Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-14

l%sm| \ s He. ,. n.'"s ssssa
face .,bove his sIreading white collar suS-
pes,ed n cherub. but not happy one.
The two Bulge boys. their little cheehe''
shirts omen at the neck, sat on theI iehe
and stared at them as they passed. lie
was also conscious of the eyes VI "h''
Stevens. opposite making shallow PR
tense of sheitering himself behind tlee
As Mrs. Livingstone reached the long
fight of stone steps which lea up u
own door she loosened his hand in order
TO raise her dress. Robert sat uo"h vi
tho tonmost step and folded his hands
between his knees.
Don't YOU want TO come into the NICE
cool parlor and sit down: she asAeu'
NO, thank you, mamma
DO YOU want to stay out here all
alonee" she coaXed.
Robert nodded abruptly: his httie punk
and white face flushed and contracted.
He knew that Willy Stevens was only
waiting for her departure TO pop out ana
make face at him. But he had made Il
great resolve that afternoon
Mrs. Livingstone passed out of sight.
and the expected happened. WHY
~aSss'. were far-famed and this was no
.zoor example. Robert saw and marveled.
In The depths of his heart he had medl-
tated responding in kind, but lie now rec
ognized the rashness of this idea. His
little hands trembled slightly and he
pressed his knees closer upon them.
.Hullo, Willy Stevens, he called From
his station at the window of his lonely
playroom in the attic he had noticed the
proper form of address, and he used his
knowledge with what seemed to him
telling force. The two Bulge boys, rs
with one accord, dropped from their fence
ant sauntered up. Who knew. there might
yet be worthy material in this boy, who,
IT eight years old, walked fand-in-hand
with a woman upon the street.
Huh. what's your name?' pursued
Willy in answer.
Robert Egbert Livingstone"
..Hullo. Egg Egg returned Willy
promptly, and sowed the seeds of an un-
dying hatred In the bosom of his new
acquaintance. "Hullo, Rotten Egg, he
repeated, and looked about for applause.
Robert knew that this was rude, but
something told him that 1t would be rs
well not TO tell him SO. Instead. he hitched
slowly down the steps until he was on a
level with his audience. and surveyed
them with his clear. blue eyes.
..Hullo, Tommy Bulge" he ventured
once more.
.Hullo. Bob came the answer, and
Boh's heart sprang within him for joy.
\ tall. freckled girl, with long. thin
arms and legs, had joined the group. and
after her toddIed small person of in
nu-ft1 ~
to address the second Bulge as '.Specks.'
TIL only title he had ever heard applied
TO him. Robert turned his attention to the
vanguard.
.Hullo. Rosemary''-in addressing a girl
he felt less confidence in the 'Hullo,' and
he tempered possible rudeness by his
sweetest little smile-"I know you. too
NO. you DON'T muttered "Specks" I'M
der his breath.
Il mean l know your NAME amended
Robert. politely
Rosemary made no reply. She leaned
against the lamp post, one foot resting
on the other instep, and thoughtfully spun
her brown straw hat by its elastic. Rob-
eFt. conscious of her superior age and
leadership, knew that the boys We're
awaiting her verdict The minutes hur-
ried by. Dared he hasten matters by
some engaging proposal-a game of hop
scotch. for instance? In his playroom he
had a collection of bits Of china. for
stones. which he had been saving up. He
would even give one to the terrible Willy.
He gazed searchingly at the group in
front of him. WHY'S voice broke the
silence.
His momma holds him by the hand"
he jeered Poor little 'fraid-cat, couldn't
walk alone
Robert had expected this, but his face
flushed. He did not IKE to have his
other hold Ills hand. but he had never
told her SO. He felt that loyalty forbade
any response and he devoted all his ener-
sies 10 swallowing.
Don't you want to go into the nice,
cool parlor and ST down?' continued his
tormentor.
You'd better so in Yourself" Robe TT
rose 10 tile situation and the lust of bat
tie began 10 burn in his heart.
".Fraid-cat. EsGy-egg." William re-
turned TO seneralities
shut up: shouted Robert, regardless
such term upon his lips.
''Esgy-egs. Esgy-ess:'
Robert leaped to his feet and ran for
ward. The group scattered instantly
Rosemary and attendant forces taking to
the fence as the safest post of observa-
ton. Robert remembered afterward, with
a feeling of pride. that it was his fence
that they selected. But at the moment
he knew nothing. saw nothing but Willy,
retreatinS slowly to point OF vantage
\ round brown stone lay directly in
Roberts path. With delirious sense Of
casting off all restraint, lie picked II UP
and threw II with all his strength Even
as 1t left his hand he turned, and without
waiting to behold the consequences of his
deed. he began to run. He ran as he had
never run before. He ran as he had
sometimes dreamed Of running Madiy I'D
the long stone steps, stumbling his neat
little toes across the porch. through tn .
screen door, he never knew how, and
almost into the arms of his mother, who
was coming along the cool, dark hall.
why. my dear little boy, what Is the
NATTER she asked.
Roberts dreams of comradeship and
bappiness had vanished in his tight Tn
doubleday he had committed the unpar-