The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-13
LITTLE STORIES OF WASHINGTON LIFE

(Stevenson's Own story.)

The sky was soft and blue and de-
ceptive as a baby's eyes; the air was
full OF the feeting fragrance OF ample
blossom, lilac and April rain. and
growing grass. Ii was Just the sort
Of day for dreams and tender visions
Also 1t was the sort of day on which
the sage might expect a sudden squau
Stevenson was not thinking of any
squal, however; he was sitting on the
corner Of the musical editors desk. pass
ing the time. The musical editor was a
girl, and very pretty girl She match
ed the weather. Her eyes were very
blue. and her hair was as yellow as II
she were two years old instead of TWEEN
ty-tEo; and she had an apple blossom
complexion. She was a pretty girl. but
she had a sweetheart OF her own, and
anyway. Stevenson was not a marrying
man. That Is why HIS Joke was so eff
fective
Miss Carroll" said he. will you play
my wedding march for me on the af-
teenth OF June?"
Miss Carrolrs eyes opened wider than
was exactly polite. and that was what
stevenson wanted. He convinced her
that he was not hOaxing. and that he
ne was really going to marry-somebody
on the fifteenth of June. She was a Bal
timore girl. The reason why they were
not 10 be married in Baltimore-well
ne vas not at liberty to speak of that
al esent or course, she was a charm
ing girl No. there was no opposition
on ne part of the family.
l}hy' yes, III play for you with
pleasure, said Miss Carroll. land
ana Just then the telephone bell rang.
and Stevenson had to see what the
police station wanted There was a nys-
ferrous case OF disappeared wife over I'm
georgetown somewhere. and In trying
to make head or tail Of the story Ste
venson forgot all about the wedding.
But Miss Carroll didn't. What was
more. Stevenson had been so uatter-of-
fact about IT that 1t never entered her
head that the thing was a secret and
she mentioned 1t to the society editor
The two discussed the matter, and de-
cided that it must be Miss Lancy. OF, the
Baltimore Lancys. The society editor
made a note of Il, intending 10 ask
Stevenson when she could catch him.
but she was taken I'll that night. and
her assistant found the note and mt II
In the paper
An hour later he was saving some-
thing worse than the dickens hut not
saying IT aloud. because on the transfer
corner he had met his aunt the riches.
relative he had. who had made a pet
Of him ever since he was bow and was
likely 10 rem smber him handsomely I'm
her will Moreover, she had often said
that If he married to suit her-and II
was nnnf inn ~
one o. her suburban houses. a pleasant
niue nest enough, and not TO be de-
splsed by any young couple.
But there was a crotchetv SIDE 70
aunt Maria, and Stevenson knew ii by
SAD experience. There was a hole
where her sense Of humor shcald have
Deem and 1t was not the easiest thing
IN the world 20 explain things to her
SHe despised practical jokes. and she
sbouinated fiirtations. and she took a
deep interest in foreign missions. OBJ
serving relatives had sometimes thought
It was a neck and neck race between
Stevenson and Presbyterian missions in
the affections OF Aunt Maria, and that
had Stevenson been on the other side of
the world. and the missionaries on this.
here might aever have been any race
@C an however that may have been,
stevenson knew that If she found out
that he had no idea OF marrying Kath-
crime Dancy. he would stand no chance
II having any house to live in when he
I'd conclude to marry somebody; and
his prospects of ever owning
4 newspaper himself would be greatly
In consequence, his feel
ngs as he stood on the street corner
and heard Aunt Maria tell about the
wisdom of settling in life early, and the
help 1t was to a young man to have
good wife, and the hearty support which
he might expect from her in entering
upon his new life,-his feelings were
very mixed indeed. But it was when
Aunt Maria abandoned the abstract for
the concrete and began TO expatiate
upon the charms of her prospective
that his blood really be-
gan TO run cold