Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-02

tcreu, 20 IL cOulu not Dc traced. Wnen ne wrote
to the agent asking for the ticket the agent re-
piled that no money and no such letter had
been received Medlark ragged, but what could
he do? He had no money; there was no time to
earn anything before the drawing. No use.
either, to apply to Mrs. Medlark Though he
knew very well that she bad more than %
boarded in an old stocking and buried under
the fireplace), because she was prejudiced
against lotteries, as result Of her uncles expe-
rience, who had spent e115 in two Year, in
tickets and never had received q cents worth
back. Mrs. Medlark used to shy bitter things
about them. But she had no sense anyhow, in
the doctors opinion. She would cry and say
that it was for the children, when she was just
saving it to buy yoke Of oxen. Hadn't she
made it all out Of his chickens, too? Medlark
was consumed with n sense Of grievance.
When did the wicked device first clip into his
mind? dare say he did not know himself; all
the morning it had been there, prickin9 his
thoughts, an ugly, nagging thing, like q thorn
in his shoe. 81 wouldn't do her 30 mean fur
anything on EARTH" he declared stoutly, when
the temptation first appeared. Then: "Twud
sarve her no more than right, snoopin' raoun'
and hidin' money way from her own husbande'
And then-Mas for Thomas Jefferson Medlark,
who had always been an honest man.-then he
began to think Of ways to steal all the money.
No wonder Ambrose found his father irritable
that morning. Meanwhile the sweet-tempered
boy was already finding excuses for the man.
81 had orter been more keerful like" he
thought, penitently. "He jest natchelly got
skeered up, an folks alters get i'll when they are
skeered. WAL, wisht I got suthin' nicer for
him Christmasr'
1t was not very long before they emerged
from the wood vistas on the river bank. Though
1t was December there was a genial warmth in
the air and the moist earth had q smell like
spring. The waves Of the river were o dark
green, winding between willow-topped banks
and disappearing in the vast and somber cy-
press forests. Over the river was the little set
Element. The low, white houses, the dull gray
mill, from which came an incessant buzz of
toiling machinery, and the brighter tints Of
Mrs. CAROLS house had no relief Of green
foliage, now that even the water oak boughs
were bare. But there was a sober richness
about the landscape with its morning shadows
the sun burning on the whitish brown stocks Of
the cotton fields, the purple hues Of the willows
in the foreground, the pink shades in the blurr
OF distant gum trees, through which the syca-
more trunks showed like chalk lines, the splashes
of green holly or mistletoe among the dark
tracery against the blue sky and the ruby-like
glitter of swamp hackberries making their own
brilliant effect in every pool or bayou.
"Ain't it pretty. Sis?' said Ambrose. "Most's
pretty as the Christmas tree. My word, that's
Miss Carroll's.'
He could have shouted for Joy, because at the
sight of Miss Carroll there flashed over him O
scheme for obtaining the most beautiful Christ
mas gift for his father
Miss Carrolrs graceful figure was poised with
little backward bend before camera, and her
head was hidden under black velvet focusing
cloth. She waved her hand at the children to
get out of the way. cor I'll take you," she
cried.
"Where'n she take weuns?" asked Pearl, anx-
iously
''She won't take us anywhere" answered
Ambrose. ITS that ar trick with the black
cloth, and it takes folkses."
Good little children, tew?" said Pearl, at
once associating a camera with bears and wild
hogs and the 'black man" who carry ''mean"
little Arkansas children off bodily-at least SO
the mothers say.
''Baby's good; baby amt mean," she added.
But Ambrose hardly heard the plaintive little
tones, he was so absorbed in his daring scheme
He drove the wagon nearer Miss Carroll until
he could speak to her.
Pearl began to whimper. "Baby 'faid.' Bud
hold baby!'
He was in great haste. but he put his arms
about her in the box. She chung to him and
instantly began to smile.
in his mouth, ''does We want me ter fotch up
pail of scaly-bark hick'ry nuts?'
Eyes, thank you,S said Miss Carroll.
"They-they amt fur present. exactly"
said Ambrose, very red and miserable, 81 want
We to do suthin' fur me fur 'em. Kin-kin ye
uIuW IOlkscb ROOu IL tree6Qn naOuSeS, ma am!
"Do you want me to draw you Ambrose?"
SHAW, maam Pearl there-fur Christmas
gift to paw" His eyes were sparkling with
eagerness.
swell, have taken one photograph" said
Miss Carroll, kindly. But never mind; you
shall have one taken your own way. Get Pearl
out and stand up
Ambrose knew what it was to have "his picter
drawed," and he pulled out the folds Of Pearls
frock and brushed her hair with his hand and
crossed her hands stifiy in front Of her, pre-
cisely as he remembered his mothers having
done when they went to the photograph boat.
change anything, she merely told him to come
into the picture ALSO He said that his clothes
were not right, but when she explained that che
would only take the picture to his knees. above
where the big patch, was he consented, and put
ting his left hand on his sisters shoulder he
spread the right close to his side, stood very
straight and glared sternly into the lens. "Now,
don't We wink nur move, SIS" said he "tell
Miss Carroll tells We, an I'll give We my pretty
gourd-quit noww But Pearl squirmed and
wanted to turn her head.
pearl, We got ter keep still, an quit you
meanness"' whispered Ambrose in anger; he
was desperate lest the picture should be spoiled
''Ef We don't, We won't git drawed.''
"Baby dom wanter be drawed," said the in
tractabie Pearl, ''baby wants t ride in the
Vaughn"
Ambrose was at his wits end; he thought Of
the childish dread of the camera and, am
sorry to say, he whispered fercely in the little
ear: .'Ef We don't be good the black trick'n
git vel"
The threat served its purpose. Poor Pearl
smOthered her sobs and stared with O most
wretched expression at the three-legged mon
ster. In second it was all over, and Miss
Carroll was shouldering the camera
Ambrose bashfully offered to "tote" it for
her to the ferry boat.
The ferry was an old scow, unprotected BY
guards of any kind. Miss Carroll was busy
with her camera focusing q mid-river view;
that is how she came to lay her plate holder on
the wagon, where it was a great pleasure to
Pearl, who carefully removed the top slide.
IAN wife an pitty!'' cried Pearl, gleefully.
Miss Carroll's exclamation Of horror struck
cold to Ambrose's heart. ''They amt no
picter on this one, he ventured to plead, "it's
plumb white!''
"Yes, it's ruined" said Miss Carroll; and IL
ever in this life Ambrose wanted to slap baby
sister 1t was then. Luckily the other is left
I'll develop it directly. After you have un-
loaded your cotton come over to the house; and
If the negative isn't good we must try again"
You may be sure Ambrose lost no time In get
ting back to the big house. He was greeted at
the kitchen door by Aunt Caledonia, the cook.
I'VE seekin' Miss Dora2 Wall, dom reckon We
kin see her. Miss Dora, is ye in de dark room2''
voice came back: wait o minute, CaIly:
don't let anybody in.''
'She in de dark ROOM" said Caledonia. SOL
EMMY. Eye all better be gwine." Ambrose