Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-16

making fun of her poor sick father
What I've got is old-fashioned consump-
ton" Here he fetched a cough that was
hollerer than the grooming. "Old-fash-
toned consumption and nervous dyspepsy.
Can't eat meals vittles in comfort. But
there! I'll be through pretty soon. The
sooner the quicker, / say. Everybody'll
be glad when I'm gone. Don't, l says
me. Don't put no dollhouse wreaths on
my grave. 1 know how you feel and
Get off my feet, you everlasting young
one. Think I'm a LADDER"
This las, part was to Dewey. who had
come in from the kitchen, and was trying
to climb onto the sofa.
Martin looked like he didn't know what
to say. By and by he cleared his throat
and threw out a hint concerning Eu-
reka's coming to Ozone. The sick man
shook his head.
NO." he says. I'm self-sacrifcing.
and all that. but somehow 1 can't make
up my mind to let her go. / can't bear
to have her out of my sight minute.
You can't begin to think, Mr.. What's
your-name, what a comfort tbs to me.
agonizing here and suffering, to have
Reky setting down alongside Of me day
after day. the way she does. You can't
begin to think 1t, mister"
1 couldn't begin to think it-not without
what the doctor calls 'stimulants." The
amount of setting down that poor hard
working Eureka got time for wouldn't
comfort anybody much. it seemed to me.
"Shes my favorite child" went on
Washy, swabbing his eyes. "She always
was. too. Even when she was baby l
thought more of her than / done OF all
the others"
Eureka must have been listening. for
she called from the kitchen.
why, par she says. when I was a
baby there want any others. I'm the
Oldest"
The invalid bounced up straight in the
rocker That's it!' he hollers. Make
fun of your helpless. poor old father!
Go ahead! pick at me and contradict me!
s'pose when I'm dead and in my grave
you'll contradict me every time speak"
He blew off steam for much as five min
utes Didn't even remember to stop and
get his cough going. Hartley turned to
the door. I could see he was disap-
pointed.
Very we'll" he says. I'm sorry. I'm
sure she is just the girl we need. Good
day. Mr.. Sparrow"
/ carlate Washy want expecting that.
He httched around in his chair 1t had
a busted cane seat. the chair did. and he
had to roost on the edge of 1t to keep
from falling through.
'Er-er-just a minute. mister" he
says ~ want you to understand how
feel about this thing. If I was able to
do for myself 'twould be different
Eureka came to the door then. wiping
her arms on her apron.
why, pa" she says. Il told you I
could fix that.
She went on to tell how she'd get up
early every morning and cook the meals
afore she left, and how Editha would be
there. and Lycurgus would split the wood
and do the chores, and how she'd be
home nights. and SO on. She had planned
everything. l liked that girl At last her
dad give another one Of his groans.
'All right" says he. Il give In. l
amt going to stand in the way. Hadn't
ought to expect nothing different, /
s'pose. Work and fret and slave yourself
into the boneyard bringing up children.
and-and educating 'em and all. and then
off they go and leave you. Well. I'm re-
signed. Mr.-Mr.-What's -your-name, she
can go. Eureka cantor two dollars more
a week"
l actually gasped out loud. The cheek
of him! Why. the price Van had offered
was enough to hire three girls. And
now this shark wanted more.
Even Martin Hartley seemed to be set
back some. But he was game. For
''mercenary'' chap he was the most lib
eral piece of goods on the shelf.
Certainly. Mr.. Sparrow says he.
THAT will be satisfactory. Good morn