The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-08-02

W fAtu WANT you 10 lGNll NY CONVEX
fation, III ask you," she rejoined tnrtly.
on with my leader.
You have been glad enough" she OBJ
served few minutes later. ''for me to do
mans work, though you want to keep
me In my place as woman"
II do not look upon womanliness as
degradation"
Nor do object to manliness in a
man.
'Ifyou mean that r.
You'd better attend to your leader, or
II viii be worse rubbish than usual"
| concluded my peroration, in furious
silence. l rather pride myself upon my
leaders. Then l made few remarks.
So did she-not very few. She made up
by never speaking to me except on BUSH
ness for the next week. l was sorry, be-
causc-well, there were good points
about her.
The following Monday we were stop
ping late, as usual, and for once the poet
was keeping us company. He wasn't GO
ing home till he had found something to
rhyme with ''my hearts DESIRE" he said.
Vioiet's suggestion Of my tart's Maria
caused him to decline further conversa-
ton with her. He's very touchy over his
rhymes. SO we were terribly dull until
the boy we had Kept in the lobby came in.
IF you please, sir, there's an old lady
called. She's sorry it's so late, she says,
but she's SO perticler anxious to see
Mother Hubbard"
'Will you see her, Miss RaikesY" 1
asked. We had become very formal in
our conversation.
What nonsense, Mr.. Marchantr'
WELL" said l, you'd better tell her
that Mother Hubbard has gone home.
You can go, too, Thompson. III lock
up" don't approve Of keeping the
boys late.
shes very nice old lady, sir" he
observed, chinking some coins in his
pocket, IAN she seems rather upset"
Cant you say you're Mother Hub
bard's' ASSISTANT" suggested to Violet.
How can | talk to her before you, not
to mention TennysonT This was her
name for the poet.
''We'll go in the Office"
And giggle all the time! Show her
in, Thompson"
We went into the unlit Office, leaving
the door open so that we could see with
out being seen.
Miss Violet will make fun of her, I
suppose" l grumbled.
Il don't like that sort of girl" he said
emphatically.
A slight, ngitated old lady in a deep
black dress came slowly In. She nearly
fell over n waste paper basket, and vio-
let jumped up and helped her to a chair
Then she sat down opposite her.
Mother Hubbard has gone home,"
she said. 81 am her assistant. Can
tell her anything for your
Il am n 'Bereaved Parent You may
remember
OH cried Violet quickly 'I-she was
so sorry for you-so very, very sorry"
l remember an answer about time sof-
tening the blow, etc. had asked Violet
il she kept it in type, and she had laugh
ed as usual.
''of course" said the old lady. nothing
can really comfort me, but e4t
Il will write and tell you il you will
give me your address," So she took
down the address. There" she said.
My mother viii see you, l feel certain.s
She is so kind and patient. Oh, so pa
tient. Goodby, and--and you will be
brave, won't you, dear?" She bent sud
denly over the old woman and kissed her
When she came back from showing the
q
working in energetic silence, and no
sound was heard until she caught qnes-
tioning look in my eyes.
Don't be fool" she said sharply.
Then there was further silence till she
looked round for her ruler and found the
poet regarding her intcntiy.
What are You glaring at me for ?, she
demanded.
81 was thinking" he said solemnly,
shat there are some things in real life
that one cannot put into poetry. wish,
Miss Raikes. one could."
The man isn't without his points. /
think shall let him do few paragraphs
next time he wants TO. l said nothing. l
was busy writing something on a piece of
paper. 1t took the form of an inquiry
from person who styled himself EAR
dent Admirer." He had come in contact
in business with charming and lively
girl. the pluckiest and cleyerest little
woman that ever was. They had become
great friends. but he had been annoyed
by her apparent frivolity. so they had
quarreled. Now he had discovered that
her frivolity was merely upon the sur
face: that she was the support of her in
valid mother and the kindest of friends
to any one who was in trouble. How
could Mother Hubbard advise him to
regain her friendship, and did she think
it possible that lie might ever gain her
love? When I had finished. threw it
over to her
Perhaps YOU will get your mother to
answer that" said I.
She read ii down hastily; then she
looked UP at me in her old daring way.
Her eyes were very bright. and her pref
ty face was pink.
Il answer all the questions myself,
really" she said.
Then" | said, won't you, vi-won't
your" She looked at me in silence.
There was tremble on her lips. and
couldn't see her eyes
The poet jumped up quickly and grab
bed his hat.
I've just remembered an appoint
ment," he said. rushing into his overcoat
without even pausing to disheyel his hair.
Good night, you two"
The man isn't without sense-for
poet shall certainly let him try his
hand at n few paragraphs.