Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-28


i'm for quite q while then. not till e was
five year. for they wouldn't let visitors In
on Sunday, an was worixin' al the other
II went up there with my scrubbin' things
an all one night, for ia Jest come from my
work. an g didn't know me. sirl z ran
away an Id when / tried to kiss i'm.
Well after that I went up whenever /
could get away after my work was done
at night. though I was awful tired, an e
got kinder used to me, an ed to build
tents by putin up my broom an mops
an wrappin' my shawl round 'em. f ulster
call my mop Doctor cause e said the end
was like Dr. Dicks whiskers. DIR. Dick
was the regular doctor at the 'ome. an ED
took a shine to my little Dick.
"One day I was washin' windows In an
office on TUrner street, an in walks DR..
Dick. Well. we 'ad a talk, an the end of
II was e took my Dick to fetch UP for is
SON. e was a nice. kind gentleman. an
I knew he thought a sight O. Dick, but it
was ard for me, for / 'ad TO promise not
to see Dick after e left the 'ome. But I'd
no money to fetch I'm up on. an DR.. Dick'd
make Ls ~ Inn 81, ssnslemsn' an eO snSEs
me. though 1t nearly killed me when I
thought Of It.
That must a-been near thirty year ago.
but somethin' hurts ere" touching her
heart. when I think Of the day I said
goodbye"
There was another pause. in which 1
What days today? The 18th. isn't e.?
Well. twas just hve years ago that Dick
found me out an I was still scrubbin'. I
didn't seem to ave no art to get anything
better to DO after let Dick 60 What was
"Dr. Dick was dead, an 'ad left nv Dick
lots o. money an q letter that told i'm
all about me; 30 ed come to look me up.
an take me to live with I'm. E was good.
but awful cold an still-like. an wore kid
gloves an finer close nor Joe ever 'ad. But
I ought not 'er say that. for e alters IL
very good to me. Jest as II I was a lady;
but, you see. e was different. an never
could love I'm like little Dick.
so I told i'm e must leave me where I
was, for couldn't be Apply In a big 'ouse
with fine close, an would only shame i'm
before folks. An old woman like me. I
my life. an was eoin' to scrub to the end
An, said L We mustn't come TO zee me
on week days when I'm worl.in'. either,
cause 'twouldn't do no good. an folksd
only wonder
"'E got q little mad at that but fancy
he was kinder glad way down. said e
could come on Sundays. an we'd spend
| that day together II . wanted to.
80 now e comes every Sunday. an takes
me to church. an rig out in the fine shawl
an bunnit an things Q keeps givin' me,
and try to be like q great rich lady.
It's kinder hard, som etimes, to think
'e's really my boy. for e don't talk like me
spose It's all right. an 'e's real fine gen.
item an, IL Dick" she finished with pride,
which poorly concealed the aching mother
Poor Maggie" I said. softly. under my
breath.
why do you say that7' she cried. almost
fercely. II amt sorry bout anything. an
few women's got such a SON. i reckon!"
After that We neither spoke till the clock
struck 9. and I stepped back to view my
work
It was truly the best thing / had ever
done. and another hours work would have
finished IL. but the light was going fast, 20
/ began to put away my paints and brushes
and Maggie gathered up her things to
leave.
II wish there was something could do
for YOU" said I. as slipped q coin into the
old woman's hard palm. / felt more SYM
pathetic now that my work was done. and
her story seemed TO mean more to me than
when was wondering whether TO use gray
or brown for her faded eyes.
Her face frightened at -ae words.
Some time" she faltered, slowly. 'if you
could paint Dick-5est q little thing. for
me-"
Gladly" I answered; but when and
phaps. youil see my Dick. an. / 'ope you'll
like i'm. should like to ave you know
my son, Mister Carroll. Goodnight, sir"
And she Vas gone.
I had just got back from dinner. when
Davis came In unceremoniously. ] was used
to having him drop In about that time in
the day. and rather enjoyed q chat with my
genuemanly landlord, for. though outwardly
grave. almost to sadness, he displayed, at
times. grim humor that was vastly en-
tertaining. and was, moreover, q man of
education and refined tastes. He rarely
spoke OF himself ana kept his cloak of re-
serve well buttoned up to his chin-eome-
times I even thought he turned the collar
up to ward on all personal questions. But
knew him 70 be physician with a limit
ed practice, and fine house up on c.
street, besides the row of lodging houses
from lis to l21 West Lambert street.
How are you. Davis," I said. without
changing my position.
As well a. this beastly weather permits
any one to be-" he replied. taking the only
vacant chair. THE fog Is so thick outside
you could drill holes In IL and blast It with
gunpowder." But his attention was at
tracted just then to my easel
whats this?" he cried, and moved the
lamp to get better view.
had my back TO him, so, after a long ST.
lence. I wheeled around to say. rather inn
patiently. fear. as 1 did not understand
We'll how do you like it?'
IT'S truly fine. Carroll. never dreamed
you would do anything like this. Why, my
dear fellow. your reputation Will be made"
something Of critic and his opinion worth
having. but 1t wouldn't be manly for me to
show my pleasure. SO I only said. indlffer-
you think 1t will 60. thenr'
''Goi Now, look here Carroll, want this.
Name your own price. but / must have it."
You've seen Maggie. OF course, haven't
you--the old woman who cleans the halls
here?"
Yes. often" he answered slowly.
do you think 1t IL like herr
Very like-and yet-older and sadder-
looking someway. Don't you think so1''
NO. She looked just like that today.
Shes to pose again tomorrow, for, as you
see. it's not quite done yet. This hand
needs touching. and the dress should be
worked up a little more"
Yes. but I wouldn't touch Sc IL were
you. It's just perfect now, and you might
Nonsense" said. rather vexed at his
tone.
II must 60 along now" he said, buttoning
up his coat. I've some business In the next
house-11Q."
noticed for the first time that he looked
III. and tried to make him take some brandy
before he went out. but he seemed in q
hurry, and couldn't stop.
''Good.bye." he said. and remember. the
picture 10 mine"
1t was q hot, clammy night, and after
Davis left threw the windows open as far
as they were made to be thrown. and got
far out OF one OF them as safely could,
by fitting my chair back and extending my
legs out into that underlined everywhere
called the wide. wide world.
So Davis had bought my picture and i
WAS to name the price Well. he was q
rich man. thought complacently and nv
about It. 1t did not occur 10 me that a re-
ceipted bill for three months rent due last