The evening world., 1914-04-22
wait q minute, honey, till I tell
you about yoah fortune"

Edith fingered impatientiy.
That gypsy Teller said, Eide, that
you stood In grave and immejit dam
ger Of losin' yoah beau. He said" she
drawled soiemnly, that another girl,
what was a stranger to you. was
git him out'n her clutches by strata
gum"
Edith tossed her head and went on
her way for chips.
You don't believe II. but I've
warned you." declared Mrs. Blakely.
But Clytie. here"-she rambled on
lis goin' to ketch some rich feller
and marry young. Not too young.
though: honey. promise me that"
The shanghai-like Clytie looked .
hong way from matrimony as she
leaned against the house endeavor-
Ing to interlace her toes.
And me'-Mrs. Blakely beamed in
anticipation--"I'm soin' to fall heir
to large fortune. Must be yoah
pas brother what cans aiss up in
wichita, Edie.'
Mrs. Blakely rose slowly, In sec
tons as 1t seemed, and followed
Edith into the kitchen. where the
rattle Of the stove told OF prepara-
tions for the tardy dinner.
Bedlam broke loose with the wan
Ing of the temporary shyness of the
little Blakelys. Some now beat upon
the side Of the house with clubs.
Earring down the little that remained
sang, they quarrelled, and there was
a sufficient number to keep at least
one stiff fight going all the time.
They tried to bride and ride the
rooster, they threw handfuls OF dust
In each others hair and rocks at each
others heads. The flies swarmed and
the dogs contributed their share to
the din.
Tho thought Of spending the night
In the squalor Of this shiftless Tex
as home filled Nan with apprehension.
1t was something for which to be
thankful, she said to herself, with
a faint smile. that tho prep" broth
or could not see her In her present
surroundings.
And Bob! How he would chortle!
No. on second thought, she did not
believe that he would.
Mrs. Gallagher. squatting on her
heels on the shady side of tho house,
was not nearly so Indifferent to the
discomforts Of the Blakely homo with
It's riotous little Blakelys. a. she APP
peared. for she found an opportunity
to say to Nan:
to Las Rubertas--seven miles--be-
cause here. senorita"-she rolled her
eyes with something OF droll humor
In their depths-"there are too many
ninos. You will not sleep very we'll.
perhaps"
II am afraid 1t will 10 rather
dreadful" Nan admitted. But
where would ~e 90 In Las Ru-
bcrtas?"
ITO the Dona LULA Montejo: she
will let us have one.half Of her dobe.
I know the Dona Luisa q long time"
But shall we be welcome?" Nan
asked doubtfully.
why not?" Mrs. Gallagher
shrugged her shoulders: that was q
small matter. II seemed.
1T shall he as you say" said Nan.
for she already had read liking and
loyalty Ia her strange protectors
eyes.
A yell from the dooryard.
MA. I'm goin' to bust Undine's
head In II you don't gimme somethin'
to eat" One Of the Misses Blakely
brandished a barrel stave.
Don't do nothin' like that" said
Mrs. Blakely reprovingly; faint
ladyliks and. besides. grubs piled"
She called cordially to Nan: Come
and git ~"
The hungry horde shifting outside
the kitchen door made a rush for the
chairs. benches and boxes ranged
along the table.
where's your manners. children ?"
inquired Mrs. Blakely placidly. as
they pushed and fought.
Outdoors. ha! hal"
The youthful wit was jerked from
a chair and Mrs. BlakelY nodded at
Nan.
Slide in thar. and" she urged hu-
morously, lest grab u root and pull. -
a monument Of pale soda biscuits in
the centre Of the table faded even az
Nan looked. while eager hands. each
gripping q fork. reached for the plat
ter Of salt pork swimming In tie own
grease.
Mrs. Blakeiy circulated with a hugo
tin coffee pot, from which she poured
a feeble beverage that might as easily
have been tea as coffee.
Charlie. my lamb" chided Mrs
Blakely in gentle forbearance, don't
all KANT reich what you want asst for
Who'd hear me?" inquired Charles
and with some reason.
Looks like yoah pa would git
around to his meals on time once In
q while!" Mrs. Rlakely shuffied 10
the door Puts me behind 80 with
my work when--here ne IL now.
Frederick. aidse over and make a
place for pa"
The uprosr drowned the jangle OF
spurs, but shortly a man. lean and
stopped from much riding. bent his
head to come through the doorway.
Shrieks greeted him: II was obvi-
Gus that Blakely was popular with his
family.
He nodded to Nan with a pleas
ant though slightly inquiring look
and hung his hat upon a nail.
Nan saw that Edith was like her
father. She had his earnest. dark
eyes and her softer features were
feminine duplicates Of his: they were
stamped, too. with something of the
same accomplishing patience. She
was as unlike her vapid. weak
chinned mother as two persons could
be.
The red haired baby In his home
made high chair suddenly threw HIM
self back and let out a yell. His
mouth, which was slit when closed
now looked quite square. and his feet
beat q tattoo under the table.
"Iasses! 'lasses! Want lasses!'
Mrs. Blakely looked at him fondly
BLESS IN heart IN want lasses, II
shall have 'lasses' Clytle, git ma thu
oor1hnpn