The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-04-11


take the FIRST plunge. I'll plunge
After i've minutes brisk walking she
found herself IN Broad street Here the
TOE OF busy fellow -mortals was greater.
SN@ry man carried a Joint or bag or
nsh; every woman appeared 10 b. laden
win oranges. which would burst from
E~Pcr bags and roll under the feet Of the
horhes. noble specimen OF humanity,
IN ire shape OF a staiwart policeman.
handed her over the dangerous crossing.
and she entered the station lust I'm time
10 see the Finshu.y Park train disappear.
Ihis was very aggravating Mary Blanc
looked round with an air OF inleciefon
II was no use appealing to the ticket coz
ltctOF. She knew very well that there
vas not another train until . O'Clock. She
glanced wistfully al the paper-staU Pa
pers were luXery rot to be INDUCED In
every day. Hence Marys views Of "the
psHtical situation" were singularly IN.
biased. Then she went to the waiting
room and found herself face to face with
Percy Clarke
That young gentleman did not disguise
ms pleasure al the meeting. 1T seems
the stars IN their courses are fighting for
me ne said cheerfully. a. he placed her
q comfortable seat by the fire. ."Tisn't
1850 80 a. 4eAN- a. ttilEs BuI i missed my
tram. and was growing away here, little
knowing what was in store for me"
Mary felt very tired. The warmth of
The room, after the cold and the mud out
side, exercised the usual effect. She made
one or two ianguid replies. and leaned
PACK In her chair. Presently a manly
voice SAID gently that il was time to
eaten the train. She woke W with 4
start scarcely realizing what had hap
pened.
IT all right" said Percy Clarke. reas-
surlngiy. i saw you were dead ;ired.
SO Just put my rug over you and YOU
went to sleep"
But Miss McCosh viii wonder what
mas become Of me. ! am seldom so late
a. this"
~ can be helped You wouldn't have
caught an earlier train II YOU had ken;
awake. We'd better be going now"
IheE went through the barrier. and he
ioIlowed her into second-class carriage
aren't YOU ashamed OF such Oriental
luxury? oughtn't we 10 90 third?"
9he mutely displayed her season ticket.
II Il cheaper to go second with a season
IMAM TO travel third. so go second"
An yes; I'd forgotten that. ia like to
go hrst-class, but ] can't afford if. We
are ruined by German cheap labor. and
our salaries suffer proportionately.
When they reached Finsbury Park lit
tIe ola lady In somewhat an.iquated
bonnet and shawl came up to them.
Mary, Mary, l wondered what had be-
come Of YOU"
Mary explained. In fact. Auntie. If il
had not been for Mr.. Clarke / should
nave missed the next train also. Let ne
introduce Mr. Clarke to you
The old lady cast a somewhat anxious
glance at Percy, bat was apparently re-
assured by his frank, sunny countenance.
Percy offered Miss McCosh his arm. and
supported her somewhat feeble stems as
they went down the moldy subte-ranean
passage which was to conduct them into
the street. II was a very earthy-smelling
passage, and yet wind blew through it
strong enough to have lifted the old lady
of her legs.
II Is almost a blizzard" said Psrcy.
looking round when they got outside the
station. Have you far to gOg'
only couple Of hundred yards" said
Mary Blame. cheerfully. IF YOU will
lean upon me, Auntie. think we shall
do very well"
Percy felt this 10 be a dismissal. but
found an unexpected ally in the Old lady
Indeed, and it is very kind Of YOU.
Mary said Miss McCosh, but ! am too
nervous to trust myself TO you. ] have
been reading about those horrid storms
untli have lost all my nerve. / don't
want to be frozen TO death in the street
and dug out a week afterwards"
Percy treasured her. You mus, let me
see you safely 10 your own doorstep. Miss
Mrf 'DEh. fbQn Nqn'H ~. oil Oh.
II Nther rash of you TO venture out in
such a wind?
If you had been sitting by the fire won
dering what had happened, YOU. too
would have faced the storm" said the old
lady. But come in and warm vourseIf
1t is one of those nights on which Mary
is fond of talking about not turning away
even her enemy's dog; though I didn't
know she had any enemies VINO kept
dogs"
I'm only a puppy and don't bite" said
Percy. still, ii is rash TO give Miss
Blame an opportunity Of turning me
away"
PLEASE come in, said Mary, with grave
directness. at is nearly 10 O'clock: YOU
must be- hungry"
All Miss McCosh's hospitable instincts
were aroused as he stood hesitating at the
door. II you viii honor us with your
presence" she said. in her pleasant. sill
very voice, we shall be very glad indeed
Mr.. Clarke. You must not think we are
OuITaging the conVentiOnalities because
Mary and l are the most reckless b.
hemians in our own way. We've have a
latchkeyi"
Miss McCosh's voice dropped to a whis-
per of innocent pride as she made this
daring confession.
You viii respect our secret" said
Mary. opening the door with the hey in
question. and leading the way ~ the
somewhat narrow, steep stairs. Miss Nc
Gosh followed and Percy brought up the
rear.
Mary Blame opened the door of a room
some fourteen feet long by ten in breadth.
\ fire burned brightly in the pretty Tied
CRATE, and the lamp in the center Of the
room was covered with a pink shade
Flowers and ferns in one window, a PLANO
I'm a recess. and one or two family por-
traits on The walls caught Percy's eye as
Miss MCCosh made him sit down ia her
favorite armchair by the fire.
4 great White-faced cat sprang up on
the arm OF the chair, and pushed his nose
into PeTCy's budding mOustache The
kettle sang merrily away, as If delighted
To welcome a masculine visitor. Mary
Blame had recovered from her fatigue:
for she fitted dainuly about here and
there. now stirring the fire or diving into
the mysterious reCesSes OF the sid board.
10 emerge with preserves and Il butter
dish with "a silver lion on the cover-a
rampant lion whose tail seemed 10 lose its
stiffness as Mary brought him 10 the
light.
I'm ashamed Ia sit here IN fdleness."
said Percy. Would you mind very much
if / we're 20 help y0u2
mol IL All" said Mary. brightly. The
masculine mind always 1iques itself Oh
being able TO do something in whatever
situation il may BE- placed. Would YOU
like 10 make some ioastg'
with pleasure. I've theories OF my
own on the subject Of toasting Toast
should be etherealiy thin, and warmed
through on either side before IL is per
mitted 10 assume the delicate amber
SHADE peculiar 10 the work Of the great
artist" Here a cinder Tell on the deli
cate amber tint Of the great artist, ana
rather marred its effect. mo matter"
ne said. THE time viii come when You