Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-02

that he was there. Miss Brant was seized
by spasm of laughter.
DILLY, with all the absorption OF an
l. neffable bliss. was munching a cream
puff. much to the disparagement of his
chubby countenance. AS their eyes met
he seemed suddenly to come back from
some ecstatic region known only to child
hood, and. hastily examining the re-
mainder of the puff into his mouth ex-
planned. thickly: Il just Gated one to see
If they's good: cause If they amt, we
can take m back
Miss Brant accepted this explanation
with the large faith necessary in dealing
with childhood. She felt that she herself
had relasped into the age of credulity
and could therefore meet Billy on his own
ground. But before they had proceeded
far an excited exclamation brought her
once more to IA standstill and Billy faced
her solemnly.
"Peanuts!" was what he said.
''Peanuts?" she echoed in bewilderment,
trying to collect her dreaming thoughts.
'Peanuts-for the squirls.' prompted
the child.
ITO think of my forgetting them she
CALCULATED in feigned dsmay. Il don't
know what l should have done if you
hadn't come along. Billy.
He darted away to lay in supply and
Georgiana's eyes followed him with an
enigmatical smile in their depths. To have
a Billy for ones own would be sweet, but
to borrow a Billy for a few hours now
and then was by no means an experience
to be despised. She suspected that 1t
might even afford delight denied to pos
session. For in the mind of Billys
mother there would always be a shadowy
fear of disaster. from which the spinster
h. Iii ShA
giana-coud enjoy him undaunted by the
fear of anything, from measles to mad
dogs When subsequently she thanked
Mrs Gordon for the loan of Billy. an UNI
mistakable drollery lurked in her face.
How would you have liked TO be an old
maid?-' was the question she suddenly put
to her mother. they sat I'm the freight
that evening. still prompted apparently by
a laudable spirit of investigation.
There was a silence. i'm which il was
evident that Mrs. Brant was searching
her brain for reply that should be at
once hopest and diplomatic But before
she could find it her daughter gave vent
to an involuntary chuckle of amusement.
=
ffKTEVER mind. Janey. dear she
~ soothed. clasping her hands above
her head, you're excused from answer
ing. l appreciate your embarrassment.
Still. spinsterhood has its good points.
LIES only great big game of Pussy
wants a corner anyway, and those who.
from one reason or another, find them
selves without any little domestic cor
ners. usually have other things to make
up for it.
'Oh, / know what you are going to
say" she went on. breathlessly, as her
mother was about to reply. There were
ten awful moments this morning when |
thought of everything-and more. [
thought of the offers I've declined. and.
figuratively speaking. wept. walled and
enashed my teeth. But I've recovered
my equilibrium, darling, and 'all's right
with the world.
Her eager voice ceased and trium-
plant smile lowered about her lips. Mrs.
Brant, seeing it, sighed in spite of her
self. She at least held no new-fangled
ideas concerning the destiny of woman,
as her next words showed. They were
spoken in a voice whose Spartan stub
bornness would, one knew, Withstand an
army of arguments.
Nevertheless she said. firmly, Il wish
you were married.
Her words had a strange effect. Her
daughter suddenly leaned forward and
bent a pair of startled eyes upon the
point where her mothers face now and
then emerged from the gloom. lighted up
by some playful flame.
The triumphant smile was gone, driven
away by puzzled frown. and she had
the air Of person transfixec by some
immense inner surprise.
Her bewilderment was that Of an indi-
vidual who, supposing himself en- route
for New York. suddenly finds himself in
San Francisco.
Her stupefied glance rested for a mo-
mept upon her mothers face. and then
it's sheer amazement was transmitted into
something else.
She sank back in her chair once more,
limp and shaking
..it,s Observation-Disclosures she
gasped between peals of laughter-"but
so do l."