Evening star., 1912-11-03

have thought it all out, decided upon my We
are longer young, Newton dear We have reached
the summit. SO what is more fitting than that
should hand in hand down the long slope toward the
golden sunset of our days.
And, say, to get the full effect of that speech, you
should have heard the COON gurgly way she gets off
with her chns rippin she bobs her head, and the
flowers that silly lid keepn time. Doc Smiley listens
clear through and at the finish he swallows of hard
though he was keepin something back that he knew
wouldn't sound we'll
in plain words, Mrs Smiley" says he, "just what
IS ii you propose dolngo
Listen Newton, says she, "and perhaps you will
understand 1t has been than twenty years since
took that rash step each full of pride and folly And
for part OF that time thought enjoying my free
dom. | could go where | Wished north in summer,
south in winter. And | did. | called it following the
sprngtirne. | sat on hotel verandas and rocked and
crocheted the weeks away. | became authority on
Florida boarding houses, expert mountain
| learned how to pack all my worldly possessions into
two trunks, how to seize and hold the bathtub
against all coners when to tip cooks and Mattresses
and how to get into the good graces of landladies
mastered the art of being lone lady boardet But all
the while | missed you. | other with hus
bands to for and make comfortable and thought
OF how wretched and lonely you must be- and-and l
could stand it no longer l came to find you. mean
to stayi
Not here" says the Doc
Here says Mrs. Smiley, firm and decided. And
with that she picks out the biggest and most comftab
chair in the plants herself in it, and begins pulin
out her hatpins
The Docs face worth watchn' just then. Maybe
he had punctured tigers at close range and played tag
with here was when 1t looked like
he up against it for total loss. Nervy little
Doc Smiley is, though He just pulls out his watch and
stands ookin' at it thoughtful for minute
Nearly SIX, he. Suppose talk it dur
ing dinner You'll all stay, won't youo Oh now,
Mrs. McCabe-as a special favor! Shorty, am count
ing you"
And he urges hard that we has to do it. And,
while I'm 'phonn over home, and Sadie is lstenin to
Mrs. Smllevs comments the Docs front room furn
re, the professor himself and disappears into
the kitchen, to tell his man, expect, how there was
compny come.
FROM where stood it looked like Smiley treed
Here the old girl camped down him
for keeps her suitcase and kit bag the veranda and
her trunks ordered up from the station If she'd been
the kind that got the Docs years ago,
how would he stand it now?
Ever know of them boardn' house freaks real
wello Then maybe YOU get line what this one
must have been, and what desp'ra hole Smiley
III. For how was he goin to dodge? | catches Sadies
and shakes my head gloomy. She lifts her eyebrows
and shrugs her shoulders; know she feels about
do. We both liked the Doc, with his chrky smile, and
his gentle ways and his odd, simple habits. But for
Luce--we it didn't take any great character readin'
that whatever she might have been at the start
she'd developed into selfish hen-minded meddesome,
fat old party typical boardn house pest, that spreads
around about as much peace and good will Dutch
bartender would by wearin' yellow shirt to a Saint
Patricks day parade. Here she was, though.
Course, KNOWN who did the Docs cookin, we was
lookin for odd stunts at dinner, and it
messy lookin lot of truck found set out when he
all into the dinin room. There was diff rent
kinds of dried fish, and dried meat and dried fruit and
strange lookn nuts all foreign stuff that he'd brought
back with him from his hrlntin' trips.
"Gracous, Newton!" says Mrs. Smiley. "You don't
mean to say you live such foodo"
"These are relishes" says he "Ny chief article
OF diet is wild rice. which | get in Santa Marta and
Zanzibar. We will have it brought in once
Akko-tn!"
With that he clals his hands sharp, and in through
the swing door, duckn little clear the top.
and luggin big platter heaped up with steamn
brownsh stuff, strides this lengthy Chink all got up
regardless black silk robe tall black felt hat built
like the old Mayfowers WORE and with naked
sword, that looks sharp stuck through his