Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-04
Continued from page II

apparently: the clock had barely finished
striking three, and she could hear his feet on
the stairs. 1t was absurd that she should be
so glad to see him after so brief a space; but
the absurdlty was a fact. She literally
missed this boy whom she had met for the
first time two days before-she literally
longed to see him. He was fresh air and
clean water to her parched little soul. 1t
was as though some wild flower had been
planted, at a millionaire S caprice, in the I'M
sought shelter of greenhouse. and, swaylng
IN the tepld air of conservatory, had for
gotten its heritage of all outdoors: and then,
one dav, some careless hand had broken one
of the dusty panes, and in through the little
opening had poured all the wealth of blue
sky and golden sun and madcap breezes and
the smell of the sturdy, green, growing
things-in through the broken pane had
poured all its lost heritage! Small wonder
that the little flower strained eagerly toward
the opening; small wonder that she strained,
too
There was a hand at the door 1t opened,
and through the opening strobe Mark, with
all the lost heritage~in his hands, and all the
jov of the world at his heels. And Priscilla
forgot dignity and decorum and maidenly
reticcnce forgot everything in the world
save that he was her playmate and that she
was glad, glad, glad to see him-and flew
across the long room on wings to meet those
outstretched hands.
1--WE been sitting on your front doorstep
for fifteen minutes, announced Mark. "You
can't think how everybody stared"
ooh, can't ~ jeered Priscilla happily.
MAY | ask why you took up your abode on
my front doorstep for fifteen minutes
because you didn't ask me till three, and
/ didn't want to lose a second. 1t wasn't half
- IL ,ie1- o,,I 4hn
jolliest little yellow kitten came and played
with me-"
"You must have made a charming rural
scenel- laughed Priscilla "But I'm glad
YOU aren't late. Sit down, and lets begin
right away
begin WHAT inquired Mark, obcdientlv
sitting down.
"Why, playing, of course! How can you
be so stupid, Mark
Il don't know, said Mark. "That yellow
kitten was the iolliest little beggar. Pris-
cilla."
"Was he?" said Priscilla unhclpfullv
you'd just love hirnl"
"Would II" Priscilla remarked unerno-
tionally. She was slightly irritated that
Mark should be SO obviously more absorbed
in a mere yellow kitten than in her intensely
interesting self
Don't you like kittenso" Mark demanded
in panied establishment.
Sometimes" she replied coldly.
Mark smiled at her overwhelmingly. "Oh
Priscilla, wouldn't you like one now2 1t
wouldn't take me two minutes and it's 50
little and fat. 1t would make the most gor-
geous polar bear.~
Priscilla melted before that smile. "Of
course I'd love it, she said graciously. "And
it will add an immense amount of local color
as a polar bear. Only do be quick, Mark"
A TORNADO swept across the room and
crashed down the stairs. There was
a respite of as much as thirty seconds after
the front door was flung open, its hinges
squeaking franticay, then there was a re-
verberating bang, and the tornado started
on its upward rush. 1t entered the still, green
room as tempcstuously as it had left it, and
deposited a yellow kitten in Priscila's lap.
She caught up the palpitating, furry mite,
its small ears fattening and its topaz eyes
glistening, with a pitiful little cry.
"Oh, Mark, what a darling! It's such lit
tie. little thing"
Il love little things" said Mark gravely,
and he strokcd the kitten with an expert
mental forefnger. "The hitler they are the
better love them. Is your mother better,