Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-10
PERN'S MEDDLING

seen that description applied to q heroine,
but 1t suits the tots and SOUNDED Wen,
judge and Mrs. Graves would look toward
her. but 1t was several days before they
did. Her window was open and sne nut,
! tered handkerchief. The Judge raised nao.
that every time they came out they
glanced her way.
Perm was feeling particularly well one
morning. She wore a dress with r1poons
and was bolstered up in a big chair at the
window. Ostensibly she was Watching
arriving fiocks of birds, but when Mrs
Graves came out she called TO her.
Couldn't you come over a minute! m
| would be the broadcast charity" she add
ed, after ransacking her memory Tor
something brilliant. You look so happy
| 1t makes me feel better just to see you.
window and patted Pern's scrawny 1n-
gers. That" she laughed, lis because |
am happy. so happy that have no words
| to describe it,
see how you can be. 1 hope Eli never
| marry an old man."
Mrs. Graves looked at her a moment.
| and then her face shone. You cant
| admire my husband beyond words. am
very happy
I'm fourteen Perm informed her. a
little stiffly, "but I guess I don't under
| stand. My fathers a judge, and my
| mother. who is almost, as pretty as you
| are, married him.
Mrs. Graves laughed, and after that
she came often to Penis window, and
the tots were frequent visitors In her
room. But presently there was change,
Perm had never seen such family parties.
The place swarmed. Mrs. Graves grew
pale and thin and looked too tired to
stand. She told Perm she felt SO.
The doctor came out and fitted O. new
brace to Penis spine, and brought her a
pair OF crutches. telling her she was to
go home for week, and longer, II she
kept improving. In the excitement OF
going Perm forgot her proteges COM
pletely, and remembered them only when
she had been home a week, and saw
Mrs. Graves and her little tots in front
Of her. They were creeping along, SUI
| premely wretched.
Perm didn't get home till after dark.
and then was so wildly excited that the
doctor had to be called to quiet her. A
| few days afterward she was back to
her grandmother considerably the worse
for her visit. but consumed with an
| opinion she meant to deliver at the earli-
est possible moment.
1t was not long she had to wait. Judge
Graves came slowly down his walk and
key. Then Perm, without anybodys leave.
| took her clutches and went over. The
door was open and Judge Graves leaned
/ tiredly back IN an armchair.
"You are the little invalid from acrAss
the way" he said kindly. Twill you
sit?"
Perm sat on the edge OF a chair. When
at last she opened her lips she was sur
are sick, aren't your"
The judge passed his hand over the
whitest face Perm thought she had ever
seen. mot sick, thank you,' he said.
| II am grieved and greatly worried"
Then the deeps Of Penis indignation
| burst forth. "If you are," she flung at
him. why did you allow your children
to run over and browbeat your wife and
abuse her children. And IL they loved
you 80 much that they wanted to visit
you by the month. why aren't they here
| now taking care of you, and'-with a
glance Of scorn at the disordered rooms
not they: They never lifted finger. and
your wife was worked to DEATH"
i Perm paused for breath. and sternly
| eyed the judge, who was leaning forward
and breathing hard.
'I-I-didn't know. / never guessed .
| he said.
bring her back? I myself helped her
] to get back her old dingy apartment and
| find job. She couldn't get her place
in your court again, because her fingers
were so stir from work for your-your-
! relatives" she finished a little more deli
| cately. seeing him finch. '.she had to
The Judge got up and took his hat.
| but when he reached the door he turned
| and went back. Child he said, 'I can't
| thank you, but you have done her and
me favor that neither Of us will ever
forget" Then he started down the walk
! Pern's dignity vanished. eff you are
going to fetch her." she screeched after
! the rapidly disappearing judge. shes at
3S7 Chestnut street. Take the 9Th street
| car at the station. Transfer to the WASH
| ington line at 18th. Two blocks to the
| left Fifth floor. Don't forget