle it an git spliced as soon as ever we
kin. Whens it to be, eh?''
He put an arm around the girls shoulder and
looked down at her effectionately.
',Oh. Bill! cant sy-not Jest .yit," she
replied, raising her distressed blue eyes.
Father. yer know-'e's ginst it, since 'e's
been and got SAWED. Only ter-dy's said e
wasn't goin' TO ave no bloomin' hanarchis an
hinfidels in is family
The girl repeated the parental objurgation
quite gravely in a troubled tone. Her lover re-
treated few steps. leaned against the cupboard,
folded his arms and looked darkiy at Liz from
under frowning brows.
The girl glanced at him and broke into an in
voluntary laugh, though her lips were trem-
bling and there were tears in her eyes, "You-
YOU look like the young forger chap at the
Star. she cried, her voice shaken between
laughter and tears.
Figson flushed and lie. his arms drop a. his
sides
Look ERE" he said, angrily ''none of this
bloomin' nonsense. l spose yo're thinkin OF
takin' the bonnet yerself, then, are yer? tn
SCOT yer noicelyi" he added. sarcastically.
Not me-" replied Liz. hotly. II don't old
with screechin' and 'ollerin-never did. An
no more won't father after a bit, Bill" she
L Il,
know-Methody an Plymouth Brethren an
Roman Catholicism now e's jined the harmy
for Il bit. But it won't last" she said. hope
fully; .'e'n soon get tired of 'ollerin and then.
ike rs not ell give yore religion a turn, Bill;
'es been everything else Then when e does
ell give is consent, an Wen be married afore
jines somethin' else. and then g can't 'inder
US. Do let's wife Bit"
She spoke pleadiugly, but Figson still con-
tinUed TO regard her with disfavor.
''Jine my religi m he repeated, scornfully.
I'm freethInker. l thought yer knowed
that
well, fathers not partickler," returned
Liz, innocently. Zone religins as good rs
another to 'm-just for the tonne. Only, Bill
i don't want to get married without 'e's
willin'. Mother wouldn't ave liked it," she
added softly.
stuff an uonsense,' exclaimed Bill, aban-
doning the Star manner Of polished villainy
for one of more vulgar anger. Think yo're
goin' to come that story over me, do yer me
disy? Yo're playin' fast an loose with me,
that's what yo're doin'-and / won't stand it.
Go an try that with AIRY Carpenter, he
added. sneeringly: 'p'raps ell put up with il,
1 want. Not met be repeated, drawing him
self up and initiating his chest.
The dancers within were doing the grand
chain.
Chine" shouted AIRY Carpenter, the NJ
c.. and there was a general scufie, shouts and
laughter