Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-30

her 1t was so thorough and sudden -
to be almost uncanny. The old maid
vanished completely and in her place was
a woman, full to the lips OF primitive
emotion and pain.
What shall dor she cried, in a terri
BILE voice. 'Mary-Peggy-what shall I
do?"
1t was almost shrek. Peggy turned
pale. ''Oh, do you carer" she cried, stu
pidly.
Care Girl, I shall die IL Norman
Nicholson goes away. / have been mad
l must have been mad. / have almost
died of loneliness since sent him away
but 1 thought ne would come back.
must see him-there is time to reach the
station before the train goes II I go by
the fields"
She took a wild step toward the door.
but L caught her back with sudden
mind vision of Aunt Olivia flying bare
headed and distraught across the fields.
Wait moment, Aunt Olivia. Peggy,
run home and tell father to harness Dick
in the buggy as quick as he can. Well
drive Aunt Olivia to the station. Wen
get there in time, aunty."
Peggy flew and Aunt Olivia dashed up
stairs. / fingered behind to pick up her
sewing. and when / got to her room she
had her hat and cape on. And spread out
on the bed were all the boxes OF gifts
which Mr.. Norman Nicholson had
brought her and Aunt Olivia was string
ing their contents about her person. few
erishly. Ring, three brooches a locket.
three chains and a watch all went on
any way and any how. 1t was wonder
full sight TO see Aunt Olivia bedizened
ike that
Il would never wear them before-but
I'll put them all on now TO show him I'm
sorry" she gasped with trembling lips
When the three OF us crowded into the
buggy, Aunt Olivia grasped the whip be-
fore could prevent her, and. leaning
out, gave poor Dick such a lash as he
had never felt in his life He went tear
ing down the steep. stony, fast-darkening
street in a fashion which made Peggy
and me cry out in alarm. Aunt Olivia
was usually the most timid Of women, but
now she didn't seem to know what fear
was. She kept whipping and urging poor
Dick the whole way to the station. quite
was plenty of time. The people who met
us that night must have thought we were
quite mad / held on to the reins, Peggy
gripping the swaying sides of the buggy,
and Aunt Olivia bent forward. hat ana
hair blowing back from her set face
with its strangely crimson cheeks, and
piled the whip. In such guise did we
whirl through the village and over the
four-mile station road
When we drove up TO the station, where
the train was shunting among the
shadows. Aunt Olivia made a flying leap
from the buggy and ran along the plat
form with her cape streaming behind her
and all her brooches and chains glitter
ing in the lights. L tossed the reins to a
boy standing near and we followed Just
under the glare of the station lamp we
saw Mr.. Norman Nicholson, grip in hand.
Fortunately no one else was very near.
the crowd being down at the other end.
Aunt Olivia fairly flung herself against
him.
Norman" she cried, don't go-don't-
III marry you'll go anywhere-and +
don't care how much mud you bring in.'
That truly Aunt Olivia touch relieved
the tension of the situation a little. Mr..
her and drew her back into the shadows
There, there" he soothed. "Of course
L won't be going Don't cry"
And you'll come right back with me
now?" implored Aunt Olivia, clingfng TO
him as if she feared he would be whisked
away from her yet If she let go for a
moment.
"Of course, Of course" he said
Peggy got a chance to ride home with
a friend. and Mr.. Nicholson held Aunt
Olivia on his knee because there was no
room. but she would have sat there, L
think, if there had been a dozen vacant
seats.
set them down safely in Aunt Oliyia's
yard and turned homeward, completely
forgotten by the pair But in the moon
light, which flooded the front of the
house, 1 saw something that testified elo-
quently to the transformation in Aunt
Olivia 1t had rained that afternoon
and the yard was muddy. Nevertheless.
she went in at her front door and took
Mr.. Norman Nicholson with her without
even glance at the scraper.
Copyright, 1909
Best fireman we've got on the line
replied the super.
Well, how are we off for engfneers7'
a. ha