Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-12

the phaeton. All this could have occupied
not more than minute, certainly: it SEEM
ed to her an hour.
"Fwhats dthis leddy?-fwhat's dthis 20
| crled the ofilcer. his spine stiffened with au-
| thority. But without awaiting a reply ne
swept the crowd back with a wave of the
oihcial arm, and advanced to the woman
| rapturously hugging TO her bosom the dusty
puhdIe OF clothes. The crowd closed in at
once and Mrs. Kemyss could not see
Merriam! she cried to the groom-"Mer-
| The man came back reluctantly, and took
| MS place at the ponies heads Then she
stepped to the ground and made her way
THE poor child.-is he hurt?-be is not
hurt?'' she cried brea 'hlessly, her own face
as white as the wo. . whom she now
| fronted "
Nom; oh, nom, 1 thins not" was the
tremulous answer He don't seem hurtedN
he don't seem hurried a bit, IN. Reuby's
rot hurried ?-is Reuby hurted?'
] The child squirmed in the woman's arms
to get his head around. He was only
partly successful; but. looking as hard as
| ne could from the corner OF one eye his
little brows all smudged with dirt and criss-
crossed with wrinkles. he declared in
juredly:
| II don't like dat dere ladyy'
| Ssh. darling-s-shw murmured the
young woman; and then, to smother the
| derogatfon as well as to hide her confusion
she added: Hes Jest little mite scarf
ma am"
| Mrs. Kemyss impulsively leaned forward
and kissed the grimy face The infant was
| taken by surprise. and his eyes got big and
giaring. Instantly he drew his fist across
his lips. uttered one piercing yell. then be-
came quiet. frowning the more.
The policeman had been awaiting impa-
| tiently chance to get his word in and this
seemed to be 1t. He spat for prelude.
| ha fu,t haas
said to the woman alphabetically. barking
| back to the subject with which he had TO
DO, and ostentatiously ignoring Mrs.
Kemyss.
But that lady instantly moved away with
dignity reckoning the young woman to fol-
| low. Come. get in, and we'll drive away
| from the crowd" said Mrs. Kemyss rapidly
as she seated herself: TN drive you TO the
| Ell trance. or to your home. Come. get in"
| The woman hesitated, glancing first at the
| immaculate drab cloth cushions, then aNk-
wardly at the ponies; but in a moment she
seemed more at ease. lifted the child in.
| and got in herself.
Mrs. Kemyss took up the reins and NOD
Ced to the groom. But the policeman felt
that he had been cheated out of a good
deal of talk. He had not many opportuni-
ties like this, 1t might be said In his ex-
cuse.
Course yez knows" he remarked draw
Ing near and placing a foot Familiarity on
| the step-"course yez knows Z OF c'u'd take
yez I d Ars'nal foor dthis rickliss drivin'
sure. But, course, Z tn kids not hurried
any, ut's diff rint." He twirled his mus
taches a moment: he considered that he
must have made a very favorable impress
sion; he had been polite-he had refrained
nom using the official phrase run yez In
and he was enjoying his pose because he
knew that he presented a pretty figure to
the crowd behind. AS fitting finish he ad-
ded, An Dim PLACED L see yezll do tn
right ting by desc people," and withdrew
his OBTAINING foot
Mrs. Kemyss had listened with an angry
flush, and now she cut the ponies with tie
" hip. But they were not to be of yet it
seemed The chubby boy had been kicking
excitedly since he got into the young wo-
mans lap. and now he bawled Me capI'
The cap. II appeared, had been beneath
the carriage. The groom ran back for it
and restored 1t to its owner. 1t was an
affair Of drab felt. a stif hemisphere, with
a band of blue plush around the base. a
peak in front, and an elastic for the cilin
The chubby boy grasped it: the tears ready
to fall suddenly were checked by the eager
scrutiny which followed; then he damned It
far down on his little round head.
1t was some time before Mrs. Kemyss
spoke; she had not recovered instantly from
her vexation, and she had thought for a
little while.
He is your child, is he not?' she asked
at last. glancing at the boy. who. now that
he felt his hat safely on his head again,
was lost in big-eyed contemplation of the
TANKS before him over the dashboard.
g. n.
! Your only childr'
The young woman seemed confused, but
presently she got out that Ii was her only
child, and that she was a widow.
"A widoww exclaimed Mrs. kemyss, half
to herself, pensively. Unconsciously she
took in at a glance the woman's poor dress,
her gloveless hands, and contrasted them
with the smartyet still cheap.rig Of the boy.
But then" she added presently, "a widow
with a child. And has he-have you no
relatives? By the way, I've forgotten your
name; Mrs.-ah-what did you say it was?"
The young woman had not said but now
after giving a quick glance, she replied:
Mrs. Burwell, ma'am. And, nom, have
no relations"
Then you are really-ah-what might be
called alone in the world?" The question
seemed eager.
We'll yesm. Me and little Reuby. 1
have some rooms-two rooms over n Sec
ond avna. Im-Pm saleslady. But I'm
out Of a position jest now
"Ah!' Mrs. Kemyss looked at her closely
for a moment. but, seeing that this embar-
raised her, she sent her eyes forward again
There was no need to sound the depths of
her poverty, she reflected; the thin pale face
was sufficient answer. Her thoughts again
kept her busy for a while. and she was
only recalled by the voice of the young
woman, who suggested that she and the
boy be set down now; they would walk
straight across town, she said
Mrs. kemyss started slightly and saw
that they were really nearing 59th street
But I'm not going TO let You off without a
talk" she said. You must come with-you
must come to my house. III send You
home later"
A look of incredulity came upon the vounp
woman; she started to protest but reiansed
into wondering silence. They crossed into
Broadway; and for long time now neither
spoke. Under the elevated they went. and
down into Long Acre square and finally
Into seth street. Then Mrs. Kemyss turned
to remark, with a smile, that they were
nearing home.
They drew up before the pretentious
house In 9Th avenue. Mrs. Kemyss. on the
right side. got out first; the young woman
" as about to follow-had half risen-when
II was found that the boy had grasped with
both hands the rein-guard before him. He
had made no out-cry, but his tight-shut lips
proclaimed, without a murmur, that he had
determined to stay where he was
Come, Reuby, Gomez coaxed his mother
In a mortified undertope.
The boy turned his head slowly, without
relaxing his grasp. looked coldly at the side
walk, then turned back again. His small
nsts became more compact upon the rail
Come. we get Reuby candy" the Young
woman went on in a whisper we GET
Reuby nice candy"
Come right back here, Mrs. Burweu "
said Mrs. Kemyss, leading the way to the
rear drawing room. We can be quite alone
here; we can talk without interruption +"
The young woman trod with an awed stem
as she followed with the child At the nor
Atx-ra oH1