The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-18
The Higf1=Backed Chair
and the Blue Wool Dog
By SCHUYLER KING.

'sScott!''
"Wen?"
'.YOu said she didn't say anything about
the violets ?"
Yes"
Didn't say she liked them, or-or-any
thing?"
No
Another pause
= say. Scotia short but agonized
scuffie-.'do you-I mean-yes. do you
hang it all. do you think she cares for
me at alI?"
The chair creaked again, as though the
occupant thereof had started violently,
and then the Voice mutlered unsteadily,
How should I know?7
Well" He said humbIy. "she talks TO
you more than to anyone else. and I
thought maybe--''
And you thought maybe she discussed
her feelings with the Office staff" inter
rupted the Voice. full of hoarse, indig-
nant scorn.
"oh, 70, Not that He exclaimed.
noting, in the midst of his perDlexity,
what a peculiar ring there was to Scott's
voice. even VIII d NUAu W nv"
don't mean that-seOtt."
''WeH?"
VIII you turn around SO that can talk
to you?''
No"
well. if you won't. you won't. But
I'll talk all the same-I can't stand it any
longer. I tell you. It's awful; you've been
through the mill. Scott-yos - %
know what it is to think Of a girl all
day. and dream of her all night''-here
the chair creak1d outrag eousIy-.-to put
away every dollar with the hope that
she'll share it with you some day, and
then 20 blow in almost all you have when
it strikes you what a jay you are TO
think Of it at all Perhaps you know
what il is to eat your dinner in the
COMPOUNDED restaurant. thinking all the
time that If you ouIy had the courage
to speak. she might be smiling at you
across q table Of your own, with soft
light and flowers and all that you know
if he had not known Scott abhorred per
fumes he could have swTon to a Whit Of
wood violet. as a handkerchief was raised
to stihe the very troublesome cough at
this juncture-.a 10 Loaf around your
room OF. some silly show al night. trying
not to remember that, if you we're only
the kind Of a fellow she could like q little.
yo,i could be sitting b. a coy hearth, with
the freight shining on her hair--I can
Just imagine how IL would shine on her
hair. Scott Here the handkerchief was
raised again. and remained raised but the
cough was not apparent, 50 He con
tinued: II don't know why I'm letting out
on you like tbs Scott but I've got TO
talk 10 some one and you're the only
one I know who won't laugh st me for
being crazy fool, it's driving me wild.
and half the time I think that perhaps
he cares for Myers, scott!"
--WelI?"
DO you think that she cares for me a
IittIee"
yes. said the Voice TREMENDOUSLY. but
ju5iciously; ! do
love. You do. say. Don't fool with
NE. Scott; what makes you think sog-'
The December duss had fallen long
since. and the great ofice was very still.
save for the spIashing Of the rain against
The windows. and quite deserted except
for the office boy away down at the other
end.
scott for heavens sake. tell me what
makes you think so7" He asked, even
more eagerly than before
And then the Office chair swung slowly
| around. disclosing the bookkeeper's blue
! wool dog with white cotton wounds all
over his portIy person. held in front Of a
very crimson and tear-stained face.
WelI-because-" faItered the Voice,
very low and sweet now.
/ And then He understood. and. after 4
! delfrious half second 10 himself He leaned
we'll. He leaned a shocking distance
! through the grating. but The Office boy
was cross eyed. and you couldn't tell
which way he might be looking at any
given moment.
The bookkeeper's new dog is lavender.
| with . green embroidered tail