Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-19
cleveland Moffett and Oliver Herford.


how easily a girl might mistake another
woman's cloak for her own! What II It
was Of costly Russian sable? what ala
that prove? 1t was most annoying, ana
having wriggled out Of this misadven-
ture. Hester did not propose ever aeain
to risk another one.
Besides, it would take more than these
two chattering musicians to help her
There must be mob to shove and jOstle
His nobs in the knee breeches must be
standing up and somebody must push
him against her or trip him up, so that
in the scuffle she could sneak the leather
An. now. suddenly. as Hetser was
fortifying herself in this prudent and
virtuous decision. there came one OF
those trif1ing happenings that change the
course of lives and empires-the Near
sighted German music teacher crossed
his legs. Whereupon the Bishop of Ben
chester, who was just starting for the
door, as the train drew into Chatham
Junction, stumbled over the extended
member and was thrown with some
violence into Testers corner, more pre-
cisely into Testers lap, losing his glasses
in transit, and was only rescued from
this embarrassing position and brought
again to a disnif1ed perpendicular after
much confusion. with assistance and
prOfuse apologies from the two Germans,
which apologies the bishop CALAMITY
passed on to the young woman upon
whom he had so abruptly descended
At Chatham Junction there was stop
of ten minutes, during which time the
briskly up and down the platform, but
Hester kept her place by the window.
looking out with the same odd little smile
and wistful glance that had so interested
Betty and her venerable friend. When
these two returned to their seats the
German musicians were gone and, as
the train resumed its journey to Lon
don, the fateful three were once more
alone in the carriage.
The bishop and his young friend were
now in gay spirits. laughing over some
thing which Betty. apparently. had been
describing with delicious drollery. In the
self-absorption of their camaraderte, in
their utter Indifference to Testers pres
ence, they seemed to her brooding mind
to exclude her as completely from their
social atmosphere as If she were serv-
ant. And for some strange reason, the
psychic meaning Of which she was to
understand later. the girl found herself
hurt and irritated by this attitude Of UNI
conscious superiority.
The Storm girl stirred uneasily. Her
wistful smile hardened into a bitter twist
of the lips, and through half-shut, envi-
GUS eyes she studied this other American
girl, this fortunate being whose every
gesture every tone Of voice and every
exquisite detail of costume bore witness
to the background OF culture and wealth
that had always been hers. Why should
be given all the good gifts. money, social
position, friends, while she. Hester Storm.
had none of these and never would have?
1t was all unfair! This whole scheme of
life was ait was crooked game, where
the cards were stacked against some peo-
pie all their lives. What would this spoil
ed darling over there, with her clothes
and her swell ways-what would she have
done If she'd been born in a rotten tene-
ment and - had a sick sister that she
loved-a sister she'd die for-like Resale?
Would she have done any better? Would
she?
In the midst of her justification
Hester's attention was arrested by
sudden eager interest shown by Miss
Thompson in the bishops talk, which
now concerned a man named Hiram
Baxter, Betty's guardian, who had. 1t
appeared, crossed on the steamer with
the bishop the week before.
Such a picturesque character, Miss
liant and-er-
Careful now" warned Betty playfully.
You know Mr.. Baxter is very dear to
me. Father and he were partners and
he's been like father to me-"
Il know. my child. 1 only said he
was a picturesque character"
But you were thinking of his slips
in grammar and his funny little ways
of talking-I just love them
There was a thrill of almost passion
glancng at her eager, flushed face,
thought that he had never seen anything
lovelier than this ardent championship of
Hiram Bakers foibles.
Il assure you, my dear he said. has,
tening to correct her suspicion that he
was making fun of Hiram, II honor Mr..
Baxter for the rare qualities Of mind and
heart that have made him the great
man that he is, for the splendid traits
that have lifted him to fortune and sue
cess from-shall I say so humble be-
ginning?"
Betty's beautiful eyes kindled with a
glow Of fondness. Ibid he tell you about
that? Isn't it splendid the way he
fought his way to the top?" Then she
added. with teasing glance. You see.
American PLAN
(Which abounds in surprises. Miss
Thompson. as you may discover"
Betty turned quickly. What do you
mean by that? Did Guardy tell you some
thing?"
The bishop smiled mysteriously. "Mr.
Baxter told me number of things. We
walked the deck for hours, We smoked
together in the evenings. and-really, l
never enjoyed a voyage more"
Eyes, but what did he tell you? Please?'
She leaned forward eagerly. Does it
does 1t concern me?'
I'm a way. butts more the general
idea. A most extraordinary a most anus
ing idea. Mr.. Baxter I said to him
when he told me. upon my soul, l never
met a man like you
"But what was it? Please tell me-
"And Baxter said to me- the prelates
ample body shook with suppressed merri-
'Bish,' he said-you know he al
ways calls me 'bish'-I wish l could re-
member the speech he made, it was So
so deliciously American 'Bish.' he said
with that slow drawl of his. 1'll bet We
four dollars and quarter'-now what
was the rest Of it?"
Never mind the rest of it," interrupted
Betty. Tell me what Guardy's idea is. I
must know"
The bishop hesitated while Betty pouted
her pretty lips and played petulantly with
the strap of her golf bag that stood near.
81 suppose he's going to scold me for
being extravagant. Is that it?'
The bishop was about to reply when
he started in sudden alarm, and. clap
ping his hand to his coat pocket. ex-
''Bless my soul! My purse!"
Your purse? Why-what?"
The prelate made no answer, but rising
quickly, he searched through his garments
with grave concern then, looking at Betty
in dismay. he said slowly: Its gone. l
put it in this pocket-you saw me put it
there, my dear, and-it's gone"
For some moments neither spoke. Then,
by a common impulse. they turned and
looked at the stranger whose innocent
est and concern.
II beg your pardon said the bishop
awkwardly. You haven't by any chance
seen "a purse of mine?"
"A purse?" repeated Hester Sweetly.
81 NAV have dropped it." he explained