Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-10

starts guilty and tries to hide the conet under the tails
of his dress
@No use, Merry" says |. you're pinched with the
poultry
4Wha-a-at!~ says he ooh, it's you, is it, Torchy?
Please please don't mention this to my aunt
"She beat me to it,, says L. at was her sent out
after you with stop order She says for you chop
the nocturne and go back to the hay
"But how did She Oh, dear!" he signs. at
all her fault, anyway.
a don't follow YOU says |. "But what was it,
serenade?"
Goodness, no. gasps ]. Meredith "Who suggested
that?'
"Why, it has all the earmarks of one, saysI "What
light the dock, if you want serenadn someone
@But wasn't truly he protests. "lt-it was the
champagne, you know"
"Eh?s says /. 3You don't mean to say you got
stewed? Not on couple of glasses"
well not exactly, says he But cant take vine
hardly ever do lit goes to my head cad always And
afterward- felt buoyant full of life thatiI
couldn't go to sleep. simply had to do something to
out here, far away from anyone as could get
@Too thin, Merry says l. "That might pass with
me- but with strangers you'd get the laugh
"But it's true" he goes and | didn't dream
anyone could hear me from here"
@Why, you boob says |, "they could hear you
mile off"
mean, the Misses Hbbs could hear, do your"
unless it's their habit to putty up their ears at
night says |.
aBut-but what will they Think he gasps breathess.
"That they're bein' serenaded by admrn'
friend" says l. "What's your guess5"
"Oh-oh!" says Merry, slumpin' down settee.
@I-I had not thought of that
"Ah, buck up' says |. Maybe you can fake an
alibi in the mornin. Anyway, you can't spend the
night here You got to report to ,Aunty'
He lets out another groan and then gets his feet
"Theres path through the bushes along here some
where" says he.
"No more country work full dress clothes for
me- says L. well sneak down the Hbbs's drive
where the COINS easy"
w lawn and dodgin from shadow to shadow, when
just we're passn the house Merry has to stub his
toe and drop his blamed cornet with a bang
Then out from a second story window floats voice:
"Who is that, please?"
Merry nudges me in the ribs. "Tell them it's you
he whispers.
ooh! Ali" says couple of voices in chorus. Then
one of EN- goes on, "The young man who is visiting
dear Meredith"
"Yep" says I. aSame one
"But it wasn't you playing the cornet SO beautifully,
was it," comes coaxin' from the window
"Tel them yes" whispers Merry, nudgn violent.
@Gwan!" whis pers back @Im in bad enough as it
is" With that speaks up before he can stop me,
"Not much' says l. "That was dear Meredith himself
"Oh-oh" says the voices together Then there's whis
perrin between EN- One seems urgin' the other on to
something, and at last it out "Young says
the voice, smooth and persuadin "please tell us who
that swhich one OF us was the serende intended for
This brings the deepest groan of all from Meredith.
"Come on, now" says l. hoarse and low in his ear.
cts up to you. Which?'
ooh, really" he whispers back, IL can't
"You got to, and quick, says |. "Come now, was
it Pansy?"
@No, no." says he, gaspy.
"Huh!" says l. "Then Violet gets the decision.
And holds him off by main strength while calls out,
"Why, amt you yet? 1t for Violet, of course
"Ah-h-h-h! Thank you. Goodnight comes voice
no chorus this time: just one-and the window IS shut
@There you are, Merry" says L. ats all
You're as good as booked for life.
HE was game about it, though, Merry was. He
IL squares with Aunty before gon to bed and right
after breakfast next mornin he marches to the