Evening star., 1900-10-06

| the pantry dooI closed, but once Hunch
caught glimpse inside, and saw that the
the coffee they Both felt slight restraint
Occasionally when their eyes met Mamie
would lower hers and laugh nervously.
They talked of old times. and Hunch re-
| called, somewhat awkwardly, the day he
had first met her on the beach by the life
| saving station.
Then there was long pause, and Hunch
Look here Mis- Considine there amt
no use trying to make me think things
that amt so is, so I'm going down town
and bring up something to eat
Mamie flushed
Now don't say nothing. You just leave
me be and well fix things up In great
| shape"
| his ulster and started up the street. saying
| over his shoulder as he went down the
steps:
"In be back in no time
He found Joe Carter, who kept the gro
| Gerry and meat market across from the notei,
at his house, and made him open up mis-
| store and put up large bundle OF pro.
| visions. When he returned Mamie was at
| the front window. She hurried to open the
| door. ,
"Come on and We'll have a blowout "
said Hunch, as he cut the string and spread
| the packages over the kitchen taple.
| There's a good many OF the Things tnat
| don't have to be cooked at all. got some
preserve; thought you might like 1t. DO
>
NAMES eyes were hesitating between
| laughter and tears, but she nodded quickly
| and the laugh triumphed Then tney both
| set to work Hunch laid the tanleciotn n
and puttered about clumsly, while Mamie
| prepared the meal. Mamie laughed at his
| awkwardness and after time grew SO
| cheerful that she joked him and made MIN
| blush through the bronze on his face Ana
| they sat facing each other across the table
with all the lively chatter of two foolish
young people. Afterward she washed the
| dishes and he wiped them.
But when it was finished, and they sat be-
| fore the stove in the front room the sense
of restraint returned For long time
neither spoke. They looked at the two
| which glowed redly when the flames leaped
up behind them. 1t was Mamie who finally
| broke the silence.
"1S-Bruce well?"
"He's-he's pretty we'll He didn't feel
| quite able to come down today. You know
we're bunking together. You see. 1 know
| about-now you mustn't think I'm poking my
nose into none Of my business. l and Bruce
was together good while, and we come
to know a good deal about each other, o
course"
| The wood in the stove had fallen. sending
| up sparks and shoots OF flame that danced
grotesquely on the mica.
You see, If there's anything I can do,
'taints II I was doing favor. It's just
| that mebbe 1 was lucky in getting a place
at pays a little more'n Bruces. And, you
see, he'd do just the same by me If it come
that 1 was Kind Of On my uppers.
Mamie was still silent.
Now, you Just be sensible-'cause It's
all sort OF in the family, you know-and tell
| me how 1t is. anyhow, about the rent. and
mebbe we can kind Of patch things up be-
cause three heads Is better'n tYo Under
stand?'
Mamie leaned back In her chair and rest
ed her face in her hands. When Hunch
looked at her he saw that she was crying
and he waited till she should speak. Final
ly she said:
Il don't know just what we're going to
wants the house, and we-of course"
Yes, of course" said Hunch.
Il thought maybe ought to take room
somewhere"
That's so. Something smaller l dunno
but what's like as not you'd feel better,
anyhow This is a pretty big house for
little bit of a thing like you. Mebbes long
as Bruce is working up to Manistee you
could get room and sort of keep house by
yourself. Be kind Of snug, don't you think
so?"
had sat for several minutes without talk
Ing, III see what we can do He rose
and put on his coat. Mamie watched him,
but seemed unable to reply, and let him
go out without a. word.
He returned an hour later. Mamie was
still sitting by the stove.
Its all fixed up" he said, shaking the
| snow from his coat. You're going over
" Sdi tleI hey re got d dig room Tor
| you and he's going to see that you get
moved all right You can take your meals
right in the house And 'twont cost you
hardly anything. Now you just drop them
| blues and Wen see If we can't get you fat
ter than you ever was. You're a going
to have a good time yet this winter. And
Brucell come down Sundays. I've got to
get the train. Guess L nights well start
along
| She got up slowly and followed Hunch
| to the door. Neither knew what to say
Hunch buttOned his ulster and drew on
one of his big fur mittens. He looked
| at his hand, big and frecked, with hard
knotted fingers and broken nails. He held
| it out hurriedly and said:
"Well-good-bye."
| She took his hand shyly Suddenly she
bent down and kissed 1t, and a tear drop
| ped on it. Hunch pulled his hand away.
"Oh, don't do that"
She looked up into his face. She did not
seem to care now If he saw her crying
Hunch forget that he had shaken hands
and he took hers again, this time with his
| mitten on. Then he opened the door and
| hurried out. She stood at the window
| looking after him as he walked down the
street, but he did not turn around
| (To be continued)