Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18


and regarded its array of bones with awed wonder
II suppose I'm sight! And l getting so fat
tool" she sighed regretfully. Hundred and leven"
well soon have you back to hundred and twelve,
grumped the doctor; $50 fat you'll only be able to
waddle through your office door sidewise."
But the he very neatly and determinedly
swerved aside the Starched Lady in her threatened
course toward the bed, bearing small hand mirror.
3All put-up job, anyway" he growed @You only
wanted chance to loaf. Well won't have you oafng
around here sick long"
But the Invalid did not pick up per schedule She
obedienty slipped the doctors broths and eggnogs and
made faces over his medicines, quite model patient
should but the special mixture of Crit and Ardor that
had made up the Harcourt brand seemed strangely
diluted by month of fever The little scarlet bowknct
mouth dropped Imply at the There were list
less, violet shadows beneath the eyes that seldom ared
with mrth now. 1t though some old light had
burnt out. Even the flowers
For there fowers,-howers until the water
pitcher overowed to the green maolca bowl and the
cracker jar and the brass teakettle, and then
flowers, until every mug and vase from the second
floor suite and the third floor must be mustered
into service-glowing, magical, fame-deep roses on
four-foot stalks with the General Managers card and
such pencilngs take your time-the advertising
hasn't gone smash yet, -golden-tongued jonquils
with joyful Tilt of spring and Spring Openings, bound
up in ribbons and @The sympathy of Goats and Suits
huffy, stiff necked carnations from the dining room,
emblem of chicken d-icecream night-tender silver
freely contributed by the younger Miss Pitcher from the
Monday Callers and the Thursday Callers offerings.
The 1nvalids eyes wandered wistfuly back and
forth from the mounting pile of bills and circulars
the desk to all this varied floral display.
"No sweet peaso' she ventured delicatey.
This is February-no sweet peas said the
Starched Lady decidedly.
"Oh!"
The little bed gave sharp heave the Patient head
went down. Yes, that was it. She must remember
February. No sweet peas. No more-everl
That Lne-all February! Not just one year, but
endless succession of Stony unt years-a February.
choking vision of athlete shoulders and blond
head that had to bend bit entered her Office door.
OH what if they had launched White Sale, and
breasted blizzard together Wasn't the Pacific Coast
lined with women-beautul, wealthy women; worst of
all millions of fresh sparkling, carefree girls not hideous
old Hays all wasted and charred with fever? Only her
cursed vanity could have led her think-for few
dinners. To what few dinners but-din-
ners? Oh, what had seemed to her Oblation had
been to him but Charity! Oh, the shame of it!
The Patient teeth began to chatter and her cheeks
to flare with flame piteous devastating
than that of fever Then the copper brads bobbed for
ward kindly scaldng drops tracked jagged
Pathway Old Age down the gray flint of the pillow.
Stuff growled the doctor. Course they bloom in
February. Why the yards are full of them now"
And it have been that the doctor right and
the Sarched Lady wrong; for next morning tiny,
handful of white sweet peas poisoning wanly
IN umbler nearby when the Invalid opened her eyes.
She reached out and patted them kindly, for
misfortune really their fault ALL which their
feelings must be spared.
MO, the Patient did not pick up she should. She
showed strange distaste for the press and showed
aside sessy the great armfuls of proofs borne up
daily triumph by Miss Ellsworth.
ALet me show you-isn t this grand layout Even
Cousin Herbert said it unusual, gurgled Miss Els
worth. ayes, we're getting fine without you Mrs.
Peake and l haven't had scrap yet. l cleared out
ID Tho