Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-01

that | offered it for nothing! | brought
those hifalutin little financers from New
York to terms before | got done, didn't L.
That is, didn't but Port Hatch did. They
had to come, They couldn't get away from
her, Sir! She's the greatest city in the
world She's credit to the Hatch family,
Sir and long after YOU and are dead folks
will remember US and say we were the men
that made her! Maybe they'll give us
monument, Burrnah. Be fine, wouldn't it,
"a bronze statue with YOU and me on
horses, with our swords held up, or some
thing like that
The Colonel changed little as he thought,
and appeared downcast. do YOU know,
Burrnah,7 he said little sadly, Il fear that
in endeavoring to do honor to Miss Ara
bella-for which | admire your courtesy
YOU made mistake. find her the most
stubborn girl ever knew when it comes to
signing deeds and such Why, do you know,
Bur1nah, she's kept me from making any
sales at all since things changed? She
won't sign anything! l declare she's getting
so she reminds me more and more of her
sainted mother. | loved that woman, Sir,
and honored her; but sometimes she was
SO stingy that used to walk out back of the
house and kick a dog just to relieve my feel
ings. l did-'pon my word | did,
HE retired at last, after telling Burrnah to
- come down to dinner within ten min
utes, and all through the dinner hour, with
the big table widely spread and the little
family around him, he rambled gaily on.
exuberant over everything, and forgetful of
the dire days when Port Hatch seemed
dying So long did he delay them with his
WITNESSES that the guests were beginning to
arrive and the lights glowed over the lawns
of Marquard Villa before they rose
Burmah, loathing his dress suit. slipped
out into the spacious grounds and wandered
about alone peering now and then through
the foliage as the guests appeared. There
they came, the ones that had stood Loyalty
by the City Beautiful, and those who had
assisted in her making. The band arrived
with its full force. and Herr Schmidt in even
ing dress, assuming proprietary air as be
fitted a man who had become well-to-do
from astute speculation. 1t filed sedately
through the house and out to the terrace,
where it burst forth into march of triumph
that would not be denied. Burrnah realized
| that he must slip through to his room and
dress himself.
The band played an overture and soft
melody OF spring. The crowd increased, I'M
| til the palace of dreams was filled with well
dressed men and women, all happy, all gay
all laughing and talking, and vet Burmah
Jones d1Q not appear ne 1OlO1lel went
through the process OF shaking hands with
ALL bowling deeply and congratulating each
on the turn of fortune. He enthused, and
mellowed and expanded, until his guests,
knowing his weakness and glad to humor it,
called upon him for a speech. He stood in
the big, hospitable hallway at the foot OF the
stairs. smiling warmly at them, kindly,
lovable man. courteous and handsome.
Ladies and Gentlemen Of Port Hatch,
he said, Il thank you all for the honor
| that YOU have done me and mine, and also
thank Heaven for the blessed privilege Of
again greeting some of those whom | 50
sadly feared through the dark days of mis-
| fortune should never see again. They were
dark days. in which the candle of faith was
sorely tried by the chill winds Of doubt and
adversely when the flowers lost their
bloom, the moon its light, and the sun its
warmth. And yet, my friends, we who are
here tonight never wavered. We were dwell
ers in the heart OF the ideal, fortunate par
| Elephants in the glories OF the greatest of
American cities, Port Hatch. We knew that
she would not fail us. You have congratu-
lated me here tonight many of you, on hav-
ing won victory, and | cannot with truth
deny that | have done my share as best
could; but it seems to me, on thinking it
all over on reviewing everything. that the
~ whom most nj the credit due