Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-17

The whole trouble was caused by the fact
that at the last moment Henry confided the
matter to Nicholas. Therefore, it was
Henry's own fault for who else would
have trusted person known in the family
by the sobriduet-well deserved. too-oi
THE Terror Fancy any one being such
an ass. Henry was thirty-four and eau
tious as against NiCks twenty-five years
and reckless spirits. Henry was susceptible
ana firtatous to Nick's scorn of girls and
openly expressed preference for mems So
Getty, and Henry never would stand up for
anything If he could help 1t, while MGR
defied the whole world to come on.
know; for I'm sister to them both.
All that winter Henry had been quite
devoted to Lefty Ferris. one of the season 5
p-ettiest debutantes. Really he had been
nice to her in every possible way, and
though l cannot see what she wanted IN
such an old man, she appeared to like IT
extremely. Encouraged him. mother de-
cl2red one day. But Henry pooh-poohed
the idea
'Debutantes are not dangerous, he said;
"they scatter their attentions so widely.
They are not bent on getting married like
the older girls, And beside, they all know
that l am confirmed old bachelor.
AS Lent drew near. however, Henry be-
gan TO get nervous. Girls were sometimes
night at dinner he announced that he was
sailing on the next Saturday. We all eA-
claimed. even father, and Nick laughed.
''IIe who courts and away
May live TO court another day,
he quoted disrespectfully. Eth, Henry?
But Henry got quite stuffy and said that
there was nothing extraordinary In his
going away. Everybody went in March.
1t was the proper thing to do.
So Nicholas and l went down to see
off he half
when he really got on board the ship, he
fdgeted He always did hate the
water. And his state room did look SO
small. Just as the bell rang for US to GO
ashore he called Nick back and said some
thing in a low voice. l heard Nick answer,
"All right" and then we started to descend
the steep gangway. Half way down NICK
stopped and looked back to where Henry
stood leaning over the rail. Shall l write
something on the card?' he yelled.
Anything you like" shouted Henry.
That's how the thing started, and think
1t was very imprudent of Henry. But L
oias fairly pulled me away so that Henry
might not have chance to change his
mind before 1t was too late.
Come along Kid said Nick, as we left
the dock-its most undignified to be called
kid when you're nearly fifteen, l know,
but what can you do with Nick-and then
he called a handsom and told the man 10
drive to Thorley's.
Il want to see your freshest violets," he
said to the flower man. And they were
just lovely, so sweet and fragrant. l hope
that some one will send me violets when
I'm grown up. But mother says little
girls shouldn't think of such things. Well,
Nick picked out six great purple punches,
next he produced one of Henry's cards
heaven knows from where-and wrote
something on 1t in a little back-handed
writing just like. Henry's. Then he or
dered the whole lot sent to Lefty. How
pleased she must have been.
In those days Nicholas did not know
Lefty; he went out so little, and then only
under COmpulsion But now that Henry
was gone, Madge insisted that Mich 1las
must take her about, ard consequently be-
fore very long he met Lefty. 1t was at
some dance, and l expect it must have