Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-21

fought with the odors of evening and from
within the house came the sounds of laugh
ter. He rang the bell, and Uncle Jeff, clad
in sedate livery, opened the door with bow
that had done credit to that other home i'll
Chattanooga so far away. Burrnah heard
the Colonels voice through one of the wide
grilled openings leading from the fine hall
way.
NO, Billy" it expostulated, don't you
try to climb that ladder. There's roses
enough there by that cornice. I'd heap
rather have 1t look sort of scant than to have
you bust a leg and miss this glorious re-
ception.'
TN a flash the meaning came to Burmah.
: This was the fifteenth of August, and the
night of the Colonels housewarming, the
reception that he had planned SO long and
SO insistently, which was to do honor to a
new Hatch home, and to which Burmah had
been invited. Already the sound of Uncle
.Jeff's announcement of his name was in his
ears. He stepped quickly forward toward
the sound, and was merely placid, unctu-
Gus little fat man as he hailed those within
the room.
GOOD evening, Colonel, Miss Arabella,
and Gentlemen, he said. "Well, | have
come, as you can see. Glad to be in time.
BLESS my SOUL" shouted the Colonel,
DOylSllly rushing IOIWdIu " SelLc dllu SlldhS
his hand. Il knew you would be here. Wei
come to Marquard Villa! Isn't it all right,
Burnah? Just look at this, will your"
And Arabella smiling and glad to see him,
caught his hand in both of hers and said,
Il was afraid you wouldn't spare the time
to come. Isn't it lovely? oh, Mr.. Hubbard
is such a wonderful mani
Even Lester the quiet dawdler, was there,
taking his part in the floral decoration of the
house; but he alone displayed no happiness
at seeing the Kansan, and smiled sardonic-
ally, as if suspecting that something besides
courtesy had brought Burrnah Jones there
at that hour, or at all. 1t was he who looked
at his watch and then said in surprise, "Why,
the boat must have got in early!'
mo, it didn't, quietly retorted Burmah,
facing him with hard stare, as if appre-
ciating the fact that this stranger was too
shrewd to be congenial. Il missed it and
hired tugboat. You didn't any of you sup
pose | wouldn't get here for a blowout like
this, did youo'
Lester did not answer.
"Wel, | should say mott" declared Bur
nah, answering himself
"Of course | knew it, CALAMITY asserted
the Colonel "You all might know that my
tant occasion where Miss Arabella or | are
concerned. No, Sire-e-e! Had supper
No? Sally Oh, Sally! Jeff! Go tell Aunt
Sally to get something for Mr.. Jones to eat.
Hurry up now Lord, Burmah you must
be mighty near starved"
Already Arabella had tripped out of the
room to act as hostess, and now the Colonel
himself led the way up the broad stairs to
guest chamber to dispose of his guest.
where's your grip, Burmah?' he asked,
as he turned into the most spacious room in
the new house.
lost it on the DOCK unblushingly lied
Burmah.
"I've done that myself, said the Colonel
comfortingly. "But you won't need it, any
how Why, bless you, Man! I've got hair
brushes, and night shirts, and slippers, and
say, I've even got an extra dress suit and
shirt
THAT he was more than six feet tall and
nearly as thin as a lath, while Burrnah
was four times as big around and considera-
bly, shorter, did not discountenance him at
all in that hospitable offer. But he had no
time to say more; for now was Burmah's
chance, and time was precious.
Its possible, Colonel he said, ignoring
the proffer of the dress suit, but concealing
am anxiety, that two men will come to
Pert Hatch to see you about buying land
g. &c g