Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-14
eALOPOFF, THE TALKING PONY
A Story for Young Folks.
By Tudor jerks. Copyright. Henry Aitemus. 1901.
CHAPTER TX.
MICH ADO ABOUT AN ATTIC.

that they would get UP early on Saturday
morning and have nice long day. and you
may be sure that Galopoff was not forgot
ten in the plans they made for spending
their holiday. But Friday evening after din
ner Pauline became deeply interested in a
| new book and Lola was quite as much alb
sorbed in a new puzzle, and so, in spite of
their resolve to so to bed early, they really
sat up later than usual excusing them
| selves by the thought that the next day was
holiday.
The consequence was that they did not
rise with the lark. or with any of the birds,
but came struggling down to breakfast after
everything was cold and more or less tum-
bled about by the older people. Besides,
there was only one fishcake upon the plat
ter, and each insisted that the other should
have it. and made so much fuss In trying to
be unseifish that they quite lost their tenn
gers with each other.
''Lolas father, who was sitting near the
table looking over his newspaper, hnaily
began TO laugh at the two girls, and said:
Girls, wouldn't IT. be more generous II one
Of you should let the other be unselfish?
There is such thing, you know. as being
selfish about being unselfish. Suppose you
divide that lone fishbalP carefully In the
middle, and then talk about something
else"
The advice seemed good, and was taken.
After breakfast Lola proposed that they
go up into the old attic to play for a while.
The sun was very hot, and the attic, while
not dark, was much less bright and dazzling
than their usual playing ground under the
trees. Pauline said that she would love to
go through some of the old trunks in the
attic rooms, and look at the old clothes and
other relics stored away. Besides the attic
was always spicy. mysterious sort of a
kingdom full Of queer, dark corners and
musty furniture, and now and then a wasp
would go to humping his head against the
window panes just to keep one from going
| to sleep, and there was strangeness about
that part Of the house, so that to be there
made one feel that a holiday was different
from other days-the lust ordinary days"
AS he girls were going toward the attic
stairs Lola had sudden and brilliant idea.
"Oh. Pauline" said she, I've just thought
o. the most splendid thing-if we can do it.
And l think W, can Really, I don't see
why we shouldn't. He often and often has
been downstairs"
Lola" said Pauline. do you know that
you are talking perfect nonsenseT
II know am" Lola answered, laughing;
but really. this is such fun!'
What is?" Pauline asked
Why, mean to ask my father whether
we can't take Galopoff up into the attic I
don't see why we shouldn't. Just think,
we've had him for such long time, and the
poor fellow has never once been up in our
attic! I think it's perfectly ridiculous
thing, when he's sensible he can be-.
Why shouldn't we go to see him, and ask
him.
I'VE ought to. of course" Pauline an
SWereU. L WOuiQn [ even InlnS O1 QOluR II
without his permission
without whose permission, Lola asked
after gazing at Pauline with puzzled look.
Without your fathers permission, to be
sure
But meant to ask Galopoff," Lola said
Il must ask father OF course. but after 1
ask him l am foing to find out whether
Galopoff is willing to climb all these stairs
I'll tell you what we'll do" said Pau
line. You go ask your father, and will go
out to the stable and ask Galopoff In that
way shall save time, and then we can
meet and report what they both say
This seemed a good plan and so they ar
ranged TO carry it out. They separated in
the front hallway, Lola to go to her
fathers study, and Pauline to make her
visit to the little Russian pony.
When Lola knocked at the study door. her
father, instead or saying Come I'M, as he
usually did, asked: Who is there?" Lola
answered: It's Lola, father" What do
you want?" he asked. And Lola, with her
slowly: Father 1 want Galopoff-''
But. my child" came the answer, II
haven't him. Do you think keep him in
my vest pocket, use him as paper
somewhere about the place
Can. come IMP Lola asked.
Certainly come in
So Lola opened the door, and found her
father busy over pila of papers upon his
table. They were of various colors and sizes,
and Lola knew that he was making out
checks for the monthly bils-at which work
he never liked 20 be disturbed. So she tried
to make her request as short as she could.
Father said she, Il little confused, L
want to know whether you have any OBJ
lection to Galopoffs being in the attic
He dropped his pen and turned about sud
denly n his chair.
"Galopoff in the attic: How in the world
Gid he get into the attic?'
He didn't ever said Lola; Il didn't say
he did
But he never WILL" her father said, try
ing to quiet her. She was confused, and
seeing this, he thought she was worried
Galopoff knows his place too well. You
needn't fret about 1t, dear. And even If he
did get up into the attic. he wouldn't be
likely to hurt himself. He has too much
sense TO jump out Of the windows. Besides,
why should he go up there?"
But, father, dear said Lola, as her
father turned again to his pen and ink
please listen 1 only asked if you had any
objection to his being in the attic
And then you said he wasn't there" her
father answered. why should object I'M
til 1t happens?"
But would you object if it did happen?"
asked Lola, who was now all tangled up In
the misunderstanding.
To her father this question seemed so alb
surd that he began to wonder whether there
was anything wrong with Lola-whether she
was out of her head or feverish
Come here, DEAR ne said; and Lola, not
knowing what he wanted. came and stood
close beside him.
Let me see your tongue
Greatly surprised by this request. the little
girl held out her tongue. and her father ex
amined 1t carefully. Then he felt of her
forehead. Apparently there was nothing out
of the way, so far as the tongue and fore
head went and Lola's father looked puzzled.
Then ne said quite soemnly.
Lola, my child why do you talk SO
oueerly this morning? Have you been hav-
ing unpleasant dreams about Galopoff-
nightmar es PONY nightmares, SO to
speak?"
Lola did not know whether to laugh or to
cry, AMI at last began to laugh rather hys-
terically and then said:
Father I think you have some qeer no
ton about me and don't see why. l just
came to see whether you would mind very
much /. Pauline and l were to take little
Galopoff up into the attic for while this
morning. That's all. We don't think it will
do him any harm; do you?"
Her father laughed when he saw how
oueerly lie had misunderstood her question.
Then he began TO think it over, and at last
said:
We'll, Lola, if you will go very carefully
on the stairs, and to not interfere with
Galoposf in any way while he's climbing, 1
think will say-yes. But do not follow the
pony You girls go up first. Then, If he
falls, at least he won't hurt you. / don't
think he will fai.; or If he does, probably he
won't hurt himself because he is spry on
lis fao. and haa been a trick UOny n