Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-01
THE %1AN
ON THE BOX
By
HAROLD MAC GRATH

| nat you twenty wan,
| Jack laughed.
And much I care" replied Nancy, shak-
ing her head defiantly. I've a sneakins
idea that she was thinking of me when she
made this declaration. For If l didn't care
why should she?
"A handsome, stunning girl like you, Nan
ought to be getting married. observed the
prodigal. Whats the matter with all
these dukes and lords and princes, any
how"
An embarrassed smile ran around the
table. but Mr.. Robert missed it by some
several inches.
Jack threw cigar across the table
Now, said he, where the deuce did you
come from?'
Indirectly from Arizona which is a syn
onym, once removed, for war.
Jack looked at his plate and laughed: but
Mrs. Jack wanted to know what Bob meant
by that.
ITS a word used instead of war, as ap-
piled by the late Gen. Sherman" Jack re-
piled. And am surprised that brother
in-law of yours should so far forget himself
| as to hint 1t, even"
Knowing that she could put him through
the inquisition later, she asked my hero
how his leg was.
| at aches a little when it rains; that's
| about all
"And you never let us know anything
about it till the thing was all over" was
| Nancy's reproach.
| Robert demanded. You would have had
Mysteries and all that"
| 1--WE heard of it quick enough through
the newspapers" said Jack Come, give
us your own version of the rumpus.
| wei, the truth is, and the prodigal told
them his tale.
"Why. you are heroH' cried Mrs. Jack,
| cIaspng her hands.
Hero nothing" shifted the elder brother.
HE was probably star-gazing or he
wouldn't have poked his nose into an am
| BUSH
Right you are. brother john" Robert
| acknowledged, laughing.
and how handsome he has grown, Nan
| Cyl Mrs. Jack added, with an obilque
| glance at her husband.
! HE does look dstangy, that individ-
uaI admitted. A handsome face always
went through Johns cuirass. 1t was all
nonsense, for his wife could not have ado ,,-
! to Adonis But, there you are; a man
| always wants something he cannot have
John wasn't satisfied to be one OF tne
| most brilliant young men in Washlngton'
| he also wanted to be classed among the
| handsomest.
.By the way, Jack" said my hero, light
toward the ceiling. his face admirably set
| with nonchalance, do you know of a fam
lily named Annesley-Col AnnesleyE
| knew it would take only a certain iength
| of time for this question to arrive
! Colonel Annesley? Why, yes. He was
| in the War Department until year or
| SO ago. A fine strategist; knows every III
and out of the coast defenses. and is some
| Tail handsome old fellow?'
| That's the man. war volunteer!
| mo. regular. Crippled his gun-fingers
| in some petty Indian war, and was Trans
| ferred to the department He was Wld-
| over if my recollection of him Is correct
and had lovely daughter"
| "Ahr' There was great satisfaction evil
| dent in this syllable. do you know where
| the colonel is now?
mot the faintest idea. He lived some
where in Virginia. But he's been on the
| travel for several years.
| Robert stirred his coffee and took a
| spoonful-and dropped the spoon. "Pah:
| | must have put in quart of sugar. Can
| you spare me another cup?'
"Annesley?' Nancy's face frightened.
| Colonel Annesley? Why, l know Betty
| Annesley. She was my roommate at
| Smith one year. She was in my gradual
ing class. I'll show you her picture ,a!er;
| She was the dearest girl! How she loved
| horses! But why are you so interested! -
| slyly.
II ran across them coming home"
Then you met Betty! Isn't she just
| the loveliest girl you ever SAW
I'm for her, one and indivisible. But
| hang my luck, I~never came within mile
| of an Introduction
| What? You, and on shipboard. whare
| she couldn't get away?" John threw up
his hands a sign that this information
had overcome him.
Even the captain SHE'D when 1 approach
ed him." said Robert, gloomily
| II begin to see" said the brother.
| See WHAT
Have a match your cigar has gone
| out"
| Robert relighted his cigar and puffed
| like a threshing machine engine
John leaned toward Nancy. Shall tell
him, Nan?"
Nancy bushed 81 suppose he'll have to
| know sooner or later"
know what?' asked the third person
| singular.
Your charming sister is about to bring
"What?" You could have heard this
across the street.
yes Bobby dear And don't look so
hurt. You don't want me to become an old
maid, do your
when did it happen?'-helplessly. How
the thought of his sisters marrying horri-
fies a brother! l believe l can tell you
why. Every brother knows that no man is
good enough for a good woman. When did
it happen?" Mr.. Robert repeated, with a
look at his brother, which said that he
| should be held responsible.
| Last week"
Robert took in "a long breath, one does
| who expects to receive a blow of some sort
which cannot be warded off. and nd, asked:
the world coming to, anyhow?
| Charlie Henderson '-timidly.
| Then Robert who had been expecting
| nothing less than an English duke, let loose
the flaming ions of his righteous wrath; t.,
| "Chuck Henderson?-that duffer?' ooh,
| Mr.. Robert, Mr.. Robert; and after all I've
done for YOU'D
| Hes not differ" demonstrated Nancy,
| with a flare in her mild eyes. (How | wish
| l might have seen her as she defended meD
| Hes the dearest fellow in the world, ana
| l love him with all my hearth! How do
you like that Mr.. Robert? Bravo, Nancy!
l may be duffer. true enough, but L rather
| object to it's being called out from the Rouse
| tops) And Nancy added: II want you to
| understand distinctly. Robert, that in my
| selection of a husband you are not to De
| consulted"
| This was moving him around some.
! Hold on, Nan! Drat it. don't look like
that! 1 meant nothing, dearie; only m
| heap surprised. Chuck is q good fellow,
I I'll admit; but I've been dreaming of your
marrying a prince an ambassador and
| Henderson comes like jolt. Besides
Chuck will never be anything but hrst-
rate politician. You'll have to get used to
cheap cigars and four-ply whisky. When
is it going to happens"
I TN June. i have always loved him, BOD.
And he wants you to be his best man.
Robert appeared bit notified at this
| Knowledge But what shall l do after