Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-17

wish had hold of you." and I heard the
running footsteps of No. I as he darted
across and down the avenue.
the big man. who Wavered unsteadily, now
and then. How nsefuEsare the p-police!
how many do youEsee at this m-moment,
pray? And, by the way, m child. what In
alone at this hour, ahs Tel Ell me that. ' and
he assumed most judicial attitude and
manner
A Protector SURE Enough.
replied. Il ann going home from my
work, sir"
Your w-what?" he grpwled.
My work, sir, at the theater.''
Good Lord!' he groaned, land t-that
crawlin reptile couldn't let you passf
You poor, little soul!"
thought he wassgoing to weep over me
Next moment he turned, his collar up with
violence that nearly upset him, and eA-
claimed: D-dont You be afraid. III see
you safely home. Go by yourself? Not
much you won't! I'll t-take you to your
mother-say, you've got mother-yes
That's right. Every girl worth anything s
got mother. I'll take you to her, sure.
Receive maternal thanks-and all that
Ell! On say, boys, say! Look here! ne
shouted, and holding out the big cane In
front of me to prevent my passing, he
called to him two other men, who slowly
and with almost superhuman caution de-
SCeHQeu the snowy steps.
Say, oloneEjudge-c-come here ana
c-child.'
The Judge at that moment sat down
heavily and unintentionaiiy on the bottom
step, and the colonel remarked, pleasant
ly, though trifle vaguely, That's the
time he hit it, while the fallen man asked,
calmly from his snowy seat, "P-p-protect
what-from w-who?'
This poor child from raging beasts and
Infamous s-scoundreIs, Judge" replied
my bombastic friend.
"W-we're gentlemen, m-dear, and, say,
say, get the judge up, colonel, and start
him-and w-weH all see her safe home.
Lifts a d--n s-shame, lady can't walk
in s-safety without body Of able-bodied cit
citizens TO protect her! C-come a-iong,
now, child" and he grasped my arm and
pushed me gently forward.
Drunk. hut Gallant.
The colonel tipped his hat over one eye,
gave a military salute and wavered back
and forth. The judge muttered something
about "h-honest woman-a-against city OF
New Y-york'' and something land c-costs,"
and both fell to the rear. And thus es-
corted by all these intoxicated old gallants
l made my mortified way up the avenue:
They wobbled and slid and stammered. and
he who held my arm, l distinctly remem-
many times that the judge was a perfect
gentleman-and SO was his wife.
This startling statement was delivered
just as we reached 32d street. Like an eel
I slipped from his grasp and, whirling
about, l said, as rapidly as 1 could speak:
I'm almost home now. / can see the light
from here, and 1 can't take you any fur
Their out of your way. Thank you. very
much!' and l darted down the darker
street.
Looking back from my own stoop saw
the three kindly old sinners making salu-
tations at the corner. My bombastic friend
ND ho ind bod heir hats
them, and the colonel saluted with such
rigid propriety that it seems a pity he was
facing the wrong way. ...-.
1 laugh-oh. yes, l laugh at the memory
until / think how silvery were those three
wine-muddled old heads and then I feel
the pity-oh, the pity of it. Vraiment dams
settle profession, les .ennuis balancent au
moins les plaisirs! = CLARA NORRIS.