Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-10
THE SKIDS UNDER ELMER
Continued from page 8

at first. They come to it, though after
they'd watched the others few times, and
on her second trip the Countess was lettin'
out the merry yelps with the best of EN-.
She's a gray haired, heavyweight, dignificd
old girl, too.
With only one hammock, though, there.
was lot of time spent standin around; 50
the sound of approachin' slcighbels was
welcomed with a whoop.
"That must be the man from the shop"
says Pinckney. LET ssee what he brought"
SURE enough. up the driye comes de-
livery sleigh with an old white horse
plowin' weary through the drifts. and pretty
soon out steps a tall, red checked, steady
eyed young gent who stares at the reception
committee some aStonished.
"Who was it ordered the hammockso'
says he, lookin' us over suspicious.
by Jove, thought exclaims Pinckney,
pushin' to the front. "Why, it's Elmer
Jewett, isn't it,"
GOSH" says Elmer. @You, eho"
And it turns out he used to live on a farm
next to the place Pinckney's folks had for a
summer home up in the Berkshires: also
that him and Pinckney used to swim and
fish and eat green apples together, but they
hadn't seen each other since they was bows
"Bashful as ever, eh, Elmer?" asks Pinck-
ney, seem him shy at sight of the young
ladies'
cav, quit it now!" says Elmer, coorin' up
and hurryin' on to change the subject.
Thought someone must be plumb luny,
ordering hammocks at this time of wear; but
if I'd known it was vou-well, what do you
want of emp"
He wouldn't believe it. though, until he'd
seen it tried, and then he grinned from ear
to ear. well, | swanny.' says he. "Just
the thing for crust coastin', though. Only
had four in stock; but I've got EN- all in the
pung. III fetch EN- in.
He not only does that, but stands around
to see the fun. Prince Ranji, who 5 only been
a passenger SO far claims the first new one
to come up, and picks out Miss Vera Colonni
to ride with him. Not being up on tobog-
gaming he lets the thing slue around before
they're hardly started, and the two of EN-
are dumped.
1fhere! Clumsy" says Miss Vera, pckin'
herself up.
"Hey!' sings out Elmer, "You want to
set on sideways and steer behind with your
foot. See?. This wayE and he gives, an. ex-
pert-exhibition that sets Miss Vera to clap
pin her hands.
9Oh, what clever shopman!r says she.
3And isn't he good looking? No. no, Prince!
| shall ride with Monsieur Jewett next time"
@Fine!' says Pinckney. "That is, if he'll
take you. :
4Pooh!r says Miss Vera you'll see!'
We did, too. She's some queen, Vera is,
one of these slim, graceful young women,
with big, dark eyes, and all kinds of sparkle
and ginger to her. She's half French hear.
and the other half Italian which is some hot
combination to spring corn fed young
gent like Elmer.
Anyway, when she marches up and takes
him by the arm and asks coaxin' if he won't
take her for really good slide, and turns
loose on him the full effects of them Paris
trained eyes-wel. it was a round
knockout, with Elmer pinked up like the
label on tomato can. Off they went, a
native Prince of India standin' one side
watchin' EN- gloomy
THAT first trip was only the beginnin'.
! too. From then on Miss Colonni from
Rome, and Elmer Jewett, from Bethany
Corners was paired up reg lar, and it want
long before you d see EN- come tuggin' back
up the slope hand in hand, chatterin away
like old friends.
Mostly, though we was all too busy
whoopin' things up ourselves to pay much
attention; for, with hammocks enough to 60
around, what had looked like a perfectly
punk house party short time before had
been turned into one of the liveliest, jollicst.
nOisiest affairs ever saw a mixed crowd like