Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-17

storm. IT'S where sensible people would
be on such night-stead of visiting
Old Ted Guest solemnly removed his over
coat and hat. shook his shaggy head till
the rain scattered from it in a shower.
wagged his finger at the woman and reared:
Don't get cross. Maggie, or I'll kiss you,
I'm agoing in 10 see the m.ssls."
The winds bad enough without you
roaring to beat it," Maggie protested, and
the sailorman made his way with the GER
tain step of an habitue to the door of the
perlor. He opened the door with a good
evening, ma ann which bore down the
crash of the piano.
Capt Guest" cried at the same time
Mrs. Holloway, and Kate and Jack Beau
mont. "Out on such a night! Are you
afraid of no weather at all, tEen?'
Not tonight, ma'anl, nor any night when
I've got an appointment How DO you do,
Kate, my dear? You're nigh pretty look
ing as your mother at your age Jack, you
rascal, what have you been doing to give
her them rosy cheeks? Mrs. Holloway,
you've been dancing! And it's done you
good You look young as ever
Have a turn witt mother. Oh, do. Capt.
Guesti" Kate cried, clapping her hands.
60 II, skipper, do I've done my share.
Jack cried.
They used force. and compelled me, cap
tain" said Mrs. Holloway. That is my
excuse for being so foolish at my age
BLESS en- said Ted Guest. beaming on
the youngsters. Leave EN- to their music,
ma'am. May 1 sit in the snuggery with
yOu?'
For moment the landlady of the inn
hesitated, with some embarrassment. Then
she smiled on the kindly faced old gray
beard and assented. The two lovers were
az the piano again AS the older folks left
the room their voices took up the inter-
rhpted song:
Ich weiss NIGHT soil es bedeuten,
Das ich traurig bin
Mrs Holloway shivered again.
pretty, but sad said the saiiorman,
and the gale at the moment beat so tumult-
uously on the inn as to momentarily drown
he handed Mrs Holloway to a chair, and
planted himself by the stove, with his Legs
apart.
Mrs. Holloway" he roared. IT said I'd
keep the appointment, and l have. I've
come for the answer.
Mrs. Holloway. her fingers nervousiy toy
! ing with her handkerchief, looked up and
! smilngly shook ner head, while a blush so
delicately rosy that it would have graced
her daughters cheek and neck stole over
her gently wrinkled face. Ted Guest shook
| his finger at her in protestation. and cried
| II. as gentle voice as he could comman nd
| Don't say 1t again. ma am, Dolly, my
dear. don't. It's the fourth year and the
\ fourth time I've asked. Think moment.
| There's Kate. nearly as fire a woman as
| her mother. There's Jack, as good and ris-
| ing a sailor as ever took the bridge on a
| liner. They love you, but they love each
| other better. They're going off to be mar
|
| marriage, and a merry Christmas week
twill be for them. But you'll be left in the
| inn alone, and you can't bear it, Look
I here, you've known me since l was boy
| and you were girl. and / never loved any
other girl. Don't stay alone. Come to my
house, be my wife. What should stop your
| Mrs. Holloway looked at him with tears
| in her eyes.
| You know. Ted, you know why 1t can
never be. ! mi st wait, be it ever SO long u
Waltz" Ted Guest roared as savagely az
| he could Have you not waited long
| enough? Twenty years since he left you
| He's dead
/ He was alive ten years ago.
| And If prison"
| Hush: and five years ago he was alive -
| only to beg from you. If he were still
| alive. Dolly, you would have heard from
| him. He would have been writing for as
| sistance. Dolly
Il can't Ted; 1 can't. He is Katey's father
| and he il my husband-still'
ANY woman but you would have got q
| DIVORCE
| And dragged my name and Katy's down;
| Think of Jack Beaumont. If l did what you
/ wished aud-he-came home? What dis
grace for him and Katey."
| It's not right; it's not natural; It's a
/ shamei You have no right
| Don't, please, say any more, old friend.
| There can be only one answer"
| But if l know he Is dead? / have been
| hunting for him, and can find no trace. II
| l bring you proof that he can never trouble
You again. that he is really dead? Then,
| Dolly, woman"
! She was crying softly. From the piano
came the music and the voices:
| Ieh weiss NIGHT was soil 60 bedeuten
! Dolly. dear?"
l Il don't know, Ted. I feel so stranea to-