Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-06


she knew how he was going to get the
money and that she would not let him: so
then he slapped her so hard IL Knocked
her against the fence. and he made her so
away and he Swore!''
Mr. Pearson turned with stern inquiry to
Its lie" blurted that young man.
"Oh. no, il isn't Shrieked Katie check
ing back the flood of hysterical tears that
had threatened to overwhelm her and
pouring out her accusations in one breath.
"iou have been wanting my 500 that I've
saved up all my life to help fix up home
with. and | wouldn't give il to you till
we were married. and you made me go tn
the bank and draw il, and | have got IL
in my pocketbook now: and I'll have YOU
jailed If il takes every cent of it. and IL
there's any left I'll give il TO your poor
wife, You hear that. Mr.. Harter-if
that's your name and Katie smacked
her red fist in her hand while she filed
her lungs. "O-o-o-o-o-h," she screamed
with the fullness of that long breath and
startled Mr. Pearson into immediate ac-
ton. =
Never mind said he To Katie, re-
straining her from her obvious intention
of doing harm to Mr.. Harter's features.
You are lucky to get rid of him so easily.
Young man. please leave my house"
Mr. Harter escaped quietly and will
ingly. with a parting scowl and ludi-
crous shake of his fist at the extremely
small boy. leaving fortunate Katie to her
fit of Mysteries. i'm which she had the full
sympathy of Nora and Mrs. Pearson.
Those two good women. made sisters for
the moment by common emotion, finally
achieved the triumph of their sex by get
ting Katie settled down to a good cry.
She could not weep comfortably. however.
without Skeezicks in her arms. Even
when she left the house. she insisted on
carrying him. followed. as far as their
own gate. by the small witness and her
sister, VINO. merely on general principles.
were excited to the highest pitch thoug.
they had not the slightest conception of
what ii was all about.
Now Skeezicks was young gentleman
VINO had brightly glowing reputation
throughout that suburb as one who never
cried, but this situation was too much for
him. For one thing. Katie's depth of woe
was IN itself calculated to arouse his ready
sympathy. and. for another. the mere fact
that she cried at all was terrible catas-
trophe Why, plump. jolly Katie-but
what was the use, AS he realized the
thing in its full. enormity his breast be-
gan to heave and suddenly he buried his
head or her shoulder and himself gave
way to loud grief. so astounding to Katie
that she Immediately forgot her own
troubles in trying to soothe him Com
fort was of no avail. nor was the sus
gestion of cold chicken or even of the
much-beloved special custard when they
got back to the house. In fact, neither
Katie nor the chicken could hold him; he
had great calamity to avert at the
earliest possible moment Rushing through
the house with but one fixed idea he
finally found the objects of his solicitude
in the sewing room. where his uncle was
most exasperatingly pretending to ignore
pile of fluffy garments upon which Miss
Elmer had been engaged.
Under most circumstances Skeezicks
would have paid his first respects to
Uncle joe but in this stress he threw
himself into Miss Elzner's arms, where,
his overweight emotions mastering him.
he sobbed Historically.
why, you poor little, dear little Skee-
ticks chap she cried and the new. sweet
tone of her voice. trembling with the sa-
cred maternity that lay nascent within
her. thrilled one listener through and
through.
With instructive tact she held the boy
closely for some moments before she ven-
tured to question him. Even when she did
so he could not answer her for a time,
but at last he reached out a cropping
hand and Uncle Joe Understandings
clasped it. SkeeZicks drew him closer
still. though by no means nearer than
Uncle Joe liked to be: in fact, his free
arm circled most contentedly around both.
Please. oh. please don't elope!' walled
the lad who had just tried it.
Uncle Joe looked at Miss ELMER with q
silenI confession of guilt in which there
fingered trace of amusement, for which
,lln inst OH h v,S 1,xy
swering glance. Uncle Joe was immedi-
ately and properly humbled.
Il repent bitterly" he informed her.
'Skeezicks in spite of the great tempta-
ton, don't think we shall elope. In fact,
you have my solemn promise to that
effect, and 1 will put it in writing if you
like. Your Aunt Elizabeth-to-be will also
sign the paper
1t is very difficult to be amused aud to
look stern both at the same time, but
Aunt Elizabeth-to-be achieved it.
Indeed, We would not elope. dear"
she assured Skeezicks. Il would not
think of such thing. Neither would
your Uncle joe.
Well" observed Mr.. Joseph Freeman
after making a careful self-analysis. Il
might think of it now and then, say about
the time that Lohengrin music strikes up
and a hundred or so of eyes focus in my
direction. but of course l would not dare
suggest such thing. L am A brave man,
l hope. But / hastily pass to another
subject. SkeeZicks how would you like
to go to the matinee tomorrow"
Thank YOU was the absent-mnded
reply.
When we are young a very little COM
fort goes long way. SkeezickS. present
ly growing restless as the kernel of a
group which was welded together much
too tightly for ease. slipped out from its
midst. And it really did not miss him
much.
After a while. when they again became
conscious of him. the boy was sitting on
chair in a corner of the room. his fin
gers crossed and touching wood silent
ly moving his lips with great earnestness
He was repeating the Invocation to Trou.
BILE
from 80 cents something in her mind seems
to give way with crash.
But Uncle Greg. and Mrs. Lorrenz love
money so much that every time they bet
a blue check they close their eyes and
pretend it was a white one.
Any time you see a silver dollar with
all the tail feathers pulled out of the
eagle it's a cinch the bird once belonged
to Mrs. Lorrenz and the parting was
bitter one
She is the original Tesse Tightwad.
Ever thine. j. III.
Copyright. 1905. by G. W. Dillingham; Coz
Next week--John Henry on ''Womer
and Poker.
APoor Bath.