Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-02

THAT was funny" the reporter nut In
Funny! 1t looked so much like lie It
MADE me that darn mad l went right UP
to the ward to see her. An I'll be ever
lastin'ly scorched if she knew me- er re-
me:nbered jumpin-or remembered any
thin. She might as well been born that
same mornn fer all she remembered about
whatd happened before. Yes'r. Doctor
said the thing d gone TO her head-hurt
her brain-an' 1t had. an 1t hadn't. When
/ took her-'cause no one else wanted her
an me an tn OF woman hadn't none of
our own-an' sent her to school. she learned
Ike prize winner. There was nothin'
wrong with her head that way. But she
never learned what she'd forgotten-an'
that was all she'd ever knowed before that
fire
Queer" the reporter said
Queer as h, the captain agreed.
THE doctor toll me not to bother her
about 1t. An l haven't, neither. But when
ever I've got the chanel I've tried to hunt
up her folk-made run up to Chicago an
looked up half dozen billions without let
tin her know-an' things like that. After
awhile we settled down together an since
tn Of woman died l amt mentioned it
to any one But she's got things comm
to her, somewheres The Adiron was a
swell fiat house. They must We had the
pr-eg-to I've there"
The reporter looked up from his paper to
ask; Can you let me have her photo?"
~ ST. | can" Meaghan said. MARY,
Mary. lie called, in the voice of a company
foreman.
She opened the door.
Bring ne that last picture O. yours"
There VS. ii $ !e1Ce. The reporter did not
look around. She asked, huskily: What
The cartain ran an impatient hand
through his hair. We'll. | got the time
now lie said, AN | want to have another.
try ut find3n 'out-what l couldn't tind out
before. Y ought to know who yer people
are There may be things comm to
yulI--"
Il don't want them" she cut in.
Uh don't know but what Yer rela-
4 haven't any They didn't want me.
and | don't want them. Are you tired OF
me- she cried.
The reporter coolly noted the color of
her hair. her level eyebrows her clear gray
eyes. The captain got up from his chair
Mary he said gruffly
We'll, she protested. Il didn't want to
go away. | don't want to go away to
satahstiss Ana wont. just won't she
cried, detianuN. He frowned ''Aw dad
ay' she said. putting her arms about
hlin. whats the use? Aren't we lust all
right enough? Aren't we just happy now
tnit you're home all the time, and every
thing comfy?'
The reporter settled back and watched
as If he were In an orchestra chair at n
stage tragedy. The girls face reminded
him of Ellen Ferry's; and it was as mobile
as an actress, changing with every change
of her voice.
The captain took her by the arm and
held her off from him. Don't yuh think
Galieghers got right to know who he's
marryin q?
She flushed up Indignantly at once. IF
I'm not good enough for Capt Gallagher
as am, why-he can DO without met"
But why? Why?' the captain argued.
What's the matter with tindin' out? 1t
amt goin' to do Y any harm, is it?"
Well, she said lit might make a diff
ference; And If things were different they
might be-different." She smiled ruefully
at her own inconsequence And I don.
want them to be different"
ter?'
They couldn't be" she laughed.
He patted her on the shoulder "Run
away an get the pfture. now. That's q
good girl. We're goin' to put 1t In the pa
perS."
Her face went tragic at once YES"
she cried you'll put 1t in the papers and
some ugly old woman that | never saw be-
fore she ii come and take me away in a
carriage to-to l don't know where And
II they give me money and-and dresscs-
Ned be afraid of me. and you'll be
ashamed to come and see me, and-and |
don't know what all!' She blinked tear
fully. I knew you We're thinking about
II from what you said last night. and it
kept me awake worrying me until il gave
me a headache. And l wasn't to be wor-
ried about it." She sobbed II feel as
If Ia Just go crazy about it"
She put her hand up to her head. He
caught her by the elbow. MARY, MARY,
Don't go on like that It's all right It's
all right. No one can take y away, If yuh
don't want to go"
Cant they?' she cried nercely, draw
ing away from him II know! l dreamed
about 1t last night. They took me. They
mad lawyer There was q sound of a
passing carriage In the street Listen"
she whispered. her hand shaking at her
mouth. That was it! Listenr'
Mt
pressed her face against his shoulder
''Thatll do" he said, hoarsely. I'VE won't
put 1t In the papers We don't want the
photo We won't let yuh go away. Here
lie turned to reach out hand for the re-
porters notes. "Gi' me those. Here. yuh
can tear up what were gon' to print"
lie thrust the sheets into her hand and
shut her stiffened fingers on them Ssh
girl ne hushed her, patting her the
shoulder. 'All right now. III never say
another word about it"
Her shaking and sobbing subsidized grad
ualy. When she looked up from his Shout
der at last she was trying to smile through
her tears That's the way" he encour-
aged her, stroking her hair.
She kissed him prettily.
BETTER now?' he asked and she nodded
She winked at the sheets of shorthand
Aren't they funny?' she laughed, in a
voice that was still trembling She turned
TO the reporter with an uncertain smile
I'm sorry" she apologized, "to-to-"
up his hat. TOO bad to have worried you"
She looked from him to the notes and
back again. And yoU-you won't say any
thing about it,
Certainly not" he promised ''I'I con-
slider 1t strictly not for publication
Thank you" she said deeply, and went
over to him with the sheets. He took them
| from her and tore them up, reddenng
slightly at the frank kindness of the look
! with which she met him. 1T was so much
work. too" she said. meaningly, toto
get It."
He laughed. "Oh, I'm used to that"
! She embarrassed him with the smiling In
| terest of her gaze. He looked down at the
| hat In his hands. I'm afraid III have to
to hurry away
Good by" she said land thank you"
She held out her hand to meet his with q
| firm clasp of good nature.
He stammered: "Con-congratuate Capt
Gallagher for me- l know you'n be hap
py.''
She beamed her assurance of that And
| so will daddy. Good-by." She smiled him
| out. Wont you. daddy? En- daddyo''
| she cried. gaily. and threw her arms about
| his neck
II s'pose." he said. with a pretense of
surliness. I'm not fit for anythin' but 20
| play granpa. I'll spen the rest O my life
| sittin' in the mark with a hahv