Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-21

1 END or the cigar, aB 6ne mao Uecu Uocle
| Chad bite them. and lighted the other end
At first 1t would not light-the match blew
| out, for Fla Eye blew instead of putting
| but presently she learned the right way.
1t was very, very nasty. Nothing, she
| felt sure. could ever induce men to make a
practice of smoking. except the fear OF the
angel, just as people put horrtd camphor
| In their furs to drive moths away.
The smoke would not come out of her
mouth alone, as 1t did for Uncle Chad. 1t
came out of Fla Eyes nose and went down
her throat, choking her, and seemed to
come out of her eyes, too, making them
smart and fill with tears. She wondered
how much 1t was necessary for her to smoke
in order to render herself angel-proof. She
did not believe she could live to finish the
whole cigar. but she kept on bravely
The tea bell, rung from the front porch,
rescued her, and she threw the halfburned
cirgar out of the window and stole down
the back stairs. When Aunt Lou came in
Fla Eye was seated in her own chair-the
one with the custom-at the table. There
were raspberries-big, soft, red ones, the
kind Fla Eye liked best-and ice cream, and
thin white slices of bread such as Uncle
Chad laughed at, and other good things
But Fla Eye was not hungry. She gazed
on the food with an intense Indifference
that alarmed Aunt Lou, and when Fla
Eye turned quite white. like the snowy
table cloth, and reeled unsteadily in her
chair, Aunt Lou was seriously alarmed
She thought of diphtheria and scarlet fe-
yer, and made Uncle Chad carry Fla Eye
up to bed Fla Eye was a very sick little
girl for a while but when the doctor came
he only laughed his big, shaggy laugh
Eaten something that did not agree with
her. he said. ''She will be herself in the
morning.
Aunt Lou, however, sat in Fla Eyes room
that evening, and Fla Eye, after a long
thought, III which she considered whether
she would have to smoke cigar every day,
turned to Aunt Lou
I'm bad" she said; I'm a bad bad
girl, she said pleadingiy.
Aunt Lou took the patients hand and
smiled.
NO Fla Eye" she said kindly You
are good little girl, and you always will
be-"
Fla Eye turned on her face and wept
Aunt Louis verdict plainly meant a cigar
every day. The way of the transgressor is
hard. And Fla Eye fell asleep.
When she awakened-it seemed as If she
had slept for days, but it was only fifteen
minutes later-Aunt Lou had gone, and
Uncle Chad stood beside the bed, and Fla
Eye smiled upon him and held out her
hand. They were fellow sinners
Miss Grace has come over to see how
you are getting on, Fla Eye" he explained
The little figure in the bed sat up very
suddenly and with one glance at Miss Ora ce
sprang out upon the floor and chung to
Uncle Chad's leg
Take her away! Don't let her get me!'
she cried. Take her awayr'
Uncle Chad gathered Fla Eye into his
strong arms and held her close.
She won't take you, girl, if you don't
want her to-
Fla Eye hung tightly around Uncle Chad's
neck, pressing her face into his shoulder.
She will! She wll!' she moaned
mo, l WON'T Miss Grace declared posi-
lively. Il promise never to take you until
you want me to. Never!
And won't you never stand by my bed
at night?' asked Fla Eye, her face still
hidden.
No, never!'
Not even If I'm good?''
mot even if you are good"
Fla Eye raised her head q little.
Are you going to take Uncle Chad
away?" she asked.
Miss Grace looked across at Uncle Chad
and smiled
Il wouldn't take your Uncle Chad under
any circumstances whatever" she said
"Oh, / Say!" exclaimed Uncle Chad But
Fla Eye did not allow him to say more.
Are you going to take Aunt Lou?' she
inquired anxiously.
mo, not even Aunt LOU said Miss
Grace.
Fla Eye raised her head quite off of Uncle
with Amusement
Who are you going to take?' she asked.
Nobody" Miss Grace declared.
Not even Billy Webster?' asked Uncle
Chad.
No" said Miss Grace, softly; mot even
Billy Webster"
Never" asked Uncle Chad
Never" said Miss Grace
Fla Eye studied Miss Grace's face, and
she was quite satisfied with what she saw
there. So was Uncle Chad.
We'll" said Fla Eye, scornfully; II guess
you amt much of angel. You can rock
me to sleep now