Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-25

lief, that there was a smile ON her face |
The older man continued: |
See here; seeing you're Kip Shuright's |
son, what's to prevent you taking Thanks |
giving dinner with US tomorrow? 'Twon [ |
be anything great, but it will be better than |
anything you can buy at a restaurant. L
don have to work tonight, come up as /
early as You like in the morning, If you |
have an easy night of it yourself. I'd like /
to ask you about lot of folks in the old |
neighborhood, if you won't be bored
Joe wasn't sure that it would be pleas |
ure to talk about the various fossils of
Middle Creek township-of course they were |
FOSSILS but just then he caught the eye of |
the young woman, who seemed to be half |
wishing he would accept the invitation, so |
once more he got his entire stock of manners |
together so well that he succeeded in say |
ing that il would give him great pleasure to |
dine with old friend of his father. Then !
he hurried back to the office, with the hope
that there might by chance be something
for him to do. There wasn't, so he lounged
at a desk and thought about the mddle-aged
man who had come TO the city In search OF
his proper place and was now satisfied 10
be typesetter, husband, father and grand
father. Well, what else could be expected
of countryman of the last generation?
Probably the old chap had no education;
perhaps he was devoid of ambition. BY
the way, he would have a chance, if he
went early, to argue that Thanksgiving
question with the old man. He would do it
cheerfully and respectfully for Agnes-what
,1iorious eyes that girl had,-Agnes might
he present or within hearing, and IL would
never do to say anything rude to her father,
whom she seemed to regard with great ten
derness. Strange how girls persisted in do
ing that sort of thing, always throwing
away their feelings upon men who were
strongest and most hardened to life's bur
dens, while there were hosts of ardent
young souls longing for sympathy and ap-
probation. His own sisters had always
been fussy about their father-always atten-
tive to the old mans remarks, while they
frpUnpntlV Sniffp1-aptnallV CniffpI-af
deliverances of wisdom. STILL Agnes-Joe
looked at the address the father had pen
ciled and found that the girls last name
was Moreway-NiSS MoreWay'S face indi-
Gated a superior mind: perhaps she would
understand what Joe's own sisters had been
unable to see in their brother. He did wish,
though, that during the evening something
would turn up at the office - something
great, when all the older reporters, those
stupid old fellows of whom the editors
seemed 10 think so much, were away, so
that he might write the matter up in his
best style and have something to show the
girl, just to indicate how smart he could
be when he got fair chance.
But nothing great turned up: Joe was sent
TO interview a semi-important politician
who had suddenly come from the west, and
the questions he asked were so feeble and
pointless that the editor had said he thought
Joe was best suited TO Sunday school work
and the reporting Of church sociables-,hs
to a young man who knew he could make
the Watcher twice as interesting and breezy
if he could sit in the editorial chair a few
days! Joe straightway made mental
memorandum to have a confidential chat
about the paper with old Moreway, and
learn, If he could, why men of no special
htness were selected for important editorial
positions
When, however. he reached the modest
apartments in which the Moreways lived
he learned that his host had suddenly been
called to the sick bed of friend, and would
not return for an hour or two. Miss Agnes
Ia no
in the meantime, and although she occa-
sionally excused herself to give some as
sistance TO her mother, and returned with
an odorous suggestion of the kitchen in her
garments, Joe found her capital company
somehow, although he did his full share of
the talking, Joe could not get upon any of
MS faEorite subjects the chief of which was
himself. The girl was so interesting that
he let her lead the converse ton, and a her
tastes bad followed directions almost un-
known to him, he could do little but follow
respectfully and admiringly. If his sisters
had been SO handsome and smart and
yes, and sweet! Part of his plan of life
was TO marry a millionaire's daughter when
he found his proper place. but, really.
Agnes Moreway would make some man a
most satisfactory wife.
Joe was SO DESTROYS of impressing Miss
Moreway favorably that when the head of
the family returned he tried to make him
self agreeable and show the old man that
he was much more than a young man from,
the country. He brought forth some of his
choicest thoughts and conclusions ON No.,
and affairs, but he was rather a1royed
at having the older man frequently take
the words from his mouth and improve ,1pon
them. Finally Joe became so Immersed
with the sense of the old man that ne
ceased TO be cOndeScending. and heca mo
willing to learn. Moreway said some things
which Joe remembered to have heard from
his own father in other days though he
mao afterW7ard reconstructed them and
claimed them for his own. As the chat con-
unued Joe began to wonder why Morevay
was not owner and editor of the Watcher
in place OF the heavybrained capitalist who
was the head of the concern. Finally the
wonder grew until Joe was obliged to ask
the question plainly.
Why not?" the old man echoed well
there are lot Of reasons. VI lille he MAS
hunting for capital 1 was hunting for a
wife; each OF Us got what he was after
and dom envy HIM, although 1 know he
envied me-
But, persisted Joe. you must have had
other chances, or seen them
u e-es,' crawIed the Ole man; .'bur inst
as one or them turned up my wIte fell very
Ill, anu Shed nave died IL 1 naqn given h,-r
my whole time for several months; alter
that had 10 WORK almost double hours TOR
a year 10 make up Tor lost time. 1 could
nave had d splendid place once by going
west but the children were halT grown
then, and I'd have had to tear up the whole
family by the roots and L never saw GOOD
transplanting done in that way Then /
took hand in the war, like thousands of
other family men on both sides. I've never
been sorry for ii, but the world went four
years past me while that was going on, and
1t took a long time to catch up-you know
the old saw about a stern chase being a
long one. l was asked once to run for Com
gress, and though perhaps l shouldn't saw
It, my friends did say that l was lot
smarter than the man that took the nomi-
nation and got there, but what was the use?
Certain things were expected from the sue
cessful man that / couldn't and wouldn't
do. Then one of my boys-my oldest SON
made great strike in southern lands and
wanted me to go in with him-wanted some
one he could trust. he said. l took the will
for the deed. and twas worth taking L can
tell you. l hope you may find out some day
how it feels for the boy gave all the credit
TO me-Said | brought him UP and taught
him everything he knew. You see. the
other children were getting their education
just then. and doing it splendidly. too. All
Of them being sharp witted and persistent
So the upshot of it is. here l am sixty
years old and setting type for about $40
a week"
And feeling that your life has been
failure added Joe, in tones of genuine