Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-05

anecdotes and conversation, which portrait
painters often excel in. These items in
sured him of plenty of invitations in the
winter time.
My mother and I, though living very quiz
city, occasionally entertained our friends
at a small dinner or evening party, and
always had little dance on my birthday,
the 9th of February, This year it was in
tended to be very pleasant reunion, for
sweet Lucy Hollis, with her father and
brother. were to be of the guests. We had
cheerful fire in the studio; it was wretch
edly cold weather, and the snow lay deep.
The studio was to be the ballroom, and
decorated 1t tastefully with eveTgreens, ar
tificial flowers. and flag or two. l hired
an Erar1. and engaged a pianoforte player
and vioSnist to play for the dancing. 1t
proved a very bad night; the atmosphere
was raw and foggy: then it rained con-
verting the snow into deep, muddy slush.
This did not much signify, most of the
company, with the exception of O'Kelly.
resided within easy access Of US. We had
a delightful evening indoors; everybody
came. My mother seemed to have recov-
cred her spirits, and was quite herself
again. Refreshments had been handed
round. and we were in the middle of the
lancers, the time being about half-past ten
o'clock. when we heard several knocks at
the side door of the studio which, as l pre-
viously described. gave egress to the road.
Thinking 1t was some mischieyous boys, at
tracted by the brilliant light from the large
windows, no attention was paid to 1t; the
recommended. louder and more peremptori
ly. AS 1 did not care to have the door I'M
fastened and opened unnecessarily to let
in the cold night air, / told Jane to go to
the hall door and call out, WHO'S there?'
and ask what they wanted. Jane went,
but. as there was reply, we again set
the interruption down to some mischievous
persons. and finished the set of lancers.
Whether it was the comparative quiet
that made the knocking seem louder, or
whether 1t really was louder, l know not.
but several violent raps were now heard on
the panels, accompanied by sobs and sharp
spasmodic cries. OF course we were all 81
fenced. who's there? What do you
want?" I called out from my side of the
door. There was no answer. only sobbing.
Some one had better go round outside
and see. who Is there" said my mother.
Doubtless 1t is some poor heuseless crea-
ture attracted by the lights and sounds of
gaiety." But now authoritative hammer
ing, accompanied by the loud voice of a
man. was heard.
"Open the door directly: I'm a police
man.
OF course I unbolted the door directly,
and was almost knocked down by a tall
female form which fell upon me, and from
me to the floor with a crash. stopped to
raise what appeared to be a mass of wet
black velvet; To my dismal and utter as
constituent lifted my French lay figure?
That poor things been a-crying and
knocking at your door ever so long.
think she's tainted at last" said the police
man.
s:It's no poor thing at aIlr' !. replied In
dignantly, turning the figure over on the
floor with my foot, its glass eyes wide open
and glistening in the light most unpleas-
antly as It lay on Its back Somebody has