Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-25

what I'll never do again in the years to
come. 1t made up to me for all I've
missed and all m going to miss. 1t was
a reward of demerit for not being respec-
| table, and a preventive of further sins.
Oh, 1t was such a volcano as never was.
1t was a drink and blue ribbon in one.
1t was a bang-up end and bully begin
ming. 1t was-
1t was TauSig coming in as l was going
out Suddenly / realized that but / was
in such mad whirI of excitement that l
almost ran over the little fellow before
could stop myself
"Phew! What whirlwind you are!"
he cried Where are you gong?"
oh good morning Mr. Tausig." 1 said
sweetly. Il never dreamed you d be down
so early in the morning"
'Whatre you doing with the paper?" he
demanded suspciously.
My eye followed his. l could have beaten
Nancy Olden in that minute for no. having
sense enough to hide that precious agree
ment instead of carrying it rolled up in
her hand.
said carelessy. trying to pass him
But he barred my way.
where's Mason?' he asked
Poor Mason.'' 1 said. "He's-he's
asleep"
Drunk again?"
l nodded. How to get away,
THAT settles his hash Out he goes to-
day. It'seems to me you re in
d QeuCe Oh a he ADDED, l tried
to get out again. i'Come in; want to talk
something over with YOU
Not this morning." l said saucily. l
wanted to cry. I've got an eng cement
to lunch, and l want to go over this stuff
for Mason before one"
HIM! An engagement. Who with. now?'
Ny chin shot up in the air. He laughed
that cold, noiselcss little laugh of his
But suppose 1 want you to come to lunch
with me?''
Oh. thank you, Mr.. Tausig. But how
could l break my engagement with
with Braun
How did you guess it?" I laughed.
There's no keeping anything from you"
said slowly. II say. Olden, just do break
that engagement with Braun"
L oughtn treaty."
But do--eh? Finish your work bara and
Wen go off together. us two. at 1870. and
leave MIN cooling his heels here when he
comes ONES He rubbed his hands glcefully.
But I'm not dressed"
you'll do for me-
but not fer me Listen: Let me hurry
home now and I'll throw Braun over and
De pack here to meet you at 1880"
He pursed up his thin little lips and
shook his head. But l slipped past him i'm
that minute and got out into the street
AT 12:3o,' l called back as hurried off
got around the corner in jiffy Oh I
could hardly walk. Mag, I wanted TO ffv
my heels as the children were doing in the
square. while the organ ground out Amt
1t Shame| actually did a step or two
with them, to their delight, and the first
thing l knew felt bit of a hand in mine
like cool pink snowflake, and
On, baby, Mag. A girl-baby more than
a year old and less than two years young;
too little to talk; too big not to walk; facing
the world with winning smile and lab
bering things in her soft little lingo know
Ing that every woman she meets will un-
derstand
did. all right. She was saying to me as
she kicked out her soft heelIess little boot:
Nancy Olden. choose you Nancy Oh
den, love you. Nancy Olden, dare you
not to love me. Nancy Olden, 1 defy YOU
not to laugh back at me-"
Where in the world she dropped from
heaven knows. The organ grinder picked
up the shafts of his wagon and trundIed it
away. The pfccaninnies melted like magic.
But that gay little flirt, about year and a
half old, just held on to my finger and CAB
bled-poetry.
didn't realize just then that she a
lost. strayed stolen. 1 expected every
moment some nurse or conceited mamma
to appear and drag her away from me.
And / looked down at her-oh, she was
just little bunch of soft stuff; her face
was a giggIing dmple, framed in big
round hat-halo, that had fallen from her
chicken-blond head; and her white dress,
with the blue ribbons at the shoulders,
was Just little bit dirty. like 'em a lit
tie bit dirty. Why? Perhaps because I
own, a bit dirty like that, and can't just
see Nance Olden with spick-and-span
clean baby, all feathers and lace, like a
bored little grown-up.
You're a mouse" gurgled down at her.
You're sweetheart You're a.