Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-13

CHAPTER IX-Continued.
Nothing would do but them presents"
must go on exhibition. So Van lugged
'em down from James room and lined
'em up on the piazza for inspection. He
took stick for a pointer and give a lee
ture about 'em. same as II they was a
panorama. pointing out what he called
the feeling and atmosphere" Of the
shell basket and the perspective" Of
Marcellus in the crayon enlargement. He
had good time. and so did everybody
else. especially Miss Talford.
By and by she clapped her hands. OH
says she. 1--WE got an idea. Did you say
your man was going to leave you. Mr..
Van Brunt?"
Van heaved a sigh YES" he says.
II believe he is fear that James hasn't
the artistic temperament. I confess I'm
he had It: he was sad and soulful and
and-dyspeptic. But no: even the moth
erless home didn't appeal to him. He
says he's going tonight"
II wonder IL he would come over to the
SCHOOL," says she. I'VE need a man
there. don't we. Agnes? To help about
the place. and look out for the boys. and
lowell. to protect U.s."
Lucky James," says Van. But why
James? Won't Martin here do-or-ex-
CuSe my DluSncS-IuySeI.
But the Talford girl laughed and said
he wouldn't do at all. He lacked dig
nifty, she said. and didn't look the part.
She asked Miss Page if she really didn't
think that James would be just the man
for them. Agnes said perhaps he would.
So the four of 'em went away for walk
on the beach and to talk it over.
I'll bet I called that valet anything
but a church member and good Teller a
dozen times over while I was diving into
them dishes. I washed and washed till,
seemed to me, I was soaked out fresh
enough to bile. like a picked Goldfish. And
when the washing was done there was
the wiping. l laid out q bale or SO Of
dish towels and pitched in.
Pretty soon somebody says, Mayn't I
help?''
1 swung around and there was Agnes
Page. Nice to look at. she was. too.
Cant 1 help you. please?" says she.
picking up towel.
Land sakes. no." says I. You'll
spoil your fine clothes Besides I've got
goes round of itself. like a paddle wheel"
She laughed and grabbed a ehowder
plate and commenced to wipe. She done
fairly well for anybody who hadn't prac-
uced much. but she never would have
won the cup for speed. One dish every
five minutes is all right, maybe. if you're
getting paid by the year. but How
ever, / judged her ma kept hired help to
home. 1 wondered what she'd done with
Hartley.
By and by she says, "Mr. Pratt, how
long do you expect to stay here?"
Ozone. Island? Land knows. Longs the
Heavenlies-that is. longs Mr.. Van Brunt
and Mr.. Hartley stay here, 1 guess. It's
a restful place. amt it?" says 1, reach
ing for the next stack Of dishes.
She smiled. mo doubt they find it So"
she says. How do you like the natural
life?'
"Who-me? Oh, carlate 1 shall like it
that is. If last. 1 was oldest boy in a
family of nine. and dad died young, SO 1
was brought. up natural, as you might
say. It's been some time. though, since
1 had so many hours of straight-along.
pitcn-in-and-hustle naturalness in the
days run; been getting artificial and lazy
of late years. guess. But I'm tough.
and I'll be all right and used to it pretty
soon-getting lots of practice. By the
way" 1 says, who was 1t that sent EN-
here?'
"Who?" says she. looking surprised.
Sent? don't understand"
WAS Mr.. Van Brunt and his chum
sent here by the doctor. or who?"
''Why, I didn't know they were sent
at all. 1 think they came here Of their
own accord"
''Humph!" says 1. considering. WAS
any of their folk ever took this way?
Does it run In the families?"
That seemed to tickle her. and 1 guess
she understood what I meant. But she
didn't answer the question; went on dry
polishing the pickle dish. Then says she,
kind of accidental on purpose:
us Mr.. Hartley's health imprOving?"
ooh, yes!" says !. Hes picking up
some. specially In his appetite. He amt
up to Van Brunt in that line yet. though
Van eats for three; Hartley's only up to
the one-man-and-a-boym mark so far. He'd
do better If he didn't have them blue
streaks of his. Seems to have something
on his mind"
Perhaps he's troubled about leaving
his business" she suggests. looking side
ways at the pickle dish.
Guess not" avs I. looking sideways at
her. II don't think I've heard him men,
ton business since he's been down. No.
faint that. according to my notion. He
amt in love, Is hep
She looked at me then pretty hard: but
was as wooden-faced as a cigar sign.
Dear me, no." she laughs. brisk. II
guess not What made you think that?"
"Oh, nothing" says L: II amt ever
to me he had all the symptoms. Didn't
know but he was fretting about some
young woman. He's a fine chap, that
young Hartley. It'll be a lucky girl that
gets him."
She didn't say much more. but she
eOOANNN
she was wondering. never let on.
was as innocent and easy as the cat
with the cream on its whiskers. / had
sneaking hope that l might have boosted
Hartley a little mite. and / felt good
down one side. Then thought Of Van.
and felt mean all up the other.
After a spell the Twins and Miss Tai
ford happened along. and what time
Van Brunt made when he see his girl
helping me wipe dishes.
"Well, WE'LL" he says us this the
way you hurry back to see what the dear
children are doing? Sol. you old fasci-
nator. how do you do it? Martin and l
fell in love with him at first sight Miss
Talford: and now look at Agnes"
Hold on there" says 1. Don't spread
1t too thick. l amt got but one hat
that'N do for Sunday, and I want that to
fit me- I was giving Miss Page a few
lessons in housekeeping, and you'd ought
to thank me for that. Mr.. Van Brunt."
1t seems the Talford girl had seen
James and he had agreed to 90 to East
wioh with EN- Twas a good chance
for him. a soft job and all that. Truth
to tell. I guess he was kind of sorry
about parting from Van Brunt alto
gether. the cleaning might not be SO
good In his next boss berry pasture.
So about 6 O'Clock Scudder come with
his dory and the picnic broke up. The
och ioh vi