The suburban citizen., 1901-01-12
through 1t all Elizabeth whistled like
yellow-headed nightingale.

1t was that way from that time
forth. Work was done to perfection
and the young men came with regn.
larity, but Elizabeth never let them
interfere with her domestic duties.
There was one young man for nearly
every night in the week, and it seemed
that those whose turn fell on the of
nights when the Pratts had company
were apparently accorded the specl..
privilege of the Sunday afternoon
walk. How the girl managed therJ
so we'll Mrs. Pratt confessed was 2
mystery to her, and Pratt said that IL
it was a mystery to her it must be
mystery indeed.
Then substantial benefits were de
rived from the pretty little maid,
knack Of managing. The porch was
scrubbed even Oftener than was nee,
essary and if anything went wronl
in the fiat Elizabeth had never to ash
the janitor twice to fix it. II anything
that the groceryman or the milkman
brought to the house was not what
Elizabeth considered it should be- thai
groceryman or milkman or other man
took 1t back with absolute enthusiasm
and was forthcoming with the proper
article within the shortest possible
space of time. 1t was simply marvel.
Gus.
Sometimes Mrs. Pratt felt It her
duty to demonstrate with the girl con.
corning her coquetry, but Elizabeth
only laughed She was always laugh
ing. ut does dem good" she said. II
keep dem all kessing and den dey be
have. If dey did not like it dey would
not come any more, so it is goot for
dem and goot for me-"
When Mrs. Pratt told her husband
about this he was seriously concerned.
Il should have thought you would
have known better than that" he said.
Just as long as she keeps the crowd
going we are all right. If she had one
steady / should be scared Let her
alOne she's all right. And / think, by
the way, that we might manage to put
another dollar q week ON her wages"
That, Mrs. Pratt said, was Just the
way you might expect a man to look
at such things-just as long as he was
comfortable he was willing to wink al
iniquity. Nevertheless the lady did
begin to think that she might have
said too much and the prospect Of
Elizabeth settling to one STEADY"
marrying and leaving them, was not
pleasant. So she felt impelled to ex-
press to her domestic the hope that
she would not let one Of those young
men run away with her.
"You needt not be a'skeered,"
laughed Elizabeth. "Now, L haf o
goot time, and if marry-vell, l hat
seen some people who haf married and
am not in hurry. haf my goot
time first, anyway"
Sometimes one of Ellzabeth's beaus
dropped off, either discouraged or dis
missed, but there was always another
to take his place, and it afforded the
Pratts quite a little amusement to note
the changes. One evening Mrs. Pratt
went into the kitchen and found
newcomer, who seemed to be of diff.
ferent stamp to the others-not SO
clean or neat, and older, but a good
looking fellow enough, and of q
breadth and stature that seemed to
make the kitchen shrink. He rose to
his feet at the lady's entrance and
made an awkward bow, and Mrs.
Pratt noticed for the first time that
Elizabeth blushed. Fcor two or three
weeks this giant called at his appoint.
ed time; then he came twice In one
week. The second time this happened
the Pratts heard voices raised in anger
male voices and then the sound of a
9cufTie and a scream from Elizabeth
Pratt jumped up and ran into the
kitchen just as the outer door slammed
and found Elizabeth with the bloom
Ged from her face confronting her lat
est admirer, who stood with his back
to the door scowling at her.
what does this meanY demanded
Pratt.
Elizabeth began to cry and the giant
stood sullen and silent.
Whatever 1t is" continued Pratt
II won't have it. Get out of this house
and don't you let me find you here
again. 1 don't want to have any trou-
ble with You, but told you to get out
Now get"
For an instant the big man hesltated; (;
then be turned, and with a parting
scowl at the girl opened the door aud
got. Pratt attempted to question
Elizabeth, but she would do nothing
but ely, aud at last he gave 1t up aud
went back and told his wife that he
thought Elzabeths management had
! failed for once and two had called at
the same time, with the result of the
survival Of the fitlest. 1t is probat lo
that he was right
They expected that Elizabeth would
Gle a weeks notice, but she did not
and no more young men called Or
The succeeding evening Pratt thought
lie heard the sound Of a struggle out
side, and, looking out of the window,
ne saw nan slagger over backward
into the weeds ut the side of the horse