Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1901-07-10

4 a r
surrounded by big garden, about
midway between the high school build
ing and the church; and the little
Bankers always took a decided interest
in whatever happened to be going on
in either establishment. II a concert
was given in the schoolhouse, the little
Bankers gave one as nearly like it as
possible in their barn. If there was
a wedding at the church, the little
Bankers promptly duplicated it upon
the side porch of their house. Little
Katherine's baby doll had done duty
at so many christenings that even its
own mother couldn't remember the
names it had accumulated.
Nothing ever "stumped" the little
Bankers. No imitation was ever too
difficult. Their Salvation Army was,
in their own opinion at least, tritie
better than the real one that nightly
paraded the streets; and as for their
circus-but mere words could not ade-
quately describe that circus. 1t is
enough to say that no one who saw 1t
ever forgot it.
The older children outgrew these
y
| developed into a most proper young
woman, and no one would have suspect
| ed that dandified Harold's principal
| ambition had once been to shine as
| chimney-sweep. Katherine abandoned
| the doll of many names, and grey into
stately and rather solemn young
| person of IS, and it fell to Tom and
| Grace to keep the neighborhood in
cheerfulframe of mind. They did their
duty nobly, however, and managed to
| have proper and easily shocked Alice
upon pins and needles most of the
| time.
Mrs. Highcrest, the wife of the bank
err, who lived opposite the Bankers in
big, beautiful house, furnished them
| with many valuable ideas; and her
most gorgeous entertainments were
| faithfully copied. down to the minutest
details. But as Grace and Tom grew
| older, they, too, began to grow dis
| satisfied with mere limitations, and
| to long for real weddings and funerals,
| and real receptions, with something
more substantial In the way of re-
| freshments than imaginary ice cream.
|
| distinguished novelist for a whole
week, giving dinners, and finally a
| huge reception 10 HMM spite of his
| protests, for he was modest lion
| the little Bankers were green with
envy. Mrs. Barker attended one of the
| dinners; Alice and Harold were in
| vited to the reception, but the only
| invitation vouchsafed by Mrs. High
crest to the little Bankers was an
urgent one to remain upon their own
side of the street while these festiv-
| tiles were in progress.
But Tom and Grace had reasons for
wishing to meet the novelist. Grace,
| all unconscious that such a speech
might be uncomplimentary, was long
| ing to tell the writer that she thought
| the cover of his book was extremely
| pretty, but that she didn't care great
deal for the story; while Tom, who
| intended to be a novelist himself, in
| order to have dinners given for him,
wanted to find out how the thing was
| done.
Consequently, when Mr.. Barker dis
| covered in the celebrity one of his own
almost forgotten college mates, and
invited the great man to prolong his
stay for the purpose of paying him a
visit and talking over old times. there
was Joy in the little Bankers hearts.
| Mrs. Barker, however, was not quite
| so jubilant. She knew the resources of
| the little Bankers. Alice, for the same
| reason, did considerable quaking in
her shoes; and Harold took ii upon
himself to read his young brother and
sister series of lectures upon ETH
quette in general, with a few inn
promptu remarks upon the treatment
of celebrities in particular.
For the first three days all went well;
then Grace had an inspiration. An in
SEPARATION in Grace's hands was about
as safe as giant powder in a match fac
tory, and upon the appearance of the
first symptom of anything like an in
spiration, Grace was usually ban
ished to bed, before the microbe should
have time to develop into a full-fedged
| idea Grace had learned TO be cautious
about revealing her thoughts. and her
mother, being occupied with the prob
| lem of feeding the lion, failed to notice
tho nrelirninarv Siuns