Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-16

I knew I could make you understand.
Can't I?'
answered Caleb, watching with a sort of
awed fascination the, alternate punges
and rearings of the vibrant black pompa-
dour, which, in Difference to the prevailing
style of the moment-and of the chorus
was pendent directly above the visitors
right eye.
His curt rejoinder rather took the caller
aback. She looked about the group as if
for inspiration. Anice Lanier had risen,
and at the door. Caleb saw her.
Please don't go, Miss Lanier.' he called.
J Il would much prefer to-, answered
Anice, IF you don't object. This seems to
be purely family affair and"
And at least one person with decently-
balanced grain ought to be present. Our
affairs are your affairs as far as you'll al
low. Please do me the favor of staying
The visitor had by this diversion,
gained grasp on her plan of action.
Mr.. Conover, she said, stretching out
her uede-gloved hands toward the Rail
roader in pretty gesture of helpless APP
peal as to an all-powerful judge, Il am
your sons wife. He loves l love him.
Does that tell you nothins?"
Yes said Caleb judicially, lit tells me
you love each other: if that's what you
mean. For the sake of argument we'll take
, that for granted just for the present. Now
get down 10 facts
woman, somewhat less throatiiy. but still
with brave resolve HE sought me out
and wooed me. He told me l should re-
ceive a welcome in his home. He made
me love him. Didn't YOU Gerald? And 1
married him. All, but we were happy, we
two. Then, like thunderbolt from the
blue sky fell your command that we part.
He and /. For long-oh, so long-I have
tried to be patient, to wait for time to-
soften your heart. But at last l couldn't
bear it, l couldn't bear it, so 1 came here
to meet you in person; to east myself at
your feet if need be. To"
She paused The cod inscrutahle ga ze
of the Railroaders light eyes did not tend
TO inspire her very creditable recitation.
As a matter of fact, Caleb was at the mo-
ment paying very little attention to her
words. He was noting the hard dryness
of her skin and the only halfhidden lines
about mouth, brow and eye, and contrast
ing them with Anice Laniers baby smooth
skin and the soft contour of her neck and
cheek.
Had the stranger been saying anything
of import Caleb would have missed no syl-
liable. But, through long years of expert
ence with the dreary wndiness and empty
pothouse eloquence of politicians, the Rail
roader had learned by instinct, and without
waiting to catch so much as the first word,
whether anything worth hearing was being
said, or If the case We're, as he was wont
to express it. IAN attack of rush Of words
to-the-mOuth." He had already placed his
present callers grafton in the latter cate
CORY. But her pause brought him back to
, himself.
"Well?'' he demanded
so I am here to implore you to be just,
to be generous" resumed the girl, slightly
| preached climax. IT throw myself on
your mercy 1, Enid Conover-'
Enid Conover" snorted the Railroader.
"Why-"
yes Enid Conover! How I have
learned to love that name!'
Have, hey? Then take my advice,
young woman. and stife that same wild
alteration for my poetic cognomen, for you
aren't going to have the renting of it any
| longer'n can help
Not
"Oh, you'll get over it easy! Just as you
got over your love for that high-sounding
title, Enid Montmorency. And just as, be-
fore that, when you left your mothers
Germantown boarding house, you got over
original name, Emma Higgs. You see I
know some little about you. I took the
trouble to have you looked up. You and
your family. You told Gerald your fam
main difference between you and that same
family is that ones older'n you make out
and the others younger. Take your choice
| as to which is which. And now"
eyes flashing, her figure drawn to the full
height Of really excellent pose her POM
padour nesting protectingly above the
arched brow.
| down there and behave yourself. d I'll
spank YOU'D If you think I'm wrong mAybe
you'd like me to tell my son the way you
first happened to go on the stage No?
guess I've got this thing framed up pretty
near straight. It's grand-stand play, and
Papa is It, Ell? A masterstroke Of sur
| prise for the old man. and final tableau
Of the bunch of US clustering about you
and Gerald in the center Of the stage, while
you fall on each others necke and do q
unison exclamation of God-bless-the-dear-
old-Dad? How-much-w he leaye-us? And
how-soon" You waited in town awhile.
But Papa didn't relent and send Hubby
Gerald on to acting like human being,
hoping to win Papa over by being good
boy. No go. Then as a last play. you butt
in here on a sudden with all your lines
learned down pat, end do a grand appeal.