The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-06-19


.ney were quite new. Then she brought
niA pipe filed and lighted it and drew
a"ay MS chair. saying with light strok-
ing OF the hair: Mind now. psppy, no
noaoing while I'm at the clearing away
! want 70 hear some more Virginia tales
oeIore you so 10 bed"
You shall hear them-yOu must learn
an my stories-to tell them. / mean" ne
SAID putting out his hand TO detaln her
az IN earnest about Alice GNchrist. -
ne went On. You must go there more.
ana II is quite an accomplishment 10 know
JUST now a good story should be told"
Fappy. pappy' Don't you know what
ainners fere mean? Gowns with tails 20
'hem and cabs end diamonds and all tina,
sort OF thing" Co-ne.ia protested w,
can never afford that. not under FIVE
years. When I'm famous person. though.
what frocks l shall wearI ] see myself
now III gray velvet. the shade grandmoth-
ef called ashes of roses with a train
thiee yards long and lined with pink six
ana the open neck filed In with point lace
ana pink chiffon. I'll have a diamond
crescent for luck and a star for my hair.
! would not for the world wear one OF
lhoSe bic, vulgar sunoursts Now. by way
OF achieving that splendor you must let
me get my dishes washed. ! have some
Things In my head that must be written
down"
what are they%' the major asked
eagerly. Cornelia shook her finger al him
ano said as she went through the door:
il show you in the morning. One who
mods the responsible office Of critic must
not be allowed to shirk his duty"
When she came back half an hour after.
her slim hands were red and shriveled
through intimate contact with hot suds
Her father eyed them disapprOvingly. II
only ! could do mans work" he said
my daughter should have what belongs
10 her name and birth. Instead she
drucges and slaves fo- q helpless burden"
And asks nothing better" C0rnelia
said. rising and standing behind his chair
Governor how many times must / tell
you that you are really and truly the gov
ernor which keeps this establishment ii
the way Of going .on?'
Cdresses were rare between these two
yet now she bent and kissed his forehead
then whisked out a pack Of cards and
challenged him 10 a game At half past
eight NJ arose, wished her a CHEEKY good
night. and went smilingly away to bed
COrnelia smiled back at him until the
door shut between them then flung her
arms above her head and heaved a sigh.
Next minute though. she smiled aaain-
soft, whimsical smile If | began 10
lake myself seriously. | fear / should de-
generate into professional humOTist." She
said half aloud, as she fetched out ueu
end paper. 1t IS quite sad enough 10 be
an unprotessiOnal one. Let's see-What
was the first joke / evolved upon the |.
road this afternoon I should not make
jokes al all, except as an amateur. but
one must 10 something between City Hall
place and 10th street Joke-makng pass
Is the time and occasionally puts money
in the purse"
Very shortly there were several snarsa-
~ written sheets upon the, table beside
her Then she got up and stretched both
arms high above her head. The fire was
fed ana clear, yet she could feel that the
room had grown colder Outside sleetv
ram beat heavily upon pane and roof
Now and again came the whistles OF river
efatt, hoarse and thin through the SILVER
ing Of the gale. Cornelia looked abopf
her ROOM bare and duh though it was
win a heart-warm sense Of gratitude.
II Is nome, no matter how poor" she
SAID under her breath. Then she drew
long inspiration and shivered family
Lishllns candle. she slipped noiselessIy
Hto hef falher's room. He was sleeping
teaceiuiIy, with his sound hand beside
ms race For ID second she stood looking
at MN shddlng the candle with one hand
Something rose I'm her throat Her evas
gre" suddenly dim As softly as night
faIls she crept back to the other room,
her sole cOnfidant:
Dear Old governor! wonder if #
would not break his heart to know that
what McCui!om said Vas, You are get
ting quite a reputation-as a hack Writ-
err "
Although Miss Thornley, had a fine con-
science for truth, thought Of that piece Of
did not keep her awake /
II was not the first time she had changed /
the spirit while keeping TO the letter in /
repeating 10 her father things from tbe /
outside. He was all in all 10 her and |
nope the only medicine for his broken /
spirit. once oravest Of the brave, manly. 1
it touched her to infinite pify ,
10 Infinite tenderness. to know how he /
cluns To her. how he built upon this say /
ng belief in her genius.
II only YOU were my som" he had said
n rebeli0us bitterness when first trouble .
,ame 10 them. Her heart had echoed the
saying, yet she laughed as she answered.
That would never, never do. governor.
Who could live up TO being the son Of the
man in Virginia? should in
'allibly be forced 10 marry a million ana
,ink TO the position OF my wifes hus-
)and."
A poor Jest Su; IL had served its turn.
The sick man had laughed feebly, then
lfter little fallen asleep. Before his
waking Cornelia mad chosen her career:
he would be a free lance of the pen. To
me knowing the profession Of letters il
would have appeared the most desperate
.h0ice. In the strength Of ignorance she
ought and won a faint measure Of sue
ess. She must have failed had she ever
eal!zed when she was beaten. II was the
neffacesble stay Of the thoroughbred
which had carried her through her ten
ears Of precariOus breadwhning.
They had been full Of SUPPRESSED
riends Unexpectedly raised up in the IN
lkellst places. or friends falling away in
he unllkeliest fashion. Throughout Cor
eia had been learning the heights and
EfAA1 " human idkGAtr ire touch aAI
rmper OF her time: beyond all, a fine and
u5tle mastery OF what was within her
eli an usUfruct there was 8 book which
ad been halIingly accepted by 4 great
ubllshiag house one Of the creates, In
ne trade. Yea this house had 50 impressed
0rnc.ia with the hazard OF the under. Ak
~ she felt almost guilty in thinking over
. He" utmost aspiring hope was that Il
hO'-iJ AZ least pay for itself Otherwise
he must feel always like a schemer who
al tempted men Of genial impulses into
bad investment.
Nobody save her father knew OF her
ook Nobody would know IL for hers IN ,
7 she chose 10 claim H. II John Dee
iOnd" Was unknown. ne could not be Let
own as a hack writer. neither a. Il news
amer person r0table at 50 much the coll ,
an Some touch Of pride had moved her
that decision. NOW that the last proofs
ere out Of hand she felt that she mad
as' put the whole thing out % mind nd
% sedul0usly 10 work along her accus- {
med lines.
- !! 90 lot Of valentine stun she ,
.0u-ht when her head Was on the pillow
aTrcr that I don't know. There is aoJ I