Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-27

sen led the way UP the stairs, chuckling.
He felt in his pocket for the key and I'M
locked the door. and they both entered
+Yonks dead" he said, with evident
amusement. as he set his vaiise on the chair
and threw off his heavy fur coat. He turned
to his table still repeal ting, Poor YonksF
and Dead is he, the old blisterP
From the top of his small pile of mail he
took the letter that he was sure his Vile
had left for him. He tore open the en-
velope hastily and ran his fingers through
the sheets. There were several, closely
written.
"Sit down, Tom he said. and began to
read the letter. AS he read his face alter
nately became sober and broadened into
grin. When he had finished he folded the
letter thoughtfully and pushed it slowly Into
the envelope. Then he turned to Garrick.
Tom" he said. "Yonks Van Dolsen is
dead! My wife has written me all about II.
mourning for him. If any one asks you how
took the news. Tom, tell them the truth.
Say l was all broken up
AS soon as possible Richard Van Dolsen
had a crepe band sewed on his nat, HIS
friends all said something kind to him re-
garding his loss, and even at first he ac-
cepted their sympathy in a manly manner.
Yes" he said. Il appreciate your sym,
pathy, but he was an old man; very Ola
man. Personally it is not as If had known
him. I shouldn't have thought of putting on
mourning for him myself, but Mrs Van
wished 1t. One of the family. after all :"
AS the days passed and he became more
accustomed to the idea he seemed to enter
more into the spirit of the crepe hatband'
He felt, perhaps, that he wasn't dong the
late Yonks justice, for 1t was hard Tor MN
to sink his habitual cheerfulness. He be-
came frankly talkative. about Yonks-so
much so that Yonks became something OF
bore to Wighamton.
1.-THE more think of it, he said to one of
his friends, 'the more l feel l have never
done Yonks justice He was a fine fellow.
No foolshness about him. One of the good,
solid type Poor old Yonks! He will never
walk the earth again.
+ To another he said
Jim, / can't seem to realize that I am
In mourning for Yonks. 1t doesn't seem
possible. lay awake half the night think
ing about it, I almost blubbered out loud
when l thought of his poor family"
Did he have children?" asked Jim, SYM
pathetically.
Children cried Van Dolsen. He had
eighteen! But l wasn't thinking of them.
They are all dead His wife is dead, too.
was thinking of his family-the eastern
Vans OF the blow it must be to them to
know that Yonks is no more. You can bet
they don't mourn for him in the haH-
hearted way that / do!'
One afternoon Garrick met Van Dolsen
in the post office He drew him to one
SIDE
ter Emily was in Florida, didn't your
why. yes" said Van Dolsen, 80 1 did
How's she? Climate helping her health
any? Hope you hear good news"
Garrick nodded.
Zine" he said, shes picking up Won
derfully"
He paused and felt in his pocket, draw
ing out letter
Il wrote her about your loss, Van" he
sad carelessly. "She sends her sympathy"
Van Dolsen sighed ponderously.
Poor, old Yonks-" he began.
by the way" said Garriek' hastily, she
writes that there is Miss Van Dolsen
etn,o yfr, hnt Q1
Van Dolsen dropped his woeful expression
and glanced at Garrick's face questiona-
bly,.
He seemed to find something he did not
like in the statement
my sister has not met her yet" said
Garrick.
oh" said Van Dolsen with evident re-
lief.
but she wrote that this Miss Van Dol
sen evidently has not heard of Yonks Van
Dosen's death yet" continued Garrick
She says she isn't in mourning at ALL On
"Stopr' said Van Dolsen. stop, Tom!
Not another word. know who she is now.
No wonder she doesn't go in mourning for
him She doesn't care whether poor old
Yonks is dead or not. she-but can't tell
you why Tom. There are some things
man can't tell. You know that. Especially
when 1t concerns ones own family.
Garrick looked at him with a puzzled eX-
opened
Il understand" he said slowly.
Van Dolsen turned away, but at the door
he paused and returned to Garrfck.
Tom" he SAID seriously, IF your sister
should write anything more on-the sub.
ject of Yonks, just keep 1t to yourself unai
the first of the month, will your
He winked and grinned.
Until the first of the month, he repeat
ed and Garrick nodded.
On the Goth the town temporarily forgot
Yonks for Miss Hetty Arsdale was that
day married, and left, in a shower OF rice
ana sincere tears. for Scotland; but on the
21st Yonks was again the one great topic.
Miss Garrick had written long letter TO
her friend, Miss Mowry. Miss Garrick had
met the Miss Van Dolsen who was winter
ing in Florida and before the day was over
every one in Wighampton except van DOL
sen, knew what she had written.
AS Van Dolsen solemnly walked the main
street his friends looked at him and grim
ned. At first he felt at the back of his col
lar to see If his tie had Slipped up In the
back. Later he glanced curlously into the
mirrors made by the store windows to see
if his face was smutted Finally he went
into the Continental Hotel barber shop and
examined himself carefully in the long mir
ror there He did not notice Tom Garrlck
living in one of the barber chairs until the
barber tilted the chair upright, and. Car
rick grinned at him from collar of towel.
Hello, Dick!" he exclaimed, you look
disturbed"
Van Dolsen frowned
Tom" he said, II can't hep thinking Oh
pcor Yonks-
PGarriek smiled The barber was rubbing
his hair vigorously in white suds.
Yes" he said. Poor old Yonks! We all
feel for you, Van. It's hard to Que. Cut
down in ones youth, leaving loving rela-
tive like you!'
He spoke jerkily, for the barber was doing
his full duty by his head.
..Such a shock, too he continued.
.'rThese sudden deaths jar fellow so.
They come so Unexpectedly. You never
know who you are going to mourn Tor
next Whether
Van Dolsen came and stood beside him.
..Whether" said Garrick, 1T will be
crepe for Marc Antony. Or Moses. Or
Noah Or Adam"
"Tom,' said Van Dolsen, what do you
nean?"
Garrick, released by the barber, laughed
and felt his chin and cheeks.
Poor Yonksr' he said. Poor Yonks." "
Van Dusen laughed too.
How is your sister," he asked, and then
they both laughed.
.sF1ine as silk" SAID Garrick. She's we'll
acquainted with Miss Van Dolsen now. She
wrote full particulars to Miss Mowry. Says
Miss Van Dolsen was surprised at first
to hear of Yonks' death. Couldn't place
Youks. somehow. Then she got out that
genralogy your wife compiled and she says
| fhe only Yonks she could find In it was