Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-09

used to feel when I wrote spring poetry.
Well, what about him? Who is herr
He's mostly scamp It's a queer case
He came from a good, solid, rich old Phila-
6elphia family; the right kind of family
l found all this out at school. He was in
Harvard when / was. He just went clear to
the bad
He had mind too, or the beginning He
could make fine after-dinner speeches when
he was about three sheets in the wind. Got
| in with the wrong crowd from the first and
finally they ieeced him and used him for
a scapegoat. He lost $1,000 in one night,
they said, and the college authorities found
1t out and sent word to his father and then
expelled him. His father 1t seems, had
brought him out of any number of other
scrapes and had given him a solemn warn
ing This was the last straw and Jack was
thrown out. His mother died and now his
younger sister, who was too young to I'M
derstand sends him the biggest part of her
allowance. The rest he gets by gambling
There was some more, too, only guess this
Is enough"
Plenty" snapped Mr.. Towle. How'll ]
ever tell Josie? She's so independent-and
l shouldn't wonder II she were in love with
the fellow. Bert, you'll have to tell her. /
guess. She thinks anything you say is law
and gospel. She'll take it from you I'm
afraid IL l offend her she'll up and leave
me- because she can If she wants to now,
you know"
The man was actually pleading and Bert
felt twinge of pity for him, knowing how
he adored his ward
l did tell her yesterday and got into a
| beautiful mess. Redmond has cooked UP
some mess about my shielding myself be-
hind him in a college scrape, and she seems
to believe him. She told me that she was
twenty-one, and fully able to take care of
| herself, and added that l might mind my
own business to good advantage Bert
puffed furiously.
II suppose I'm an old fool my boy. but
I've had a sort of pipe dream about you
two children of mine marrying and letting
mo pass my old age with you"
Bert jumped TO his feet and took the
old man by the shoulders.
I've had the same dream, and l don't
call myself q fool for 1t. I've been waiting
for five years for her to grow up, and now
don't propose TO give up like a ninny and
let a scoundrel carry off my prize. I be-
ieve we can do ii yet. VIII you help me ?
AT least we can keep her from Redmond"
When Bert finally appeared at the office
door he looked little more cheerful. and
Mr.. Towle was beaming.
We've got him, my boy; we've got him.
ne chuckled. And I'll do just you say
about Josie"
Berts first deed was to buy an automo-
bile and learn to run it. He was constant
~ out in 1t, and wherever he went he was
sure to encounter Redmond who drove a.
big white man-eater, Most of the time
Josephine was with him. and she felt as If
ner cousin were keeping watch on her
CGrlously enough. that seemed to please
ferent that she felt little uneasy.
AND then Bert began to take Alice Dane
OUT with MIN great deal Josephine hated
this pink and white little morsel and Bert
knew IT, But he also knew that Alice was
really in love with a Denver man. and she
made no bones telling the men about it.
She didn't tell the women, she said be-
cause 1t did them good to worry little at
times
AS Josephine watched this sudden init
macy she grew little more restless. and a
funny hard look appeared on her face She
was seen more and more with Redmond.
and Bert could scarcely control himself To-
sephine had grown thin. too and frightened
her old guardian by bursting into hysterlcal
fits of crying-and she was by nature a girl
of few tears.
usually chose time when he knew Mr.
Towle would be at home, and there was no
more Of the old-time, pleasant cousinly in
timacy between the cousins.
But one night Bert was surprised tn get
a little note from Josephine asking him to
run over. He went. and was surprised
again when she came out into the hall TO
greet him, holding out both hands in the
old way.
When they were settled by the fire. and
all the formal talk had dropped, Josephine
took n deep breath and looked Bert square
ly in the eye.
Bert she began braveiy. II acted
like a little fool that time you came here
TO talk with me- and l want you to forgive
me- To prove to you that l mean It 1 want
you TO tell me what you have against
Jack"
Il thought he had told you." was Bert's
answer.
"Oh. very we'll. If you admit that there
is nothing more to be said" and Josephine
froze Immediately.
Bert called himself many names under
his breath at his stupidity, for he now
that he had missed an opportunity. He
looked sharply at Josephine, and called HIM