The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-09-08
The general laughed and helped

i Billy opened the dresser and peered
j gingerly in. her small nose wrinkied
for any unforeseen emergency. She
had taken off her hat. and her sof
yellow haid, bound back by black
velvet snood, escaped around her tenn
Piles in tiny waves. Her eyes. thought
the Watermelon. were brighter thar
| the lamp upon the table and her laugh
ing, kissable mouth redder than tht
crimson lips of the fair creatures in
the gay calendars on the wall HeI
hand upon the latch of the door was
SO near his own, that ne was tempted
to put his on it, but instead slipped
his into his pocket with delicacy he
did not recognize in himself She was
girl, young and sweet and a:trac-
tive, and because she was attractive
she had been flung into the NAV of the
Street. a victim of the ages insane de-
| sire for money and more money Each
dainty curl. each fash and disappear
ance of her single dimple had been
reckoned as so much in dollars and
cents. So the Watermelon put his hand
in his pocket and only watched her
with poorly veiled admiration.
DO you know what | am looking
| for." said the Watermelon I'VE might
as well take some souvenir of our
visit"
Il don't believe the family silver
is silver said she. Il am trying to
find a bucket which you can take to
the well and fill for tea. 1t will give
you an appetite"
I'VE will let Alphonse go for the
water" said the Watermelon, turning
over the articles on the dusty, crowded
shelves. The general sees to the
cars. We will give Alphonse chance
to, earn his pay"
"You should do something to earn
yours" said she
What is mine?' he asked, trying to
see into her eyes.
we must find that bucket" said
she, gazing innocently upward at the
higher shelves. Il love to muss around
among other peoples things. They are
so much more interesting than your
! own. wonder why"
! we can't be amused with ourselves
and our things" said the Watermelon.
I'VE are too important Father used
10 say nothing else was really impor-
tant but ourselves and what affected
\ US"
Henrietta, fussing with the alcohol
lamp at the table. laughed why
didn't your father write a book" she
asked, "a philosophy? 1t would have
been a deal more interesting than
| James or Spencer or Decant"
| He used 10 say that a man who
knew lie never wrote about it. 1t
would be too painful II wouldn't
sell"
There was heavy step on the porch
and Bartlett turned quickly with sick
ening fear 1t was Alphonse come from
putting the cars away in the shed be-
side the barn. Bartlett wiped his brow
and swallowed heavily. This was ter
rible, this being in another mans
house unlawfully. The utterly hopeless
inability to explain satisfactorily took
all ones nerves away. He glanced at
the other four. nerrily unconscious Of
his CHASTITY. discovery, their thoughts
filled only with the desire TO eat.
Billy" said he sharply, what are
you doing in that closet: Come away
at once"
Il was only trying to find a bucket"
stammered Billy.
Those things don't belong 20 you.
You have no right there" and Bart
lett sternly and promptly shut the door
Billy drew back hurt. Il don't see
why it is so wrong to break into a
mans pantry" said she. after you have
broken into his house Besides, Daddy,
you have. known these people all your
life"
That's the trouble" said Bartlett
desperately, with rush, u don't know
these people. | have never been here
before" He glared dehantly at the gen.
eral. daring him to suggest the blue
book.
For a moment no one spoke Al
phonse at the door. hat in hand, the
general by the table. another prema-
turely acquired sandwich in his hand
half way to his mouth. Henrietta, busy
with the fame of the tinv alcohol lamp,
Billy before him, the Watermelon on
the edge of the dresser where he had
seated himself. all stared in dull sur
prise. The Watermelon broke the 81
lence
Better to break into another mans
house than have him break into yours"
said he. He glanced at Bartlett with
just the flicker of amusement in his
mild gray eyes. thinking that Bartlett
had got lost already, deliberately, with
the intention of spending the greater
part of the following day finding
themselves. and so successfully passing
one day of the seven. Bartlett glanced
at the young man and flushed. It
seemed to him for one fleeing moment
that the youth with the sleepy eyes
knew a bit more than Bartlett cared
to have him know, cared to have any
one know, that he even seemed to sus-
pect him of having got lost on pur-
pose. Then the sleepy eyes turned
again to Billy and the older man told
himself that he was mistaken. He was
growing nervous and reading his own
intentions in every ones eyes He
strove to regain the mastery of his
nerves by airy indifference.
"a slight mistake" said he.
"Ah. yes" said Henrietta, "as when
YOU go off with another mans UNI
brella"
She turned down the fame. which
threatened a conhagration, and put the
cap on. extinguished the lamp. One
did not take tea in anorner's house when
one had entered by mistake and through