Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-23
litle shawl over tho carpet slipper, and Settled

| When the stranger returned, beaming over
the Drumming milk pail, she was able to greet
say. / didn't hardly know what should do
about milkin', for can't seem to put my foot
to the ground. Stayin' at Mis- Brewster's, be
yep
Nor with fash which illuminated the
kitchen. mot zero. Where he live? Ze milk?
| lis door?''
Miss Palmyra indicated the pantry door,
where the yellow pans stood ready and wait
ing.
She listened keenly for sound Of splitting or
! dripping, but none came; only a steady, even
pouring. Hes a real good hand!' she muir
| mured
| "And now?" the dark eyes smiled on her
again. You lame, get your sopper. Wat
"Oh-no, sir, you can't do that" cried Miss
Palmyra. I'm jst obliged, assure you.
but shan't want nothin' more tonight. had
good dinner. Well, I'm surer'
| She felt utterly helpless when the stranger,
with another smile, produced three eggs from
break the eggs into it and beat them with right
good will when you seeck, then you weak,
he explained. Most eat good sopper! I
make!" In the twinkling of an eye the frying
pan was on the stove, and while 1t was heating
his keen, black eyes spied tray. Napkin,
knife and fork were arranged upon 1t with
swift precision. Setting plate to warm on the
back OF the stove, he proceeded to do wonder
full things with tine beaten eggs, tossing them
about with fork, stirring. seasoning, tasting.
This was done with the right hand while the
loft was toasting slice Of bread. All the time
the black eyes were glancing here and there
like darting sunbeams. Spying q string OF
onions the stranger bounced upon them. A
mOrsel was torn off, shredded fine and stirred
into the savory mess.
In five minutes such an omelette was smok-
ing on the hot plate as Miss Palmyra had never
even dreamed of; and in one minute more it
was beside her on the little light stand and she
was hidden, Eat! 1 make teal
Now, Miss Palmyra had not had q good din
ner, and she was desperately hungry. and
oh. how good that omelette did smell! The
toast was perfect
Where had Mis- Brewster's nephew learned
all this? And now, to crown all, u cup of tea
was set beside her, hot strong and fragrant
Please re lady also have a cup?" asked this
astonishing person. The tone was soft and
pleading. the dark eyes deprecating. as if he
were humble sutton asking a royal boon.
Palmyra Hospitality. ..The ideal l don't see
what was thinking of, Mr.--Is your name
Brewster?"
Not said the stranger softly. Name is
JIM
A good supper had Giorgios Aristides Evan
geildes Paparipapoulos, alias Jim, that night!
There was more omelette than Miss Palmyra
could possibly eat she declared; indeed Jim
had meant that there should be. Then
she told him where to find a certain loaf OF
spice cake and jar of damson jam, and she
insisted upon his eating till he could eat no
more. After week of sailed backbone of
hog Jims appetite for these good things was
keen enough.
He beamed with pleasure; his smiles made
MONDAY In the darkening kitchen. Miss Pal
myra thought him uncOmmonly handsome.
Only-it was u pity he wore earrings And,
after all, who was he? She really must find out
You've never told me how you KEN to know
Of my bein' lame!' she said as her guest was
washing the dishes with careful nicely. '.You a
stranger here, too! Who did send We, if I'm
not takin' a liberty?"
''Ze honorable captains send me!' said Jim,
with open cheerfulness, land re selected gem
tlemen."
We'll. I'm sure!" calculated Miss Palmyra.
Il steal your hem Jim explained with VIM
ming grace. WAS very sorry; should not have
done-but. Now l work tree mont; do shores
for ladies'; do all works. But for you | work
most, for l steal your hen. Is it not?'' And
putting away the cups and saucers, he swept
the hearth with ardor.
and she really could not think of any thing else
to say.
Every one agreed that it was special provi-
dence that Jim Peoples (such being the popu-
lar rendering of our heros nameC had been
much sickness ''goin' about" and when Aunt
Ruhamy Smell, the accredited nurse of the
island, was laid up with rheumatism. The
quick, active Greek was here. there and every
where. He split wood. he made fires. he
MIXED cows. He mended chairs. and set panes
of glass; he kept all the children happy by
plating wonderful things out of twne and
whiting royal navies with his jack knife.
He also mended up the Jail as well as he
could and might be seen patching the walls of
90 w Iy0v s.,,l.
by in moody silence watching him. 1t was
generally felt that Sefami Blunt had not done
as he ought by his prisoner, and that he really
was not fitted for the Offices he held of jaier
and hog-reeve but, as Capt. Zeno Pye said:
There want nothing else Sefami could do,
and 1t Rep him off the town. anyway"
But Jim's best work and his longest hours
were given to Miss Palmyra Henshaw, She
had freely forgiven him his theft of the hen.
and in the long period o! inactivity to which
she was now condemned for if one trifles with
a sprained ankle one 10 apt to pay for it, and it
was a month before she could do more than
hobble about with a crutch) she found him an
invaluable friend Morning, noon and night
she would see him smiling at the door with his
CHEEKY How You do, Mees Palmyra? So
better. Is it not? Glad ami
Often he brought some little offering-a
wooden dish Of wild strawberries. a string of
fish. cleaning fresh from the water, or it might
be half dozen crabs, which would crawl out
OF MS pockets only TO meet swift death IN the
kettle OF boiling water and be converted into
some wonderful dish. or Jims skill in cookery
Miss Palmyra spoke with bated breath.
We'll, she would say to Mrs. Brewster. who.
toiling over her own cook stove. sometimes
wished she had sprained ankle and could
have Jim Peoples to do her work. ''that man has
a real gift, that's sartin. Give him an egg and
an onion and 1t does seem as il he could git the
flesh pots of Egypt out of 'em. Jest you step
to the cupboard. Miss Brewster. Thar's a cor
ner left special for You to taste, dish o. to-
maytoes and rice he cooked for my dinner yes
terday. just them and a bit O. butter and
scrap O. onion, and-thar! Did you overI
Don't that relish good?"
Small wonder that Miss PALMYRA grew plump
and rosy, in spite of the sprained ankle
Many housewife wished. like Mrs. Brew
ster, that she also might profit By Jims gift.
but though he did ali kinds of chores for the
whole village. he would cook for no one but
Miss Palmyra Henshaw. II steal your henp'
he said to her. II wish to make You I'M for
Eat Isteal hens at no ozer lady,"
So Miss Palmyra grew to feel sort of owner
ship of Jim Popples, which was by no means
unpleasant, and she sewed ON his buttons (for
pleasure. he could do it perfectly well HIM
self. as she knew, and mended his clothes,
while he, at work with broom or mop. or
whiting away at basket splints, told her won
derful stories of foreign lands. Of apes and pea
cocks cedars and pomegranates, till the good
woman grew to feel that her thief was yery
remarkable and very gifted person.
So three months slipped away, as fast as