Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-02
A NOVEL.

interfere with my work. What do you
| wantg
I'm Mr.. Edward Van Brunt's vally-''
he says-"is man-servant. and e as
ordered you to
His man-servant.'' I sung out, setting
UP straight.
''Of course. Didn't ! says so! His
vally: and
| Well. I'd made mistake. judged II
| he was servant he couldn't be the
keeper. l cal'lated twas best to be lit
/ tie more sociable. Besides, was curious
"Humph.'' says l. II guess I'd ought
to beg your pardon. Mr.. Opper-"
"Opperr' he fairly hollered It,
| "All right. Never mind. Come on
aboard and let's talk 1t over
So aboard he come, making land
| lubber's job of It, and come to anchor on
the bench in the cockpit. setting up as
stiff and straight as II he'd swallowed
marlinspike. Then we commenced tc
talk. me dropping question every once
in awhile. and him dropping his like he
was feeding EN- TO the hens.
What kind of a servant did you say
you VASE" says I. breaking the Ice.
"A valy. Mr.. Edwards vally.'
.'Vally. hey?' says i. "Vally! Hum!
| l guess he see l was out Of soundings,
so he condescends to do some spelling for
| me.
''V-a-l-e-t," says he. "vally."
| ''Oh. says l. A Vallet Les, YES l
see"
| I knew what a wallet was-Td read
about em in the papers-but this feller {
calling il 'vally'' put me of the course.
He was nothing but foreigner. though
SO I made allowances. | give him cigar
that bought at the grocery store on the
way down. and we lit up. Then he COM
menced to tell about himself and how lie
used to work for lord once over In
England. According to his tell England
I u; ff..l
States little worse than the other place.
.'Gawd forsaken" was the best word he
| had for Yankeeland.
4 suppose you'll quit when the keeper
| comes" says /.
why. the Teller from the asylum. How
| long has your boss and his messmate
| been crazy?" I asks.
Crazy" he says. Crazy? Wat do
you mean?"
straight Amt Van Brunt and Hartley
out OF their heads?'
/ "Out Of their 'eads? 'Eavens. nor He
was so upset that he couldn't hardly
/ speak for Vinute. Then he commenced
/ to tell aboutsthe Heavenlies. and 'twant
long afore begun to see that twas Nate
/ Scudder and me that needed a Keeper:
We was the biggest looms in the crowd.
| Seems that the twins was rich New
Yorkers-the richest and high-tonedest
i
! bucket and more being left to EN- while
| you wait. They lived on some avenue
with number to it and they done bust
ness in the street meaning that they
! dickered in bonds and such things,
gathered. Also l gathered they didnt
have TO work overtime.
But IL they amt crazy what made 'em
! come down here to live?" says l. at
! Nate Scudders?"
Well. that was kind Of poser. even for
Mr.. James Opper Hopper Know-it-All. He
| commenced to tell about society and pink
| teas-I guess twas pink; might have been
! sky-biue. though-and races and opera
parties and stocks. and strenuous life'
and the land knows what. It seemed to
simmer down finally TO that book 1.-The
Natural Life" Seems there was kind
of craze around New York and the cities
stirred up by that book, to get clear of
luxury and comfort and good times and
so on. and get to living like poor folks.
Living the natural life." the valet called
4 it.
1907" says /. thinking Of how had to
scratch to keep body and soul together
1--WE been right in style all my days and
didn't know 1t. Hum! going cranberry