Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-10
THE MAN
ON THE BOX
By
HAROLD MAC CRATH
oye,c.r 40, :, m. eoees NJ Rsm, co

| take the trouble to see If he could get the
cigars for nothing, there being a penny
in-the-sIot machine in one corner of the
shop l am that if he had noticed 1t.
| it would have enticed him. for the spirit of
chance was well grounded in him. as it is in
| all army men. But he hurried out threw
| the boy a dime and drove away. For an
| hour and twenty minutes he drove and
| smoked and pondered. So she played the
| violin! played it wonderfully. as the count
had declared. He was passiona tely fond OF
| music. In London. in Paris. in Berlin. in
Vienna, he had been an untirng, unfaiiing
| patron of the opera. Some night he re-
! solved to listen at the window, providing
| the window was open Yes, hundred
| times Chuck was right Any other girl
| and this jest might have passed capitally;
but he wanted the respect of this particular
woman. and he had carelessiy closed the
doors to her regard. She might Tolerate
| him, that would be all. She would look
upon him a hobbledehoy.
He approached the curb again in front of
the house, and gazed wistfuly at the hght-
ed windows. Here was another great OPP
portunty gone. How he longed to dash
into the house, confess and have done
with it!
would come out and kick me good and
hearty"
(Chuck would have been delighted to per-
form the trffiing service; and he would
not have gone about it with any timidity,
ether.)
Hang the horses! I'm going to take a
peek in at the side window and he slid
| cautiously from the box. He stole around
the side and stopped at one of the windows.
The curtain was not wholly lowered. and
he could see into the drawing room. There
they were. all of them; and Miss Annesiey
was holding the baby, which Mrs. Jack
had awakened and brought downstairs. He
could see by the diffident manner in which
Jack was curling the ends of his mustache
that they were comparing the baby with
him. 1.-The conceted asst" muttered the
self-appointed outcast; at doesn't look any
more like him than it does like me-! Here
Miss Annesley kissed the baby, and War
burton hoped that they hadn't washed its
face since he performed the same act.
Mrs. Jack disappeared with the hope of
the family, and Nancy got out a bundle of
photographs. M sieu Thames would have
given almost anything he possessed 10 Know
what these photographs represented.
Crane his neck he would. he could see
nothing All he could do was to watch.
Sometimes they laughed, sometimes they
became grave; sometimes they explained,
and their guest grew very attentive. once
she even leaned forward eagerly. 1t was
about this time that our Jehu chanced 10
look at the clock on the mantel, and I'M
mediately concluded to vacate the premises.
IT was half after 10. He returned to his
box forthwith. q was going TO use the
word "alacrity,'' but l find that 1t means
cheerful readiness.D After what seemed
TO him an interminable wait the front door
opened and a flood of light blinded him.
He heard Nancy'S voice.
I'm so sorry, Betty, that l can't dine
with you on Monday. We are going 10
Arlington. So sorry
I'm noti' murmured the wretch on the
box. I'm devilish glad! Imagine passing
SOUP to ones sister! By George, 1t was
narrow one, 1t would have been all over
then"
"Wel, there will be plenty of times this
winter said Betty. II shall see you all
at the Country Club Sunday afternoon.
Good night, every one. No, no; there's no
need of any of you coming to the carriage
But brother Jack did walk to the door
with her; however, he gave not the slgnt-
est attention to the groom for which he
was grateful.
You must all come and spend the even
ing with me soon,'' said Betty, entering the
carriage.
ing the door for her. Good night.
"Home, James, said the voice within the
carriage.
I do not know whether or not he slept
soundly that night on his stable cot He
never would confess. But it is my private
opinion that he didn't sleep at all, but
spent a good part of the night out of doors,
smoking very black strong cigars.
Celeste however, could have told you
that her mistress she retired, was IN a
most amiable frame of mind. Once she
laughed.
Go be continued tomorrow