Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-30

Little Billy Pick, and Tommy there, each good
humoredy intent in filling her card with his name,
and each in turn endeavoring to extract from her
promise of marriage. Moreover, the quartet accom-
panied her home and each ancied himself broken
hearted because she had declined the honor of being
wife to any young of her age with whom she
had gone school, although the young might have
family name, and be the prospective nheritor of suf
cent to enable him to idle away the remainder
of his natural born days"
CHE was alone at last in the home of friend, where
she to pass the last night of her stay in Chat
tanooga The slipped its rays softly through the
gardens and from her window she could look out and
see the towering HILL Lookout Mountain, at whose feet
the wound lazy, and whose heights the lights
of the hotel cleaned family. She faced it. wondering
If there any majestic height than that in all
the world. Up its brink she knew stood the guns
that her father had helped defend back there that
tragic Across from it the grounds where
girl she had gone picknckng, and come to renem-
Der it. Billy and Pick and Tommy and Kirby had nearly
always been there the occasions She had
spell of homesickness, and rather sorry that the
United States not polyandrous, that she might
marry them ALL Then her thoughts went to her father,
and her mind leaped exultantly remembering that
he had made such She slept the resfu sleep
of the young, and awoke drowsy, wondering her de-
parture for that far distant land not part of
dream; but resolutely refused to be sad
At the railway station she found Uncle Jeff and Aunt
Sally waiting her. and Uncle Jeff had attired himself,
beftted gentleman of the old school about to be-
become great traveller, silk hat that had once be-
onged to the Colonel and uniform of the Ancient
Sons of Africa Respondent with much braid. Several
members of the order there to bid him goodby.
Arabea rebeled at that gorgeous travelling costume,
and after snotherng with laughter explained to Uncle
Jeff that the order might not be in existence in the Far
West and that for the sake of its preservation his uni
form should be taken off and commonplace garb
substituted. Uncle Jeff not in the least abashed
by this and closer to her. the rejecting his
blue and shiny bald head.
"'Deed All understands dat Missy Arabella' he
whispered hoarsely "and Abs done got NAH odder
clothes whar All git EN-; but you see Missy, Abs
been gran Chief Sagamoah of de ordah SO long Abs
expectn' delegation of de brudders down heah to
me off"
He did explain that it had been open secret to
him for days that the order proposed to make him
some suitable gift and that he cherished expectations
that Kings ovations would look like sideshow at
circus compared with the sendof they would give him;
Arabea went back up to the other end of the plat
form and babe farewell to her friends who gave her
flowers and candies and socitous advice. The quartet
there and acted portes to carry these offerings
to her stateroon, each Of its members exhibiting calm
forttude and firm resolve to tote the major part of
the contributions.
There was final clash of noise and everything was
drowned in the clamor of very blaring band that
marched out to the platform. Wondering, everyone
stared. The Ancient Sons of Africa had arrived.
Everyone had to know it. A very proud drum major
led the way and welded magnificent homemade baton.
Trombones, blown by dusky brothers whose cheeks
pulled and who rolled their eyes sidewse, cracked and
sputtered each endeavored to add few
to the music; immense negro threatened to split the
head of immense bass drum; cornetist who had
played with minstrel show and cap with
director" shining its braid, nearly killed himself
trying catch high E-fat cornet and the
station rocked with noise. Back of it procession
of brothers, in the of which walked the gift
mittee, and down forward, surrounded by immense
dignity stood Uncle Jeff.
From the steps of the Pullman Arabella could