Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-05
WRITTEN FOR THE STAR BY CECILIA A. LoIzEAUX.
Copyright. 1906. by Ruby Douglasl

three years. And If you could introduce
some of the most eligible of the young
men they'd be sure to fall in love with
her and she would see that there are other
people in the world"
The Ally stiffened a little. and the Old
Lady seeing this. interpreted it to please
herself l know it's good deal to ask
of you. but you're the only one of all the
people l know who can help me- / know
you like Frank, too, so I won't say all 1
could about him. 1 might like him myself
if | didn't know his father we'll
Well decided the Ally Il believe 1
Will help you. | like Nell and Frank too
well to see either or both of them made
unhappy for lite, II a little effort on my
part Will save them" She looked reflect
lively at the Old Lady, who had begun to
beam. But you must let me do things
my own way, even If it seems silly to you
Certainly said the Old Lady.
I want you to seem to stop opposing
Nell. Let her see just as much of Frank
as she likes, and even encourage her in
1t, but not too suddenly. Be nice to him
yourself-and you might. for the sake of
the cause, just recognize his father when
you meet him on the street. The Old
Lady gave squeak of dismay.
Il would far rather let Nell marry Frank
and then spend the rest OF my life getting
even than to speak to that man now!
She fairly bristled with dignity she
stood up and drew the voluminous black
silk coat, which she wore in all weathers,
The Ally walked with her to the door
and out on the porch, and then wished she
bad not 1t IS dreadful not to be able to
laugh at times when one wants to most
All the Ally could do was to lean against
a pillar and pray under her breath for
becoming sobriety.
AS the Old Lady gingerly descended the
steps and sailed majestcally down the long
straight walk, the gate opened and there
entered a tall, very straight Old Gentleman
who came up the walk with dgnified taps
of goid-headed cane, and whose chin was
lifted in dfgnited manner. When he met
the Old Lady, who had become so straight
she nearly bent backward he stepped off
the sidewalk and stood with his back turn
ed, twiring his cane between his hands
as he hunted for clouds In an absolutely
fawless sky.
The Ally seemed not to notice the very
visible wrath of the Old Gentleman as she
came down the steps to meet him and led
him into her sun-warmed library. But
after a little preliminary skirnlishing about
the weather-depths to which the clever
Old Gentleman rarely descended-he sud
denly blurted out
Il think l owe you an apology for the
apparent rudeness 1 just showed one of
your guests
WHY, no." faltered the Ally but he
seemed not to have heard.
1T is a little unfortunate that Mrs. Coov-
er and | have seen fit to occupy homes in
the same neighborhood. If 1 had known
Sne lVeu mere certainly would not nave
bought this place. But now I'm here and
l do not mean to be chased out of a com
Portable home"
But why should your puzzled the Ally,
though she knew perfectly well.
Madam, 1t is very awkward for me to
be constantly meeting that-er-Mrs. CooV
err The best thing she ever did to me was
to 1ilt me when We were younger, and I've
never forgiven her for that She was an
outrageous firt, madam. and | was COM
"a in NV n tfy ia
wouldn't believe it row. but she really was
very pretty-much more so than her daugh-
ter is. That girl is a forward young mink
She has much of the personality of her
father. Very disagreeable person, the IA
Their"
Il never knew him." murmured the Ally
If l thought the girl would serve Frank
her mother did me, / shouldn't care.
1t would teach him a lesson. I've warned
him and he will not listen But she won't.
If ever a girl meant business I should
think ii was Nell Coover. Her father took
Molly from under my very nose after we
had quarreIed about our wedding trip and
had temporarily broken off. But l want
you to help me- he suddenly remembered.