The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-18

| folks that don't know nothin, and can
| make Twin But / can cook. and sweep
! and make beds. and lay the table. and sell
| shrimps. and sew on the machine. and
/ open oysters and make quilts. and nurse
/ babies, and l amt goin' to be one of them
bcokfolks that amt worth shucks. m real
smart. / am. She says herself I'm wurth
any three when | choose.
But therc'r such nice things in books.
urged Miss Norris meekly.
i've thought that sometimes when !
looked at the pictures said Benny. May
be some time I'll get me edgercation
when there's nothing better TO do. II
might please paw If he was to see it.
But where is your pa?" said Miss Nor
ris, suppressing the objectionable w,
while retaining the general style OF the
title.
'.oh. he is dead, Dead, Dead, Drown
ed, oh, how could he go and get drowned
and leave me 10 her, He knows her.! sne
burst into passion of weeping and flung
herself down in the doorway in an aban-
ment OF grief.
You Benjamine." shrieked rasping
voice Just on the other side of the door
and Miss Morris fed, but not before she
had caught glimpse OF slatternly, irate
virago. broom in hand, of dirty wrapper,
and a mass OF curl papers.
Miss Morris had been hard at work for
many years. She had. indeed. broken
down and become nervous, and had been
ordered by the doctor to go 'out OF town.
take a pint of champagne daily. keep IN
the open air. and amuse herself" Such
prescriptions are often carelessly given by
careless physicians. She couldn't afford
long Journeys. nor champagne Thy the pint
or quart. but feeling it her duty TO do
something in the way OF obeying orders.
she walked the streets in the cool OF the
evening all summer, and went to 25-cent
matinee once a week for month. 1t was
not very lively work, it must be confessed.
II was August, and near the tropics 1t is a
proyerb. Beware of August suns and
dews and storms" and Miss Morris, after
hurrying over her dinner. had to go out
into the glare. to walk over payements
that almost blistered her feet, to sit in
hot theatre. half-empty and very stuffy.
with bouquet of garlic from the highly
miscellaneous crowd assembled there as
sailing her nostrils. and the sound OF
much kissing and cat-calling from the gal
lery offending her ears. The topical
ditties. the senseless rush of truly IDIOT
ic play. from which good sense and good
taste had been alike eliminated. wheezy
orchestra, and a drunken man in the next
row made an ensemble anything but at
tractive to a woman OF refinement. But
she had four tickets purchased by her SIS
ter. Miss Leila, she had been ordered 10
amuse herself, and of amusements the
town at that season boosted only hotel
hons at the seaside cake walks, and thea
tres and as her dancing days had abruptly
ended at eighteen. when her father had
failed and died. and as she detested cake
walks. there remained only the theatre.
where cheap troupes RECALLED mixed audi
ences persistently, II not intelligenuy.
On the fourth occasion, as she was near
ing the theatre. Miss Morris meditations
were interrupted by chiid's clear treble.
her not very cheerful promenade arrested
by:
Are you going to the matinay?
YES " she said with careless glance.
and was about TO pass on, when she reeog-
nized her little acquaintance, Loula jose
fine Rhody Katherine Benjamine. Frank
line. Palestine Gunter. The child was
dressed in a limp skimp, white muslin.
that wonderfully became her; her eloquent
dark eyes were as eager as they were Drill
liant: faded ribbon tied around her neck
showed that Savannah fashions had begun
to make some impression upon the little
maid from Lickskillet.
why. Beniyl Is that you? l didn't
know you." said Miss Morris.
"Cose not. That's because I'm dressed
up so fine said Benny, with smiling
glance at her frock "She wanted me to
pull my topknot through the hole in the
crown of my everyday sunbonnet and wear
that But I come off in this
This" was u dirty red fez, which had
been left at her aunt's sailors boarding
iioaso" by Greek tramp and became her
Would you like to go to the matinee.
Benjy?" asked Miss Morris. hearing the
asthmatic orchestra give great wheeze
inside the theatre. and knowing that the
play was about to begin. Benny shot a
look of vivid delight at Miss Morris from
the superb dark eyes. that had expressed |
hungry desire perfectly.
Yes. Come along,'' she said. placing |
herself at once by Miss Morris's side. I've !
been hanging round here every day ever |
since the theatre opened. hoping SOM !
body'd ask me. But people here amt like ,
the folds in Lickskillet. Why, l was took |
twice to the circus. and three times to |
and twice to fires. and six |
times to preachin', and as often as / want |
ed to funerals in Lickskillet without ask |
in at ALL But here they don't pear to !
hear me. no more 10 see me. And I've been /
just dyin' to see n matinay. Is there !
clowns? Is there a big crowd? Is there
band? Is there fags7 Is there shootin'
and collins? | heared n gun go oil onest |
while / was waitin' outside. and ] seq:
You got him certain and sure that pop.