Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-15
Drawings by Laura e. Foster

II ing the monentous fact when taking their honey
moon on another of the many personally
conducted ocean tours depends largely upon the
and experience of the official cOurers accompanying
the excursion And their varied experience with
couples has taught them much knowledge they never
had learned and could have learned at college,
This especially applies to the couriers or conductors
of the shorter travel tours covering month or less on
which there usually stable representation OF inter
esting newly WEEDS Their almost universal attempt to
convince strangers to the secret that they are old mar
red folk generally amusing, while the devious ways
they employ sometimes laughable.
There was the young couple from Boston on oouth
American few months ago. Every member OF the
party suspected them newyweds at first Later they
as unanimously changed their minds and accepted them
oldtimers with exCeptlon,-the old courier IN
charge of the tour. He felt morally certain that they
guilty of practising deceit; yet he could neither
the confession of either adduce conv1Cng
evidence to substantlate his belief
Mady YIN thus n a was s Poopg G in ber
dpled cheeks. If she older than she looked then
she marvelousy we'll preserved: little less than
miracle could for it. So reasoned the old courier
when she told him, she had every other inqurng
one,-and tourists quizzng unit,-that she had
been married for years. in FACT had dear sweet little
girl years old then attending school in Boston
And the that stole her eye and the soulful look
of longing that cept her round little face whenever
she spoke of her darling child during the first recitas
enough fetch them all up short with memories OF
their own home ave-takng. Thereafter they were
charmed by her delightful stories of that precious little
girl and her cute sayings which she was constantly re-
calling.
And it gradually came pass that none doubted,
excepting the old courier Said he to himself, If those
two blooming Youngsters have little girl years
old in their family at the present writing, why, then
eyve-well they gone and adopted just that much
of some orphan asylum that's all!' So he forthwith
registered vow that he would eventually convict her
before the ships bar and in court, mercessly and
without favor. And his reputation that when he
set about to do a thing he did it.
AS the days wore on to near the close of week the
stories she continued recounng of that wonderful prod
ICY of sweet little old asse were so tascl
mating that she seldom without audience, and the
6ntac inter ntPr n
be near enough to hear them privilege held at
premium The things that little girl said and did grew
and grew such volume that inclined to
pect that she be much older than to
have said and done all that she credited with saying
and doing Possibly the fond mother was exercising the
paerna license certain amount OF harmless elabOra
ton AT any rate, she was most captivating story
teller and the mothers biography of the bright little
Bostonian came to be an absorbing topic among those
fortunate enough to hear it. excepting always the old
courier
he lay his oars watchful Although he heard much
of the wondrous child, he not much in evidence at
these storyfess: not until the afternoon OF the day
before the first landing. Then the opportunity he
anticipated at hand. The day was glorious, the
decks in gala dress. An unusually large and atten
tive crowd surrounded NIilady. He unobtrusively
mingled with the group, waiting 1u in the chatter.
1t
"You were just speaking of your little GIRL Mrs. B."
All turned to the speaker his kindly face beamng upon
them. Il have been hearing great deal OF her. Her
bright sayings interest much. cousin of mine,
who if recall, thirty five last month. he pratted
edging the charming BostOnian "haS little
girl just the age of your own"
The group pressed forward expectant all anticipation
He had the undivided attention of the court.
when you first told me-, he continued deliberately,
shat you had child years of age, confess
ungraclously disposed to doubt your word somewhat.
want to take this opportunity to offer you apology
publicly. AS to see more of YOU fully realize
that you easily quite old enough to have a child
seven years OF His tone courteous, defer
entail.