Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-27
WRITTEN FOR THE STAR BY ELLIS PARKER BUTLER.

Hector McGregor to look after their inter-
eSts' and like the rough, cumbersome Scot
he was, he strobe relentlessly through Gus
toms and snatched up Miss Hetty as if she
was not destined by the town fates to be
an eternal spinster.
And then, Just three weeks before the
wedding day, when every one was so glad
that Mrs. Van Dolsen would be such a
help to Miss Hetty in getting ready, Yonks
Van Dolsen upset everything and Mrs. Van
Dolsen went in black and shut up her
house and went away.
Some-but they were outside the best set
and consequently jealous persons-said It
was inconslderate and unnecessary for
Mrs. Van Dolsen to go in mourning for
relative of whom she had never spoken be-
fore. The ladies of the best set did not say
this. but they gently intimated among
themselves that perhaps Mrs. Van Dolsen
was carrying her family pride little too
far. Her very closest friends never mad
heard her speak of the late Hon. Yonks,
and her mourning was so excessively deep
Even her lingerie it was whispered was
edged with black.
one or two who ventured to condole with
her and who suggested kindly that to share
her grief would be to tighten 1t, were kind
~ but firmly told that some things were
too sacred to be told to even ones dearest
friends. Miss Hetty herself was told noth-
ing although she spent the week aldins
Mrs. Van Dolsen in the preparation OF her
mourning. She told those who asked that
Mrs Van Dolsen was not overwhelmed
by grief; that she had not shed tear, put
that she wished to do Yonks van Dolsen
all the posthumous honor possible. 1t came
to be believed that probably in her young
womanhood she had been wooed by fonks
Van Dolsen and that through some conPH-
cation she had wed Richard Van Dolsen IN
stead That would account for her silence
regarding Yonks. 1t might account Tor
Richard Van Dolsen's silence, too.
When some days after Mrs. Van Doisen
left for the east, Richard van Dolsen
no trofD a.
depot 1t was apparent that the death OF
his honored relative had not d1mmed ms
spirits He had made good trade IN
the Missouri timber lands, and he walked
briskly up the street toward his ONCE
whistling
At the corner of Main street and Elm
avenue he met Tom Garrick, the city at
torney, and they exchanged hearty hand-
clasp. GaTrick watched van Doiseh ) lAee
weir he exclaimed, glad to see you
back Dick! Deal go through all right!
"Finep' Van Dolsen replied, II think i
have q good thing In those lands, Tom
Hows Wighamton been since l left?'
"Al right" said Garrick, II suppose you
have heard all the news. Knew Miss Ars-
dale was engaged?'
mo. you don't tell mer' cried Van Dol
sen laughing That is news. Anything
more? I've been where mail can't go, you
know Rode four hundred miles in
sledge Been living on bacon and corn
uone. and having a grand old time. 1 wish
ed forty times a day that you were along.
Garrick moved along beside his friend,
keeping his eyes on his face.
"Dick," he said suddenly, II suppose you
know Mrs Van has gone east?'
well, no." said Van Dolsen easily Il
didn't know ii, exactly, but l supposed she
would be gone by the time l got back. She
intended going
He looked at Garrick curiously.
why do you look at that way,
Tom?' he asked anxiously. There's moth
Ing wrong with Elizabeth, is there?'
mo, not with Mrs. Van," Garrick assured
him "She was we'll when she left. But"
he hesitated. But Yonks Van Dolsen Is
dead" he said
Van Dolsen stopped
whats that?" he asked sharply.
81 said Yonks Van Dolsen is dead" Gar
rick repeated.
ooh thunder!" exclaimed Van Dolsen,