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


But laws. Mrs. Burdette,. said the
neighbor. you're used to plenty of children
| In the summer, when the boarders are here.
1t seems to me that these two oughtn't to
| upset you"
IT'S the responsibility" sighed the mis-
| tress. yesterday found her laying on the
grass. with a scrap of paper and a pencil,
and she was drawing picture, house and
| fence and tree, Just as natural"
/ That harum-scarum little boarder girl? -
| NO, Rosy. Shed washed the dishes and
put them IN the cupboard and hung UP her
| towels. I couldn't help thinking to save
my SOUL that the drawing was better suited
| to her pretty little hands, and kind of wish
! Ing In my heart that Kenny Prather was
| in the kitchen taking her nap, resting up
| for the evening"
| The neighbor babe goodbye few minutes
] later, and, passing her way she halted
at various houses by the roadside and gave
| out the welcome news that Mrs. Burdette
/ was having time of it with the asylum
| children; that II was hardly likely the asy-
| lum would continue Indefinitely to pay
| board for the little girl, Maud: and Mrs
| Burdette was of the opinion that nobody in
the neighborhood would want the child
| Mary AIMS Sunday off began directly
| after her dinner dishes were washed and
| put away. She arrived at Mrs Burdettes
| in GREATNESS haste. wearing her new hat
| and great yellow tie. above which her
/ round face beamed brightly. She knocked
| at the kitchen door and gave start when
! 1t was opened by the mistress
! Il come to see If them two was goIn's
waikiki she said
They'll be ready soon I give 'em
| talking to-" said Mrs. Burdette
| Yes. ma'am," said Mary Ann sedately:
| 'T'H wait"
you'll wait and you'll listen" said Mrs.
| Burdette
'Yes'm.'' said Mary Ann
Rosy and Maud!' called the mistress
from the hallway Hurry! your company's
| comet
In a minute two pairs of eager feet de-
scended the steps and Rosy and Maud APP
| peared They were dressed for Rosy's Sun
! day on They wore their white asylum
dresses and Their sailor hats, trimmed with
| blue ribbon
| .'Ycu can go with Mary Ann" said the
mistress, but, mind, you've got to take
care of your clothes. Mary Ann can walk
III the ma sh If she chooses, but if you come
pack pack mere with your shoes muddy and your
frocks torn, why this'll be the first ana
| last of the Sunday-off business"
| The orphans nodded while Mary Ann said
! serenely, They hear. Mrs. Burdette'
| Wen, run along" said the mistress
| and don't forget it. that's all
They smiled at her gratefully and walked
| through the hall. down the front yard and
! out the front gate, Mary Ann in the mid
IF it wasn't for Sundays off," said Mary
Ann, I'D just as leave live in the noun
| tains.''
Maybe he'll be eating his dinner" said
Maud her blue eyes seeking the chimney
| tops and the tail trees
He don't eat dinner till night" said
! Mary Ann. You alls don't know how styI-
Ish ne Is Them city boarders wanted Mrs.
Burdette to give dinner to them at q
| O'Clock, too, but she wouldn't: she amt
| gunno take no more trouble than she mas
/ to. But troubles got to be took around
| him. be eats what he calls lunch at din
| ner time
IF he'eating his lunch, we won't see
| him., said Rosy
II think we'll see him all right" said
Mary Ann It's such bright day; he'll
| be wantin' to catch sight o his shadder"
Il never seen him but onct." she con-
! tinued it was jest sech a pretty day as
| this II and had minute to- spare. L run
| over the fields quick as lightnin' and
sneaked up to the fence and there he was,
| settin on a bench. Then 1 seen him git
| up and take a walk, then l heerd him talk
to himself, then l seen him set down agin
| and write. l only had a minute or I'd
| waited to hear his dinner bell ring for
| lunch. I'd like to seen him go INTO his
! house
81 wish we could walk in The front way
! and ring the doorbell and be shown into
| the parlor, said Maud.
| go visitin' him." inquired Mary Ann, in
! q Mortified voice
We'll" said Mary Ann. you asylum
folks have more spunk than we'1rns in
! these parts. He run two men Oft cause
| they was peddlers.'
We aren't peddlers," said Maud, proud
| ly.
81 Kind o wish I didn't have on my yell
| Ter tie, said Mary Ann, anxiously; it
| shows so far She whisked it off Girls
| she said Il hope the blue ribbon your
| hats don't ketch his eye. Say. you better
hide your hats. Why'd you dress in white?
| Oh, / wish we all was dressed in green
| leaves.
Rosy and Maud took off their hats and
turned them so that the blue ribbons
/ wouldn't show.
Now got to climb a fence said
| Mary Ann. you two be keerful not to
tear your frocks. Don't let's talk no
| more
They climbed the fence, carefully and ST.
| lently, and silently and carefully they fol-
| also STOPPING, between palings and very
| high grass. In this way they reached the
| side of the great house. Once Mary Ann
| turned and put her fingers to her lips and
| imminent danger.
! Suddenly the leader of the perflous expe-
! dtion paused, pressed her face to the pai-
/ ings and made pantomimical movement
| OF complete satisfaction and gazed rapt-
| bound.
| Seated on rustic bench under spreading
| tree was gentleman, tall and broad. He
wore a skull cap; his back was toward
| them; they could smell cigar smoke.
| when will he get up" whispered Maud
SSH" commanded Mary Ann. I'VE got
to watt
| They waited a long time Then the gen.
the house and entered by side door. They.
| had seen nothing but his back.
| There exclaimed Mary Ann, raptur-
| ously. I'VE done caught him.
Rosy and Maud were terribly disappoint-
| ed
II wanted to see his face" said Rosy
| 4 wanted to hear him talk to himself
| said Maud.
''WelPll come back again next Sunday
| on, said Mary Ann. Il think we seen a
| lot. He went in to his lunch and nary bell
| rang for him; he just looked at his watch.
He won't git up from the table in no big
hurry cause he must have the best of
! everything powerful roast for nobody
but him. It's wonder he don't keep some
dogs. Too mean, 1 reckon!'
He didn't look mean to me- said Maud
| HE didn't look mean to me either said
| Rosy, "but wish we could have seen his
| face
After that they went for flowers, only
| finding few to the chagrin of Mary Ann,
but the little girls from the asylum re-
| ceived with rapture the bunch of blue
swamp flowers that Mary Ann got out or
| the mas h."
I'VE had lovely day." said Maud, as